At Georgia Southern University, the public relations and pre-public relations major falls under Communication Arts which is in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences also known as CLASS. The chairperson of our lovely department is Dr. Pamela Bourland-Davis. Dr. Bourland-Davis is also a professor at the university.Â
   Most people do not understand that more goes into being a professor than just teaching a class twice a week then going home. It is the job of a college professor to first off teach, as well as do extensive research on topics in their field and participate in service activities and that does not even begin to describe the duties of a chairperson. With the university constantly growing, the tasks of professors, staff, and chairpersons must evolve as well. Sources say, “Chairs are the primary spokespersons for department faculty, staff, and students. At the same time, institutions of higher education have an increasing reliance upon department chairs to implement and carry out campus policy and the mission of the institution for the central administration.” So in short it is their job to be the facilitator between the university and the students.    Dr. Bourland-Davis attended Georgia Southern University from the years of 1977-1980 and received her bachelor of science in Communication Arts specializing in Public Relations later continuing her schooling at the University of Georgia. She has been teaching public relations and mass communication for 25 years. Georgia Southern is not her first working experience however, she has also been a past chair of the Public Relations Division of AEJMC, former advertising and exhibit manager for Southern States Communication Association, and has also held offices for the Educators’ Academy of the Public Relations Society of America ,PRSA, and the PR Division of NCA (PRaxis). Along with her duties as chairperson she has obligations outside of her job here at Georgia Southern. She works as PR Sequence Coordinator and PR Intern Co-director. She has also co-authored an introductory workbook titled Mastering Public Relations and is involved in research on PR agency-client relationships (Zoom Info).Â
   Some students may not agree that Dr. Bourland-Davis is a great teacher or has made a lasting effect on the school, but many students who have actually taken the time to know her think differently. A student who was placed in her PRCA4330 class has said, “Dr. Pam is great, the tests accurately reflect the material she teaches and she explains things clearly. She is understanding of issues students are having and she’s willing to help. She actually teaches while in the class instead of telling you to just go and do everything on Georgia View”; while a student from her PRCA4334 class said, “Dr. Pam is the greatest! I had her Spring 2009. Crisis was hands-down one of the funniest classes that I have had. I would recommend it to anyone in PR. She counts off for grammatical errors but considering the field we’re in that’s not a bad thing. If you have the chance to take this class “(Rate My Professor). By the comments of her students, I would say she has been a very influential teacher on campus
   Overall Dr. Bourland-Davis is a very busy person. She is obligated to numerous duties ranging from chairperson to professor and even has worked with the Beta Sigma Phi and Zeta Tau Alpha chapters. She has become very successful in her life span thus far and is a prime example as to why the public relations major should be kept at Georgia Southern.Â