Every year, the campus turns into a vibrant community of self reflection, reunion, and nostalgia
as alumni from past generations come together to celebrate the past and cherish the present
during Alumni Weekend at Brenau University. This weekend not only serves as a celebration of
the past generations of students but a testament to the power of friendship, a shared community,
and the enduring spirit of Brenau.
As the time winds near professors at the College of Business and Communication are taking some time to reflect on this historical weekend and what it means to them from a professional lens. As not only professors but people coming together to create lasting memories with students both past and present.
Anna Deeb, Associate Professor of Communication, teaches classes such as Fundamentals of Speech, which helps equip students to become more confident in their public speaking abilities and serves on different committees within the College of Business and Communication. She is also the chair of the faculty leadership team that helps provide resources for staff when fulfilling workplace responsibilities. For Deeb, this weekend is special.
“I think it’s a really special event because it brings back members of the community who may not come at every time of year because they’re coming from out of town; It has the biggest draws of alumni and reminds us how Brenau is really a global community,” Deeb said.
As alumni weekend serves as a special time for people to reunite on campus, this annual tradition compares substantially differently to other traditions on campus as various different events occur over the course of three days. Through a professor’s perspective the thing that makes this annual tradition so special is the reconnections that are made with former students as they have made professional endeavors in their careers after graduation with the valuable skills and knowledge that they have acquired during their time at Brenau. Which have equipped them to apply these skills and grow into their new roles as well as careers. Professors serve as mentors for students as the building blocks to support them in their academic as well as professional endeavors and guide them in the areas where they may feel doubt in order to fill them with the confidence that “From Here You Truly Can”, as penned from the Marketing Department.
Deeb feels a sense of nurture but also joy when seeing her former students thrive outside of the classroom after their time at the University.
“It’s very fulfilling as a professor to see that chain of events from having them as students and seeing them apply the skills to grow and become who they are meant to be that’s really fulfilling,” she said.
As the celebrations began to get underway on Thursday, April 3rd within the Hosch Theatre as the Alumni Endowed Speaker Erik Qualman took the stage all abuzz as well as excitement lit up the stage. Community members, staff, and students all gathered together to hear Qualman’s insights about the impacts of AI on higher education and the first fifty people in attendance were able to get a book from the speaker.
During May day celebrations on Saturday, April 5th on campus the student community came together to celebrate their peers and show their support during this wonderful ceremony. At this event I had the opportunity to represent the Freshman class along with an amazing group of young ladies. The ceremony opened up with remarks from Dr. Mcdowell-Robinson followed by the procession of students under the crows nest to the main stage with remarks given by SG Bertolini. After the main events the annual May Dance was held with lots of fun and fanfare among everyone.
This annual event was truly a time for reunion and celebration for not just the Brenau alums but the students as well. Giving them a chance to take a part in celebrations such as Class Day, the Brenau Research Symposium, and Mayday. Fun was had and times were cherished as we look to close out another amazing year at the University.
Photo credits: Antoinette Selby
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