PAN Communications Partners with CAHSS to Expand Academic Mentorship Program

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Oct. 2, 2020) – North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University has partnered with PAN Communications, a leading integrated marketing and PR firm, to bolster career development and diversify employment opportunities in the communications profession.

To expand its PAN Portal Network at Syracuse University, PAN Communications added North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central University and Elon University. PAN team members work alongside schools in the network to review their post-graduate opportunities and portfolio of relevant professional materials from their previous studies and internships. The goal of the program is to offer tangible advice and resume support before graduation, assist students in job searches in the virtual world and educate students about the wide variety of opportunities that exist in a communications career.

Students in the PAN Portal Network are all graduating seniors in the communications programs of each respective college and university. The students and PAN mentors interact via videoconference on each school’s designated PAN Portal Days, taking place between Sept. 29 and Nov. 5. The program will mentor more than 150 students this fall semester, with additional students participating this spring.

Frances Ward-Johnson, dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, said the new network will be beneficial to students looking for career opportunities in public relations and further. N.C. A&T is a top HBCU and a top producer of public relations professionals.

“This is an excellent opportunity for our students as they prepare to embark on their careers and network with highly skilled professionals,” said Ward-Johnson. “We are excited to partner with PAN Communications and give our students access to mentors and real world experiences. Additionally, this collaboration will contribute to broadening our program offerings and will provide additional insights into qualities students need to succeed in the communications industry.”

In addition to the expansion of the PAN Portal Network, PAN President and CEO Philip A. Nardone Jr. will lead a three-part guest lecture series on topics like critical issues facing the PR industry, how to grow and excel your career and the three main facets of an agency: client relations, business development and people management.

“Expanding our network and my guest lecture series to help further diversity and equity initiatives across the industry this year is something that I’m incredibly proud to lead,” said Nardone. “I have as much to learn from these students as they do from me, and I believe that this updated curriculum and our partnerships with historically Black colleges and universities is the first step toward change.”