Alumni Spotlight
Will Chandler

by: Reagan Young, student PR intern

William Rice Chandler received his Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations in 1998 from Mississippi State University. 

The Starkville, Miss., native now resides in Guntown, Miss., serving as Territory Manager with Oyster Point Pharmaceuticals. Chandler’s job territory covers northwest Miss., West Tenn., and northeast Ark.

Daily tasks for Chandler include making sales presentations to multiple eye care professionals, providing them and their staff with product information, samples, and managed care coverage.

Chandler enjoys the excitement of working with Oyster Point because it is a startup company.

“Oyster Point is new startup company with a brand-new treatment for dry eye disease. It’s always fun and exciting to start with a company from the ground floor,” said Chandler.

Chandler has been in the pharmaceutical sales industry for 15 years. Prior to this, he worked as a sports information director at Mississippi College and Birmingham-Southern.

Sports has always been a passion of Chandler’s. He got his start by working as a student assistant in the MSU Media Relations department for four years.

“I gained added responsibilities each year, including being the contact for women’s tennis, and men’s and women’s golf. I even got to travel to California with the softball team as a senior. The four-year experience working alongside full-time professionals in media relations was the best thing I ever did in college,” said Chandler. 

Chandler advises students to try to intern or volunteer within a department at MSU or a business that interests them. 

“Nothing beats real world experience. Be prepared to tell an employer how those experiences make you qualified for the job. You may not realize it at the time, but you are starting to build your network, which can always help land a job down the road,” said Chandler.

The most important information Chandler learned from the job application and interview process was employers want to know the interviewee for who they are. 

“It’s not necessarily what’s on your resume that employers are interested in. They want to know you as a person, what drives you, how your personality fits within a team environment. So be yourself confidently,” said Chandler.

Favorite memory as a communication student?
The close friendships made with all the Comm students, and hanging out with my professor/advisor Bob Arnett.

Favorite communication class you took and why?
Easy - Interviewing with the legendary Hank Flick.

Most valuable lesson learned from the communication department?
How important it is to be clear and concise in all forms of communication. 

Any funny stories from your time in McComas?
One morning as I was walking to an early class my senior year, I ran into my sister, a freshman, who was walking through McComas from Rice Hall. We were wearing the exact same outfit - gray Old Navy T-shirt and khaki shorts. 

Favorite communication professor and why?
I loved John Forde and Bob Arnett for their insights and sense of humor. But growing up as a kid from Starkville, I was in awe of Hank Flick, the Voice of the Bulldogs. I can actually do a pretty good impersonation of him. His class was a blast every single day. I was able to become friends with him that year, and realized what genuine soul he truly was.