Profiles of Tenacity: Ashley Burnsed

Ashley Burnsed is a fourth-year Entertainment and Media Studies Major from Dallas, Georgia. Burnsed is the president of Backlight Student Film Festival, producer for UGA Student Films and Student Videographer for UGA’s Division of Marketing & Communications.

Read her Q/A below.

Why did you choose your major?

In fourth grade, I went to the Georgia Aquarium and asked one of the dolphin trainers which major in college would allow me to do her job. She told me I’d have to major in science, but even at that age, I already knew science and math were not for me. So I turned to my other passion of making movie magic and haven’t looked back since. When coming to college, Entertainment and Media Studies was the obvious choice. EMST combines hands-on experience with practical knowledge about industry operations to prepare students to enter this highly competitive market. It was the perfect choice!

What does tenacity mean to you?

Tenacity means taking initiative and betting on yourself to achieve your dream. You truly must be your biggest supporter and be willing to pick yourself back up after things don’t go your way. Learn from your mistakes and remember: to fail is human. The key is not being so afraid of failure that you don’t put yourself out there. Be tenacious and go for it!

What is one piece of advice that you would give to other Grady students?

My advice would be to find the people who motivate you to work harder and surround yourself with them. Imposter syndrome is a real thing, and you will be around people who are better than you in certain ways. But instead of falling into the trap of thinking you don’t deserve to be there, make an effort to collaborate with those peers and learn from them. Use this time to build connections and offer your own strengths to help your peers. Grady is full of so many talented students, each uniquely gifted with special interests. Lean into this and use it to your advantage.

What motivates you?

I am motivated most by my family, especially my mom. She graduated from Grady back in 1995 with a Telecommunications degree (Entertainment and Media Studies before it was renamed). She has been such an inspiration to me by showing me what it looks like to be a strong, independent woman working in a creative industry. She is a resilient and tenacious person, and I want to be just like her when I grow up. 

What or who has had the biggest impact on your life during your time at UGA?

In May 2025, I studied abroad at the Cannes Film Festival. While I shared the experience with an amazing group of fellow students, a large portion of the festival was spent by me independently going to screenings, networking events and red carpet premieres. This pushed me outside of my comfort zone to talk with new people who lived in different parts of the world, and I am so grateful for it. I got to meet creative people working in all facets of the industry and learned how to network professionally. This experience showed me that I am ready to enter the entertainment industry and will do whatever it takes to make it happen.

What has been your biggest accomplishment in the past year?

This year, I was selected to serve as President of Backlight Student Film Festival. I have been working with Backlight for the past three years, and it has been such a privilege to step into this position. I now lead a team of 14 students in putting on a statewide film festival that takes place in spring. Everyone on our team is insanely talented, and I can’t wait to see what this year holds.

What is your favorite place on campus and why?

Maybe it is basic, but I love Grady. I can always find a friend in that building and love getting to meet other creatives in between classes. It is so fun to walk through, see people and hear about what my peers are working on. Not to mention, there seems to always be an event going on at Grady, and chances are you can get some free food out of it. 

What advice would you give to your freshman self?

I would tell her to try as much as possible, but you don’t need to say yes to everything. You’ll find certain clubs and organizations that feel right for what you are looking for. Hang on to those and dive in. You’ll also find some clubs and organizations that don’t fit your needs and/or interests. It is okay to say no and find something else. You can’t do it all, so find what works best for you.

Editor: Kaia Kirkpatrick, klk87892@uga.edu