Brad Mock ’12 ’15 planted his roots at the University of West Georgia and now stands firmly as a leader both in public service and as an alumnus of the institution. Recently named chief executive officer for the Georgia Association of Realtors (GAR) and previously serving as chair of the UWG Alumni Association Board of Directors, Mock embodies the values of UWG through integrity, achievement and caring. Throughout his life, Mock has navigated through challenges and triumphs, emerging as a prominent figure in the world of legislative advocacy and as a dedicated member of the UWG community, with leadership on the Alumni Association’s board of directors. His journey began as a child searching for a way to pursue his education. 

“I had parents who loved me and a warm house to live in, but we didn’t have much else,” Mock explained. “For me, UWG was my first choice. The opportunities the university gave me in the courses I took were just the beginning. The connections I made and the relationships I built: that’s where I started to realize how important it is to expand your network both professionally and personally while you’re enrolled in college.”

This personal mantra of “knowing others before you need them” inspired the importance of connection in Mock’s life. It led Mock to a nine-year career in public service, serving a key role in property rights activism through the GAR.

His collegiate experiences offered professors and lessons critical to growth prior to his successes in leadership.

“All of the coursework aiding me in translating my understanding of the topics at hand via writing and presentation was a real thing,” said Mock. “My ability to understand something, break it down and describe it to someone else comes straight out of the University of West Georgia.” 

Mock filled his professional toolbox while obtaining his bachelor’s in political science in 2012 and a master’s degree in public administration in 2015 at UWG. Since then, Mock has navigated through several high-impact positions such as a state Senate aide, political field representative, and ultimately, to his CEO position with GAR.  

“The GAR is a 50,000-member trade association composed of real estate agents who chose to be held to a higher standard with a code of ethics and become a dues-paying member of the realtor organization,” explained Mock. “That’s who I work for. In a way, I have 50,000 bosses, and it’s wonderful. My heart has always been in work that takes a service-centric approach, and we will build strength as an association through service.”

This ideology of strength through service holds true in Mock’s positions outside of his professional work. Mock launched the Wolves Mentoring Program while serving as a UWG Alumni Association board member, matching current students with alumni volunteers – and UWG faculty and staff – to create a mutually beneficial relationship focused on student success.

“As I grew in my role at GAR, I started to understand that I didn’t really know about it before I got into it,” said Mock. “That’s what started me down that path of realizing students need exposure to more things through initiatives such as the mentoring program. Many of our students graduating with broader bachelor’s degrees know what space they want to work in but not the exact job. If we can give them more exposure to more people with careers in these fields who are a walking, talking and breathing example of a UWG degree resulting in a job, we can get to the root of why we all go to college in the first place.”