From summer camper to undergraduate to admissions counselor to master’s graduate: lifelong Tiger looks to her Ph.D. next

Even though Anna Mudry hails from Atlanta, she has been a Clemson Tiger as long as she can remember. In high school, she couldn’t wait for the University’s annual tennis camp each summer. When it came time to commit to college, Clemson was her first (and only) choice. And now, she works for Clemson, coaches tennis for the Tigers and is graduating with her master’s degree from Clemson, with her sights set on a Ph.D. Also, she hopes, from Clemson.

Ever since stepping foot on campus, Anna has been involved in as much as possible. She deepened her connection with her Clemson Athletics family by becoming manager of the tennis team and started coaching at the camp she once attended. Anna says she found her place here and realized early on that she wasn’t quite ready to leave. Not while she felt such a distinct connection to the college and the community.

“The Clemson Family goes across the whole campus, and I could sense that in everything I did and everyone I talked to,” Anna says. “I felt that in athletics, I felt that in my major and I feel that now as I work here and get ready to graduate again. That feeling of family is what kept me here.”

While pursuing her master’s degree in youth development leadership through the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences, Anna became the New Jersey admissions counselor for Clemson’s Office of Admissions and was a part of the life-changing decision many other students make to come to Clemson. Now, as she prepares to graduate, she looks back with pride on her accomplishments at Clemson.

Being able to counsel other young girls through the camp that was her happy place growing up has been truly fulfilling work. And being able to do it all at Clemson, the place she has always felt drawn to, only adds meaning.

“I always say my ‘why’ is to help people become the best version of themselves, and I feel like I can really do that, especially at camp. Seeing the campers return year after year and just being a safe space for them is great,” she says. “And seeing new athletes come in, and now seeing them graduate, that’s a really cool full circle moment.”

As for her future aspirations, Anna is continuing her education at Clemson for at least a few more years. There hasn’t been a semester in six years she hasn’t taken a class, but after graduating in August with her master’s, she expects to take a few months away from the classroom and eventually get back in Clemson’s academic halls for her Ph.D.

Anna’s continuing story is rich in experiences and grounded in academia, but the common thread is Clemson. This life she’s built in Tigertown is a dream come true. For Anna, there really is something special in these hills, and it’s inspired her to change the lives of others.

“I think the people here really care about each other on a whole different level. They are all very important to me. The Clemson Family and the Clemson culture that’s created here, I don’t think it can be found anywhere else. You can learn anywhere, but this is an experience.”