International public relations professional visited OC to share unique experiences and advice with students

Oklahoma Christian University students enjoyed a rare opportunity in the spring to learn from an internationally accomplished public relations executive who worked with multiple U.S. presidents. Feroz Bashari, the former senior director of strategic communication for the Afghanistan president’s office, spoke to OC Communication students in the spring. He shared insights with the students, including cultural differences in working with the media and how his work impacted history.

Bashari spoke in a class taught by Associate Professor of Communication Josh Waston, who praised Bashari’s talk.

“He graciously visited with students in my PR & Social Media Influencer Principles class, and addressed incredibly high-level concepts with students,” Watson said. “He has truly lived amazing experiences while seeking to build democracy in the Middle East.”

Due to Bashari’s work supporting democracy, he faced threats on his and his family’s lives. He eventually had to flee the country for the sake of his family. His experience and guidance to students is incredibly valuable.

“I look forward to hosting Feroz again,”  Waston said. “He discusses crisis communication on the international stage and how to work with international news media while responding to policy-changing tweets in real time. His perspective is unmatched in the region."