When Meg Robinson ’26 arrived at Samford University as a freshman, she never imagined the places her camera would take her.
Over four years, Robinson transformed a passion for photography into a portfolio filled with Division I athletics, conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances. Along the way, she found something even more meaningful: a community that shaped her faith, friendships and future.
Robinson graduated in May 2026 with a degree in journalism and mass communication as well as a concentration in print media and public relations and a minor in sports media.
Looking back on her time at Samford, she finds it difficult to narrow her experience to a single defining moment.
“My whole experience—I just can’t believe that it’s over,” Robinson said. “It was truly the best thing ever.”
She points to two aspects of her Samford journey that stand above the rest: the university’s community and her work with Samford Athletics.
“The community at Samford is one of one,” she said. “It brought me all my best friends. It brought me my church that I fell in love with, taught me how to pray and really helped me grow in my faith.”
Robinson said the relationships she built with professors in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication played a significant role in her development both personally and professionally.
“They were my biggest cheerleaders,” she said. “They taught me so much every day, not only about journalism and truth, but about life.”
Outside the classroom, Robinson found a second home on the sidelines.
As a creative student worker for Samford Athletics, she spent four years photographing and creating content for Bulldogs teams across every sport. What began as excitement overshooting her first volleyball match quickly evolved into opportunities she once considered impossible.
“I remember being a freshman and walking onto the volleyball court for the first time and being absolutely amazed by the fact that I was shooting a Division I event,” Robinson said.
Her experiences eventually included conference tournaments, away games and two trips to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. One of her favorite memories came during Samford’s memorable 2024 March Madness appearance in Salt Lake City, where she served as the team photographer.
“We were losing by about 20 points at one point, and it was a very neutral crowd,” Robinson recalled. “Then we started coming back against Kansas, and suddenly the whole stadium was chanting, ‘Let’s go Samford.’ To hear people all the way in Salt Lake City cheering for this little school on a hill in Birmingham was something I’ll never forget.”
Capturing those moments reinforced her love for visual storytelling and showed her the impact powerful images can have.
“Taking photos for our athletic teams taught me so much about myself,” she said. “It taught me to never put my dreams down and always lift them a little higher than you think you should.”
Beyond the headline moments, Robinson said the daily responsibilities of athletics content creation provided invaluable preparation for her career. From media days and practice coverage to game-day storytelling, she gained firsthand experience inside a Division I athletic department.
“It wasn’t just the big events,” she said. “The day-to-day work really shaped me because it allowed me to see the inside of a college athletics program, which is the field I want to work in.”
During the spring of 2026, Robinson completed an internship with Knight, a sports agency where she worked as a creative intern. What began as a graphic design internship quickly expanded into broader creative responsibilities, including opportunities to photograph the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament and SEC Baseball Tournament.
“There’s no way I would have had those opportunities without my time at Samford Athletics,” Robinson said. “Samford gave me so many opportunities and so many stories that I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life.”
After graduation, Robinson is taking the next step in her storytelling journey at the University of Georgia, where she will pursue a master’s degree in emerging media. The program focuses on digital storytelling, web design and helping brands communicate their stories effectively.
Alongside her graduate studies, Robinson hopes to continue working in athletics content creation with Georgia Athletics.
Her long-term goal remains unchanged: telling meaningful stories through visual media and connecting audiences with the moments that matter most.
For Robinson, that passion began at Samford.
“The people, the opportunities and the experiences here have meant everything to me,” she said. “I’m so thankful for the chance to tell these stories, and I’m excited to see where that takes me next.”
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