Alumni Spotlight
Hannah Bateman

by: Reagan Young, student PR Intern

Hannah Bateman received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations in 2016 and her Master of Public Policy and Public Administration in 2018, both from Mississippi State University. 

Bateman, a Columbus, Miss., native, currently serves as the admissions coordinator for the College of Arts & Sciences at MSU. Bateman also teaches Intro to Communication as a lecturer in the Department of Communication.

Daily, Bateman does a little bit of everything, including talking with prospective students, speaking at events, working with advisors and collaborating with colleagues on developing new initiatives to strengthen MSU’s position as a leader in all fields. 

Bateman said she encourages people in the hunt for a job to always pursue their interests.

“My advice would be to never stop growing and pursuing your passions.”

Graduate school helped Bateman find a passion for working in the College of Arts & Sciences through her graduate assistantship. Bateman wanted to help students explore their opportunities at MSU.

When offering advice for current students considering graduate school, Bateman suggested for students to reach out to program directors if there is any interest in attending graduate school.

“If you have the slightest interest at all in attending graduate school, reach out to the graduate program coordinators/professors to learn more about the program. That is what I did, and it solidified my decision to apply to graduate school.”

Before Bateman’s foray into graduate school, Bateman said the undergraduate communication classes at MSU prepared her well for the “real” world.

“The classes you take at MSU will truly teach you how to excel in the "real" world. My communication classes taught me practical skills, such as writing, graphic design, and working with clients to develop comprehensive communication plans.”

As a student worker in the Office of Public Affairs her senior year, Bateman was able to gain experience in developing strategies to engage all audiences at MSU.

MSU has obviously held an important place in Bateman’s life. From working in the Public Affairs office her senior year of college, to going to graduate school here at MSU and fulfilling a role as a graduate assistant to currently working as an admissions coordinator for the College of Arts & Sciences. 

Bateman said she is proud of MSU’s faculty, staff and students.

“I am proud of what our faculty, staff, and students are accomplishing every day.”

Favorite memory as a communication student?
In the PR Organizations class I took my senior year, I made so many fun memories with my group. We would stay up late cracking jokes and doing anything to take breaks from the 50+ page papers we were working on. We would also meet in the morning before the doors opened to the library (which means it was very, very early) and still managed to have fun working together.

Favorite communication class you took and why?
This is a hard one. Can I pick them all? To highlight one, I enjoyed Dr. Hank Flick's interviewing class and small group class, which were two separate classes. He was one of the most interesting people I have ever met. I learned the importance of your fellow man and practical skills in interviewing and working with others in difficult situations.

Most valuable lesson learned from the communication department?
Everything I learned in the department was valuable beyond measure. I learned skills on how to positively impact the world around you, while simultaneously pursuing your passions. It is possible to do both in life, and the communication department taught me the importance of bridging them together.

Any funny stories from your time in McComas?
I would say every day in Dr. Hank Flick's class would be classified as a funny story. For those who had the privilege to take his class, they will understand.

Favorite communication professor and why?
Again, this is a very tough one. I will say that Karyn Brown, who taught my PR Orgs class, is one professor that means the world to me. She challenged us in class to be the best PR professionals we could be. She saw my potential and offered me the graduate assistantship working under her. I am now proud to call her my colleague and one of my closest friends. She is one of the most genuine people you will ever meet, and she is always willing to lay down what's in front of her to help someone.