Sydney Henry. Illustration by Jaylene Arnold. 

I’ve worked at AU for two years. Before that, I graduated from Coastal Carolina University in 2023. My job is to develop and implement communication plans for the library. A typical day includes focusing on event marketing communications and building out long-term projects and plans for events. My office is on the library’s first floor.

My favorite place on campus to steal a quiet moment is at the pond behind Clark Hall. My go-to lunch spot is Panera. My go-to order at the Dav is an unsweetened iced tea with a toasted everything bagel. Campus is at its prettiest in early spring, when the temperature warms up, students start going back on the quad, and it’s alive again.

Mine is an Eagle family. I used to work at a skiing and sailing camp called Echo Hill in Worton,  Maryland, and now, some of my old campers go to AU. My five student employees and coworkers in my office are my Eagle family, too. I show my AU spirit by connecting with students and getting involved in the community. Since spring 2025, I’ve also been a union representative for SEIU Local 500. The most famous face I’ve seen on campus is Flo Rida.

The person who helped show me the ropes was Mychaella Bowen, SIS/BA ’20 SOC/MA ’24. This is my first professional job, and Mychaella really took that into account, but also treated me like a full-time staffer from day one. I found my community at AU through my team. The library connects with so many departments, which is convenient for me to get to know people.

My favorite day of the workweek is Thursday because it’s pre-Friday, but it’s also when most of my colleagues are on-site. My work-from-home rituals include always having coffee or tea at my desk and walking outside with my dog, Cedar, during the day.

When I’m not at work, you can find me powerlifting at my apartment gym. I started weight lifting four years ago, specifically focusing on conventional dead lifting. It’s such a simple activity, but you can really engage yourself in it because there’s a lot of training that goes into it. My other hobbies include painting, cooking, and going to the dog park.

The last great book I read was Know My Name by Chanel Miller. The last great show I watched was Reacher. The last great meal I ate was a HelloFresh meal of honey butter pork chops with garlic mashed potatoes and broccoli. My most Washington moment is any time it takes longer than an hour to go five miles.

If I didn’t work at AU, I’d work at a multiclient public relations firm. But my job at AU is best because it’s really rewarding to see the impact of my work with students. I did a lot of experiential learning with internships in college, and now I’m able to provide that opportunity to students. Plus, the library has great views of the quad.