“Sydney is very humble, always willing to help others in need,” said Chen Zhou, associate chair of undergraduate studies in the Stewart School. “She is an outstanding student academically and has demonstrated great leadership in her tenure at Georgia Tech and in ISyE.”

Mudd has maintained a 4.0 and is a Stamps President’s Scholar. She’s also co-founder and president of Black Industrial Engineers (IEs) at Tech and serves as the undergraduate representative of the ISyE Diversity, Equity & Inclusion committee. Along the way, she’s discovered a drive to expand access and participation in technology and engineering.

“Everyone says, ‘Find your passion. Follow your passion.’ I found my passion for helping underrepresented groups when I came to Tech. I figured out that I really care about increasing representation, and I can see myself doing this throughout my career,” Mudd said.

The Black IEs at Tech group has been one way Mudd is working to make a difference. In its second year, the club is focused on providing academic and professional support for Black students in ISyE and helping them build community. It grew out of conversations and town halls organized through the DEI committee where it became clear that Black students felt disconnected from each other.

The group regularly hosts informal conversations with students and Black alumni to support professional development. They’re also working to build a peer-led academic support network so students can turn to each other when they’re struggling with an assignment or class. Mudd said she’s already seen a difference in the way students pass in the hall and stop to talk or check in on each other.

Serving her community comes naturally for Mudd. Since she was 12 or 13, she and her family have helped feed less fortunate people around her home in Stone Mountain, Georgia, and across metro Atlanta.