Profiles of Tenacity: Madeline Ramsey

Maddie Ramsey is a senior entertainment and media studies major with a theater minor from Kansas City, Missouri, set to graduate in May 2026. She is co-president of The Industry Club, volunteers at the Athens Film Festival and is a Women in Film and Television scholarship recipient. Ramsey spends much of her time working on student film sets and coordinating University of Georgia MFA and undergraduate film projects.

Read her Q/A below.

Why did you choose your major? 

I chose my major before being accepted to the University of Georgia, since I was already familiar with both Grady College’s Entertainment and Media Studies program and Franklin College’s film program. Each offered valuable tools for understanding the industry, but Grady’s curriculum aligned more with my social and creative interests. It offered hands-on experience in filmmaking, writing, directing, producing and more. I’ve always had a passion for being behind the camera and knew that, no matter what field I entered, I wanted to entertain. Being an EMST major has opened more doors than I could have imagined, and I can’t picture choosing anything else.

What does tenacity mean to you? 

To me, tenacity is the ability to understand who you are, what you want and how you’re going to achieve it. It means working intentionally toward your goals while learning to navigate the parts of life that don’t go according to plan. Being a tenacious person means taking ownership of your path and adapting to change with an outlook that is both optimistic and realistic.

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

Always be your biggest cheerleader and believe in yourself. You will experience many successes and failures, but if you let failure tear you down, you block potential growth and new opportunities. Grady is full of ambitious, dedicated students, which makes it easy to compare yourself to others but comparison is the thief of joy. I firmly believe that if you carry the self-confidence you deserve, others will follow.

What or who has had the biggest impact on your life? 

My parents have been my number one supporters throughout my time at UGA, and without them, there are many opportunities I may not have even considered. They are my rocks, and I thank them for encouraging me to spend this past summer in Los Angeles. Grady LA was life-changing, to say the least. I spent eight weeks in the City of Dreams working for Key Talent Management as an intern, expanding my network and creating lasting memories with peers who share my love for the industry. I saw entertainment in a different light and plan to return after I graduate in the spring to finish what I started. The network of individuals there was so supportive, and I feel that same energy here in Georgia from Grady’s EMST and MFA students.

What has been your biggest accomplishment in the past year? 

In December 2025, I had the opportunity to work as second assistant director on my first feature film, Enter The Power Surge, directed by Jimmy Ace Lewis and shot in Lawrenceville, Georgia. We shot the feature in only 10 days, with each day being a full 12-hour shoot. I am still beyond proud of our cast and crew for pulling it off and connecting so deeply with each other while doing so. I have worked on 19 film sets since coming to UGA, but I hold this one in the highest regard. In addition, I was chosen to serve as The Industry Club’s co-president for the 2025-26 school year, and it has been very fulfilling. I love being able to provide students with resources in entertainment and watching how they use them to flourish.

What is your favorite place on campus and why? 

I’m clearly biased, but Grady Lawn is hands-down my favorite place to be on campus. Whether it’s for reading, studying, listening to music or just lying in the sun, if you can’t find me, chances are I’m sprawled out on the lovely Schnitzer Family Grady lawn.

What advice would you give to your future self? 

I would tell my future self to just chill out, because chances are she is probably doing way too much. All the energy and effort you put out into the universe doesn’t just go away, it always comes back to you. Sometimes you have to take a step back and trust that everything will work out the way it’s meant to. Slow down, stay present and be proud of yourself.

Editor: Anyi Morfaw, abm40431@uga.edu