Pros
Working at a public university, help to give students from less privileged backgrounds an opportunity to grow and succeed, and you meet a lot of people who really care about the mission. It is a tight-knit culture that brings opportunities, arts, and culture to the Southland. There are also many opportunities to attend interesting events and learn about faculty research.
Cons
With the lack of financial resources for public universities, it is challenging to find the budget to attract and retain students and alumni donors. It is also a place where burnout is a very real risk because the need is so high and the resources are so low. It is challenging to be newer to the workforce in that environment because processes are not documented and there is too much reactivity to take time for training. The tight-knit "we're a family" culture can also be very cliquish at times.