Anna Gronholm

Financial Planning, Housing and Consumer Economics

Highly decorated student discovered meaning in helping others find their home

Hometown

Roswell, Ga.

Major

Housing Management and Policy with an emphasis in Residential Property Management; Business Management; Legal Studies Certificate

Activities/Honors

HOUSE vice president; Food2Kids vice president of operations; Alpha Phi member; UGA RPM mentorship; IREM GA volunteer committee member/committee co-chair for the IREM GA PR committee and student member (IREM GA Student of the Year 2021); IREM (International): student member (IREM Student of the Year 2021)

Why I chose my major

When I came to UGA, I was honestly overwhelmed by the number of majors there were to choose from. I knew I wanted to pursue a degree in business, but it felt as if something else was missing. I spoke with my advisor. We were just making small talk and asked me what my parents did for a living. I told her that my dad was a landlord and has been since before I was born. She suggested that I look into the housing management and policy major. I didn’t even know this was an option! After I took Dr. Sherle Brown’s class, I was hooked. I could feel the passion that she and other industry leaders had for the industry. Since then, I have been letting my own passion in RPM soar, and I cannot wait to continue after graduation. I find so much meaning in being able to be a part of someone’s life story. They are in a certain and special chapter in their life, and I am able to help them make their house or apartment a home. It brings me so much happiness that people can drive past a community years later, and they think to themselves, “that is where my daughter took her first steps” or “that is where I found out I got ___ job." I feel that being in the industry will allow me to make an impact bigger than myself.

What I like most about FACS

My favorite experience with FACS is actually a collective experience with the FACS staff members and advisors. Each and every staff member has been so supportive and motivating throughout my whole college career. Dr. Sherle Brown, a FACS instructor, has been a monumental part of my college career. She is not only so knowledgeable about the content she teaches, but she also truly cares about the success of her students. She wants each and every one of us to succeed, and she will do whatever she can to make that happen!

Post-graduation plans

I will be joining Cortland as their talent development specialist in Atlanta.