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��«Ӱҵ alumna Renee Bruns, BA ’05, is a world explorer and motivational speaker with a remarkable story to tell.

In 2023, she earned a Guinness World Record for visiting the most countries in a single year as a solo traveler in a wheelchair—66 in total. But for Renee, the record wasn’t the most amazing part of the journey.

It was, and remains, the people, she said.

“People are my favorite part of traveling. You pick up things you like about different cultures and decide, ‘Hmmm, I want to be like that,’ and then you learn you have become a well-rounded person who embodies these things you’ve learned.”

Renee left her job at a Fortune 500 company where she led a service team of 250 to pursue her travel goal, thereby setting the Guinness record. To date, she has been to 144 countries and all seven continents.

Ever since she was a tiny girl in Maria Stein, Ohio, she’s wanted to see new places.

“When I was born, it was obvious something was wrong,” she says about her condition. “It’s a skeletal problem, mostly my legs, hips, and feet. My parents took me to a lot of specialists to get a diagnosis, so we traveled a lot. Then, when I was 5, we flew to New York City, which just amazed me.”

The travel bug bit, and at some point, Renee told her parents she wanted to see all 50 states. By the time she graduated from ��«Ӱҵ in 2005, she’d met that goal, with her parents’ help, of course. “They took my three siblings and me to a lot of places, especially during the summer.”

Renee’s parents had the normal expectations for her that parents have of their children: do well in school, go to college, have a family. “They wanted me to have a full life, despite the physical challenges. But, believe me, I had to work hard.”

Her college years were among the “happiest times of my life,” Renee says. She served on the dean’s advisory council for the business college before changing her major from business to psychology.

Renee received her MBA in 2010 from Capital University and is working on a doctorate in business administration. Today, she is an ambassador for Free Wheelchair Mission, which provides wheelchairs to people in need.

She also is a motivational speaker () and is completing a book about her life and travels. “I’m doing the final edits right now.”

She lives in Atlanta, Ga., with her partner, whom she met years ago while working in insurance.

This summer, Renee will travel with her sister to the western part of Africa.

Renee has some tips for travelers. “Be open when traveling. Focus on what is happening. Often, people want photos and videos, but you really want to be present to experience it fully.”

Several years ago, a man in Bali shared with Renee his secret to contentment, maybe happiness.

“He said, ‘I’ve been bankrupt three times. The smile on someone’s face when I bring them coffee is what makes me happy.’ We’d sat together and got to know each other, which is so much more impactful than lots of photos and videos.”

“Here’s the thing,” Renee emphasizes. “Time doesn’t go backwards. Whatever your goal is in life, go for it. Life will run out – that’s the only thing we know for sure.”