Finding Her Voice
When Hannah Brummer ’20 transferred to Elmhurst University after two years at a community college, she wasn’t just looking for somewhere to finish her education—she was seeking a place where she belonged. From the moment she stepped onto Elmhurst’s campus, she knew she had found that. “It just felt like home,” she recalls. The welcoming atmosphere, close-knit community and sense of family confirmed that Elmhurst was the right choice.
Brummer, a Mount Prospect, Illinois, native who earned her degree in communications, quickly immersed herself in campus life, discovering the power of connected learning through involvement. In just two years, she became a member of the Bluejay softball team, served as a mentor for other transfer students and began working at the student-run radio station. Each experience gave her hands-on practice, meaningful relationships and confidence to step outside her comfort zone.
Diving Into Something New
The summer after her junior year, Brummer worked in promotions at a local radio station, which provided a peek behind the scenes of broadcasting and sparked her interest in becoming an on-air personality. The student-run radio station gave her the opportunity to gain on-air experience immediately. She launched Monday Motivation with Hannah B, a show focused on positivity and mental health awareness.
The experience at the station was deeply hands-on, collaborative and confidence-building—exactly the kind of applied learning Elmhurst emphasizes. “The support of everybody that I had at that radio station made me feel really confident. Everybody helped one another and showed each other how to do everything, and I loved every minute of it,” she says.
Giving and Receiving Support
Faculty encouragement was equally important to Brummer’s journey. In small, professor-taught classes, she found mentors who knew her by name and believed in her potential. Professors in the communications department—including Courtney Miller, Sarah Strom Kays, Rachel Reznik and the late Deatra Sullivan-Morgan—encouraged her ambitions and helped her see what was possible. One conversation in particular, when Sullivan-Morgan told her she had the personality for broadcasting, continues to motivate her today.
The gift of being supported led Brummer to find ways to encourage others. Being a transfer student leader allowed her to give back in a tangible way. She guided incoming transfer students through orientation and supported them throughout the year, helping them navigate campus and feel at home—just as she had. “I just loved showing incoming students all the great things Elmhurst has to offer,” she says. “Having the ability to be there for incoming transfer students was something that I always wanted to do. Because Elmhurst gave so much to me, I was happy to give back.”
Building a Career
After graduating in May 2020, during the height of the COVID pandemic, Brummer’s career slowly took off. After a short stint working in education administration, she landed her first on-air role in 2021.
Since then, she has built an broadcasting career across multiple Chicagoland stations, balancing on-air shifts, leadership roles, community events and nonprofit partnerships. She is also deeply committed to service, using her platform to support organizations like Lamb’s Farm and to connect authentically with listeners through vulnerability and storytelling.
She currently works as assistant program director and afternoon drive host for Star 105.5 and Star 96.7, which have a pop format, as well as midday host on Chicagoland’s Free Country at 98.3 and 102.3. In November, she had the opportunity to be a guest announcer at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.
Brummer notes that radio continues to be a resilient and adaptive medium where content creators can thrive. “There are so many different ways and routes to go into radio,” she says. “If you have a passion for sports, try sports broadcasting; if you have a passion for music, you can do so much on and off the airwaves. You can even go the influencer route with podcasting. The opportunities are just endless.”
Looking back, Brummer credits Elmhurst University for preparing her with technical competence, adaptability and a professional edge that helped her launch her career. Through relevant, hands-on experiences, access to supportive networks and resources, and a community that genuinely cared about her success, she gained the skills needed to thrive in the fast-changing industry of radio.
For students considering Elmhurst—especially transfer students—her advice is heartfelt and clear: “It was the best decision I ever made. Everyone here wants you to succeed.” For Brummer, Elmhurst University isn’t just where she earned her degree—it’s where she found her voice and the confidence to step into a successful career.
Go Far. Do Well. Visit elmhurst.edu/Admission to take the first step toward your future.