Auburn University finance senior Mia Nathan is the 2025 Harbert College of Business recipient of the President’s Award, one of the university’s highest student honors.

Nathan is on track to graduate in May and move to Dallas, Texas, where she already has accepted a full-time position at Goldman Sachs as a lending analyst within the Asset and Wealth Management division of the firm.

Given each year to one student from each college, the President’s Award recognizes students who demonstrate outstanding qualities of leadership, citizenship, character and promise of professional ability.

Tracy Richard, a professor of practice and executive director of the Harbert Investment Center, nominated Nathan for the honor and shared high praises for her leadership skills and business acumen.

“Through her leadership roles, academic achievements, and dedication to mentoring her peers, she has elevated the reputation of the Harbert College of Business and inspired countless students to follow in her footsteps,” Richard wrote in her nomination letter.

“Having worked closely with Mia as her finance instructor and director of Financial Leadership Programs at Auburn, I can say with absolute confidence that she is one of the most driven, talented, and compassionate Individuals I have had the pleasure of mentoring in my career.”

 

Real-world application

Nathan said she appreciates her educational experience at Auburn, including Harbert’s variety of offerings to business students.

“Through the Harbert College of Business, I’ve been able to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world application by taking advantage of the external opportunities it offers,” she said. “While my coursework has provided the foundational knowledge about finance, my experiences outside of the classroom—internships, networking trips and club events—helped solidify my understanding and gave me practical exposure to the industry.”

That includes her work as a bedrock leader in the student-driven Financial Management Association (FMA), of which Auburn’s chapter is constantly recognized as a national award-winner.

“One of the most impactful experiences was participating in FMA’s corporate networking trips to Houston, New York City and Dallas,” she said. “These trips allowed me to engage with professionals across various sectors within finance, explore different career paths, and refine my ability to network and build meaningful professional relationships.”

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“As I prepare for the next chapter of my career, I am excited to take the lessons I’ve learned here and carry them forward, always striving to give back in the same way Auburn has given to me.”

- Mia Nathan

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Good for Auburn University

Nathan’s role as FMA’s director of external engagement wasn’t just good for herself and the organization, but for Auburn and Harbert as well, Richard said.

“In this role, Mia served as the face of Auburn University to visiting executives, recruiters and guest speakers. Her professionalism and attention to detail have created lasting impressions, whether interacting with Fortune 500 CFOs or representatives from the New York Stock Exchange,” Richard said. “Mia personally arranged more than 50 executive engagements, including meetings, info sessions and workshops.

“She also organized the Investment Banking Bootcamp in the fall of 2024, which featured professionals guiding students through a live merger and acquisition simulation for 40 participants.”

During her various leadership stints with FMA, Nathan also served as director of marketing and outreach.

“Mia spearheaded all marketing efforts for FMA and the Auburn Student Investment Fund. Under her leadership, the FMA newsletter expanded its readership by more than 50 percent, ensuring alumni and stakeholders were consistently informed of program achievements and events,” Richard said.

Storming the field

Despite all the hard work and dedicated studies, Nathan also managed to enjoy plenty of fun personal experiences while on campus.

“My favorite memory as a student here at Auburn was storming the field after the Auburn vs Texas A&M football game this past season,” she said. “I’ve been in Jordan-Hare for some of the most electric home games for the past 13 years, but this game was particularly special. The energy in the stadium was unmatched, and the sheer excitement of the win made it an unforgettable experience, especially for my last home game as a senior.

“The game truly encapsulated the ‘Auburn experience’ and will always be one of my fondest memories as a student here.”

And then, there are the relationships.

“Reflecting on my time at Auburn, I’m incredibly grateful for the experiences, mentorship and friendship I have gained along the way,” she said. “The Harbert College of Business has provided me with not just an education, but a community of driven and supportive individuals who have pushed me to grow both personally and professionally.”

Earning the President’s Award comes with a future responsibility that she gladly accepts, Nathan said. “It serves as a reminder that success isn’t just about personal achievement, but about lifting others, fostering meaningful relationships, and being servant-hearted.

“As I prepare for the next chapter of my career, I am excited to take the lessons I’ve learned here and carry them forward, always striving to give back in the same way Auburn has given to me.”

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