How one student’s love of guitar created a lasting AUM community
Some friendships begin with a conversation. For recent AUM graduate Arlyssea Thomas, they began with a guitar.
Inspired by her longtime desire to learn to play the guitar, Thomas founded the AUM Guitar Club to bring students together through a shared passion for the instrument. She graduated in May 2026 with a degree in nursing.
“I founded the guitar club because of my interest in learning how to play the guitar since I was in middle school,” Thomas said. “I figured it would be a good idea to pick up while I was in college, so I started the club because one didn’t exist at AUM. It was also a nice extracurricular activity for me when I had time during nursing school.”
To turn the idea into an official student organization, Thomas needed a faculty or staff advisor with guitar experience. She found that support in Russell Chambliss, military admissions associate in AUM’s Veterans and Military Resource Center, who agreed to serve as the club’s advisor and helped the organization become an official student group.
The community Thomas created continues to grow. This fall, the Guitar Club will begin its second semester as an official student organization, welcoming new Warhawks eager to learn, play and connect through music.
“It’s exciting to see the guitar club picking up traction and new members,” said Thomas, who passed her NCLEX recently and began working as a registered nurse in June.
Thomas created a welcoming environment where students of all experience levels could learn, practice and enjoy music together, said Brandi Kitts, a senior majoring in early childhood education and the club’s current president.
“Arlyssea wanted to learn guitar and noticed that other students had similar interests,” Kitts said. “She wanted to create a community where AUM students could learn and play the instrument together.”
Today, the club welcomes students of all skill levels, including those who have never played an instrument.
“The club’s goals are to help new members learn guitar, practice songs together, and build a strong foundation in guitar skills,” Kitts said. “During our first semester, members chose songs they wanted to learn while also being taught basic guitar fundamentals that could help them continue learning independently.”
Club meetings combine instruction, practice and mentorship. Experienced players help beginners learn basic techniques while members practice together, share skills and encourage one another as musicians.
“We want every meeting to be fun and welcoming,” Kitts said. “Everyone has different skill levels and goals, so we meet students where they are and help them grow as musicians.”
Students also do not need to own a guitar to participate. The club provides electric, acoustic, and acoustic-electric guitars for members to share during meetings, making it easy for anyone interested to get started.
Looking ahead, the club hopes to expand by offering jam sessions, workshops, and performances, and by getting involved in community service projects, Kitts said.
“A major goal is to have members perform on campus while creating more opportunities for students to share music together,” she said.
“We hope students gain an appreciation for guitar and music while developing skills, confidence, and discipline in our club,” Kitts said. “Learning an instrument requires dedication and practice, and those skills can also carry over into academic studies and other areas of life.”
Students interested in joining the Guitar Club can email [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected]. The club shares updates on Instagram at aum_guitarclub and communicates with members through GroupMe.
Quick Facts:
President: Brandi Kitts, early childhood education senior
Vice President: Andrew Shum
Marketing Manager: Katelynn Do
Faculty Advisor: Russell Chambliss
Equipment available: Electric, acoustic, electric-acoustic, amplifiers and cords
