According to this (via FlackLife), all higher ed PR people should be relatively happy.
…Generalists, people with moderately strong attachments to many ideas, should be hard to interrupt, and once interrupted, should have weaker, shorter negative negative reactions since they have alternative paths to realize their plans. Specialists, people with stronger attachments to fewer ideas, should be easier to interrupt, and once interrupted, should have stronger,more sustained negative reactions because they have fewer alternative pathways to realize their plans. Generalists should be the upbeat, positive people in the profession while specialists should be their grouchy, negative counterparts. — Karl Weick
In general, I agree. (What did you expect from a happy-go-lucky generalist?) The college and university public relations folks I know tend to be more upbeat and optimistic than, say, graphic designers. But we’re not nearly as chipper as the marketing, alumni relations or development folks.
Then again, a lot of PR people with a writing background (the best kind, in my opinion) are more introverted than the schmoozing marketing, development and alumni relations types, and they may come off as moody or negative. Much of it is a matter of perception, I think.
I’ve been accused of being a pessimist before by my fellow PR people. I prefer to think of it as realism based on experience.
Andy writes! 
Amen, to the realism. I’m with you there.
And, I didn’t know I was so happy! ;) Yet, with the writing background, I’m also a bit moody or negative? OK, I’ll work on that … becoming more moody and negative, that is.
I get the jest of it. Environment likely is the strongest determining factor, don’t you think? Of course, I know very positive people that hate the environment they work in, too.
Interesting post. And, I finally posted about the Name Change blog. I love those kind of blogs. Thanks for sharing it with me.
Take care.
Thanks for posting about the name change blog. My disposition is suddenly sunnier.