Brenau University

Student Spotlight: Sydney Sims📓🎙️
Degree: Master of Arts in Communication & Media Studies
Current career: Media Relations Manager for Atlanta Public Schools
Previous jobs: Reporter for various Atlanta news outlets; Outreach Coordinator for the Brechner Freedom of Information Project

What brings you joy?
I love to be with my family and friends. I’m an Atlanta native, born and raised. I love doing everything that my city has to offer. I also love telling stories. That is something that led me to journalism and is guiding my career in communications. I can vividly remember my grandma telling all of these stories when I was growing up. My mom is a very avid storyteller too.

What type of stories do you love to tell the most?
I like telling stories about everyday people. Those are the stories that make me happy and remind me of why I’m in this work and why communication matters so much in our society. I just coordinated a story for work about one of our high schools in Atlanta Public Schools that got a $36,000 instrument grant, and the kids are getting brand new instruments. They have no idea, they’re going to be so excited.

Why a master’s in communication and media studies?
At first, I thought it was going to make me a better journalist. But, now as I’m in a very different sector of journalism and communications, I realize it’s really important to be thoughtful and intentional about how we’re sending messaging out into society. The role of communications, journalism, and media in our democracy is to make sure that we are providing safe, genuine, and accurate information to all members of society. So, I think learning the theory behind that and learning the research really helps me to think broadly about how I’m doing that in my day-to-day role. With my current job and my academic ambitions, I’ve found that the program fits me perfectly. The conversations that we’re having in our classes show such a brilliant, like-minded group of people who are all here pursuing the same thing.

Happy Fourth of July from Brenau!!❤🤍💙This past Thursday, we teamed up with @negahistorycenter to celebrate America’s 250th birthday with a history and art camp for kids! The day closed with the opening reception of Celebrating Freedom – Norton Family Legacy Art Collection, which features around 60 pieces of artwork from local and globally-regarded artists!

The Celebrating Freedom exhibition is free and open to the public through July in the Burd Center! The hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

Moultrie 2026!!🚜🩺 As a part of the Moultrie Farmworker Family Health Program, 18 PT doctoral students, four Brenau faculty members, and one alum recently teamed up with Emory and Mercer universities to provide healthcare to underserved migrant farmworkers and their children in Moultrie, Georgia.

In the mornings, Brenau’s DPT team—supported by faculty Dr. Bob Cantu, Dr. Karen Burgbacher, and Dr. Haley McDonald—screened 84 children for fine and gross motor development. Meanwhile, assistant education professor Dr. Laura Cantu conducted educational and psychoeducational screenings and testing for 15 children.

In the evenings, the DPT students evaluated and treated 71 adult farmworkers for musculoskeletal conditions. Through offering manual therapy, exercise prescription, and supportive bracing, our DPT students provided vital care while gaining invaluable, hands-on clinical experience.

#physicaltherapystudent #brenauuniversity #physicaltherapist

Cheers to the last ROAR of the summer!!✔️🐯 Shout out to all the wonderful people who ROARed with us!! See y’all again this August💛

#brenauuniversity #collegeorientation #roar