At Brenau, your future takes shape, one bold step at a time.
Every class, every connection, every challenge moves you closer to your purpose. Whether you’re aiming to start your career, or move to the next level, opportunities are at your fingertips, all you have to do is reach.
With our small classes, dedicated professors and career-focused coursework you are more than just a number. You’re a part of a community that sees you, hears you and believes in your potential. Here, we’ll equip you with the tools and confidence to turn your passions into achievements.
Brenau University, where dreaming becomes doing.
I really appreciate the small student-to-teacher ratio at Brenau. I like the teachers, and I enjoy the extra hands-on time during our clinical rotations.Dan Smith
It’s very easy to build meaningful connections here, and there are so many opportunities for professional, academic, and personal growth on and off campus.Avery Waldin
Brenau has shown me how capable I am, pushing me to do my best. I am capable of working a full-time job, giving 110% to my students and working through my assignments.Hanna Simmons
Certain professors have made a big impact on my learning and college experience. They go above and beyond to show their love for the profession and the students.Ember Salazar
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145+
years educating students2451
enrolled students614
degrees conferred in the 2024-2025 academic year
Student Spotlight: Taleah Gipson✏️📐
Major: Interior Design
Hobbies: Collecting vinyl, bullet journaling, and playing The Sims
What drew you to interior design?
When I was a kid, I really enjoyed customizing my dollhouses. Then I was watching HGTV, and I was like, “I want to do that.”
What has been your favorite Interior Design class so far?
In Design 1, that class had a lot of different projects that touched on different aspects of design, which I really like. I made a space inspired by a record. And to this day it’s one of my favorite models and projects that I’ve done. I collect vinyls, and that kind of brings me peace. So, I decided to translate that into the space.
What advice would you give to incoming interior design students?
Definitely remind yourself of your passion because there are going to be times when it gets a little rough and difficult. It helps me to remember why I started, and what I want to do with my degree. Also, project management is very important.
What do you want to do with your degree?
As of right now, I’m thinking about going into set design. So, maybe movie sets or live performance sets. I’m still figuring out which one specifically.
What is one thing you want everyone to know about Brenau’s Interior Design program?
It’s very close-knit. Our studio is a decent size, but we’re always around other levels of students. So, freshmen are able to mingle with sophomores, juniors, and seniors. And that really helps, especially when you thought you understood an assignment, or you just want another set of eyes to look at your work. We are all motivating each other. Although it gets very busy, and you may think that you’re not going to complete all of your work, you’re going to make it to the finish line.
#brenauuniversity #interiordesign #interiordesignstudent
Unmasking HJ — New Netflix exclusive documentary coming soon🐯
#documentary #brenauuniversity #mascot
As a part of an interdisciplinary class this summer, a group of PsyD, PA-S, and PT students teamed up to provide support to some of the residents of Myrtle Terrace, an independent living facility in Gainesville! Through their collaborative efforts, they conducted screenings to evaluate the physical and mental health of their assigned residents. From there, the students helped the residents establish personalized health goals, then connected them with community resources.
#brenauuniversity #physicaltherapy #physicianassistant #psyd
Student + Alum Spotlight: Gillian and Carla Williams✏🍎
Growing up as the daughter of a dedicated educator, Gillian Williams had a front-row seat in viewing what truly makes a great teacher.
“I want to be like my mom,” Gillian said. “I see how much she cares for her students and how much she pours her heart into whatever she’s teaching. She goes above and beyond, not just for her students, but her staff and school.”
Gillian’s mom, Carla Williams, received her education specialist degree from Brenau in 2019, followed by her Ed.D. in 2021. For the past 19 years, she has taught kindergarten at Cleveland Road Elementary School in Bogart, Georgia.
When learning that her daughter wanted to pursue a teaching career, Carla said she “tried to talk her out of it” because of the many challenges currently facing educators. But, after witnessing Gillian’s interactions with kids in a classroom setting and seeing the fervor she has
for education, she couldn’t help but support her daughter.
“If that’s her dream, that’s our goal,” Carla said. “The biggest thing for me is just that she follows her heart and her passion, and her passion is education.”
Just as her mom did before her, Gillian is about to embark on her own Brenau education journey. In August, she will start her first semester as an elementary education major.
“I’m excited to meet the people in my class,” Gillian said. “I’m also looking forward to being in a classroom, doing full lesson plans, and seeing kids grow from whatever age I teach up to middle school.”
🎾☀Summer Tennis Camp☀🎾 @brenautennis is wrapping up their final week of hosting a tennis camp for kids in the community! The camp is run by a few of our tennis athletes, as well as Kathryn Barker, Brenau’s head tennis coach.
“It’s really great because it gives them (tennis athletes) the opportunity to build their leadership skills and their ability to communicate well and facilitate things on the court,” said Coach Barker.
A huge thank you to Upstream’s Pillars with Purpose for granting $2,000 to Brenau PT’s 2026 Moultrie efforts!
Through @pillarswithpurpose’s generous support, 18 PT doctoral students were able to participate in the Moultrie Farmworker Family Health Program this summer. During the service trip, the PT team offered free healthcare to underserved migrant farm workers and their children in Moultrie, Georgia.
“It’s something where we can give back,” said Robert Cornett, vice president of operations for Upstream (BenchMark) Rehabilitation. “It sets the trajectory of the students in our current profession and the servant mentality, which is what we want to do for the rest of our lives.”
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.
