From the classroom to City Hall: Anna Reeves steps into public service

For Augusta University student Anna Reeves, serving on the Blythe City Council is the latest step in a long-standing interest in community service and local government.

Reeves traces that interest back to her teenage years, when her mother ran for city council in Blythe, Georgia. Reeves helped knock on doors during the campaign, giving her an early look at civic engagement. Years later, after Hurricane Helene affected her community, Reeves said she became more motivated to pursue public office after seeing areas where local response and access to resources could be improved.

“While Anna was an undergraduate student, she was passionate about being involved on campus and with the local community,” said Pamela Hayward, PhD, director of Integrated Studies in the Department of Communication and Integrated Studies. “In fact, she earned the AU 2025 Excellence in Community Engagement award. And, unsurprisingly, was also recognized as the 2025-2026 Outstanding Student in Integrated Studies. Having a chance to see her being sworn in to her new role on the Blythe City Council was a moment of joy for me as I know how hard she works for her local community. I predict she will be a real agent of positive change in our region.”

Her academic experience at AU has also shaped how she approaches public service. Reeves entered AU through the Integrated Studies program and later continued into the Master of Public Administration pathway. She said the flexibility of Integrated Studies allowed her to combine coursework in areas such as podcasting, criminal justice, terrorism and government with her broader interest in public leadership. Her undergraduate research focused on rural and small-town government and resources, which she later drew upon while campaigning for office.

“Her transition from the Integrated Studies program into our Master of Public Administration pathway, coupled with her dedication to civic leadership on the Blythe City Council, showcases how our students lead with purpose and make a tangible difference where it matters most,” said Kim Davies, PhD, dean of the Katherine Reese Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.

Now, as both an MPA student and newly sworn-in council member, Reeves is beginning to see how academic concepts translate into local government.

“There’s always bureaucracy to things, and things are not always as cut and dry or as nice as it sounds in a textbook,” Reeves said. She noted that council decisions require collaboration with other elected officials and said her immediate focus is learning the role while listening to residents.

Reeves will also help oversee Blythe’s library, an area that connects with her previous service as president of the Friends of the Blythe Library. The organization helped provide additional funding for books and supported a library that recorded more than 900 checkouts during the summer months.

“Anna focuses on the applicability of the classroom to the real-world,” said Wesley Meares, PhD, the graduate director of the Masters in Public Administration program. “She is curious and always looking for opportunities to better serve her community. She is very intentional in her work and service and is an excellent example of AU values in action.”

Reeves encourages AU students interested in public service to start with volunteer opportunities and community involvement, which she said always provides a chance to learn something new.