Summer Phenix
Summer Phenix
A Game Changer in Motion: Autumn Gary’s Path to Purpose
A Game Changer in Motion: Autumn Gary’s Path to Purpose
The Spelman Blueprint proudly presents junior political science major Autumn Gary with The 2026 Spotlight Award: Game Changers for her outstanding contributions to the Harris-Walz campaign, in addition to the lasting impacts she has made on campus, including but not limited to her role as Vice President of Spelman Democrats.
Hailing from Phoenix City, Alabama, Gary is no stranger to serving her community. Throughout high school, she worked with local politicians. When she arrived at Spelman College, she knew she wanted to continue that work.
Despite being a Spelman legacy, it was not until after attending Spelman’s Homecoming during her junior year of high school that Gary knew she wanted to attend Spelman like her mother—Class of 1997. Despite not engaging with Spelman in her youth, the warmth at Homecoming immediately attracted her to the illustrious institution.
“I will walk with this confidence. I will walk into a room and know that I own it because that is what is being displayed in front of me”, Gary said.
Though Gary was elated to attend Spelman, she did not exactly hit the ground running. During her freshman year of college, she says that she applied for many positions that she did not obtain. To her freshman self and other current freshmen, she advises, “Never get tired of trying, and if you do, still don’t stop.”
She did not, in fact, stop.
Gary continued applying for opportunities and dedicated herself to on-campus organizations, such as the Young Democrats of Georgia, reflecting her passions, and eventually leading her to her most rewarding achievement: her involvement in the 2024 Harris-Walz presidential campaign.
She received the opportunity to participate in the campaign through the Black Caucus of the Young Democrats of Georgia. Within weeks of attaining the invitation, Gary was on the move.
Gary’s work with the campaign consisted primarily of door-to-door canvassing and phone banking in the Metro Atlanta area.
“What was most rewarding about this, is that so many residents of the houses that we went by weren’t registered to vote. They didn’t know how they could go register, or if they were registered to vote, they didn't know where their voting place was, or how they could get there, or if they were military or elderly or disabled," Gary said.
After her work with the campaign in Atlanta came to a close, she interacted with Tim Walz himself at a coffee shop just up the street from Spelman. She remarked how meeting him in person felt like a sign that she was on the right track.
“It felt like I was gaining something from all this work that we’ve done to be able to hear from one of the people that we’re working for."
Currently, Gary is participating in similar campaign work for democratic Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff, the youngest United States senator running for reelection in the upcoming midterms. She looks forward to increasing voter mobilization and deepening her commitment to the West End area of Atlanta.
After graduation, Gary hopes to stay in Georgia and pursue criminal law. She hopes to continue her volunteer work even as her coursework intensity increases, demonstrating her commitment to being a resource in her community.
“I think that it's very important to be able to serve the communities that you live in," she said.
Although Gary has spent a great deal of time electioneering for others, she hopes to one day run for office herself. More specifically, she hopes to tackle displacement and gentrification in the Atlanta area.
“I really like Georgia. Atlanta has a special place in my heart."
Even after she graduates, Gary plans to be involved in the Spelman community. She looks forward to being an active participant in the Alumni Association.
Before her departure, Gary aims to ensure the on-campus organizations she is involved in are well-positioned for success. Within the next year, she aspires to develop an internship, fellowship, or scholarship program for first-year political science majors so that they do not have to work as hard as she did to secure a summer position. She also aspires to create long-lasting partnerships between the Spelman Democrats club and local law firms.
“I hope that after I leave, that will still continue and that the people that come after me will be able to really take it and run with it”, Gary said.
Going into her senior year, Gary reflects on her Spelman journey with gratitude.
“I hope that one day, when I am an alum, I am able to pour into someone the same way that this school has poured into me”, Gary said.
In the coming years, Autumn Gary will surely continue to be a Game Changer, strengthening every community she interacts with.
The Spelman Blueprint proudly presents junior political science major Autumn Gary with The 2026 Spotlight Award: Game Changers for her outstanding contributions to the Harris-Walz campaign, in addition to the lasting impacts she has made on campus, including but not limited to her role as Vice President of Spelman Democrats.
Hailing from Phoenix City, Alabama, Gary is no stranger to serving her community. Throughout high school, she worked with local politicians. When she arrived at Spelman College, she knew she wanted to continue that work.
Despite being a Spelman legacy, it was not until after attending Spelman’s Homecoming during her junior year of high school that Gary knew she wanted to attend Spelman like her mother—Class of 1997. Despite not engaging with Spelman in her youth, the warmth at Homecoming immediately attracted her to the illustrious institution.
“I will walk with this confidence. I will walk into a room and know that I own it because that is what is being displayed in front of me”, Gary said.
Though Gary was elated to attend Spelman, she did not exactly hit the ground running. During her freshman year of college, she says that she applied for many positions that she did not obtain. To her freshman self and other current freshmen, she advises, “Never get tired of trying, and if you do, still don’t stop.”
She did not, in fact, stop.
Gary continued applying for opportunities and dedicated herself to on-campus organizations, such as the Young Democrats of Georgia, reflecting her passions, and eventually leading her to her most rewarding achievement: her involvement in the 2024 Harris-Walz presidential campaign.
She received the opportunity to participate in the campaign through the Black Caucus of the Young Democrats of Georgia. Within weeks of attaining the invitation, Gary was on the move.
Gary’s work with the campaign consisted primarily of door-to-door canvassing and phone banking in the Metro Atlanta area.
“What was most rewarding about this, is that so many residents of the houses that we went by weren’t registered to vote. They didn’t know how they could go register, or if they were registered to vote, they didn't know where their voting place was, or how they could get there, or if they were military or elderly or disabled," Gary said.
After her work with the campaign in Atlanta came to a close, she interacted with Tim Walz himself at a coffee shop just up the street from Spelman. She remarked how meeting him in person felt like a sign that she was on the right track.
“It felt like I was gaining something from all this work that we’ve done to be able to hear from one of the people that we’re working for."
Currently, Gary is participating in similar campaign work for democratic Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff, the youngest United States senator running for reelection in the upcoming midterms. She looks forward to increasing voter mobilization and deepening her commitment to the West End area of Atlanta.
After graduation, Gary hopes to stay in Georgia and pursue criminal law. She hopes to continue her volunteer work even as her coursework intensity increases, demonstrating her commitment to being a resource in her community.
“I think that it's very important to be able to serve the communities that you live in," she said.
Although Gary has spent a great deal of time electioneering for others, she hopes to one day run for office herself. More specifically, she hopes to tackle displacement and gentrification in the Atlanta area.
“I really like Georgia. Atlanta has a special place in my heart."
Even after she graduates, Gary plans to be involved in the Spelman community. She looks forward to being an active participant in the Alumni Association.
Before her departure, Gary aims to ensure the on-campus organizations she is involved in are well-positioned for success. Within the next year, she aspires to develop an internship, fellowship, or scholarship program for first-year political science majors so that they do not have to work as hard as she did to secure a summer position. She also aspires to create long-lasting partnerships between the Spelman Democrats club and local law firms.
“I hope that after I leave, that will still continue and that the people that come after me will be able to really take it and run with it”, Gary said.
Going into her senior year, Gary reflects on her Spelman journey with gratitude.
“I hope that one day, when I am an alum, I am able to pour into someone the same way that this school has poured into me”, Gary said.
In the coming years, Autumn Gary will surely continue to be a Game Changer, strengthening every community she interacts with.