Harbert graduation marshal Zavala embodies values of Auburn Creed

Marketing senior Camilla Zavala’s educational journey truly embodies the values of the Auburn Creed. It is no surprise, therefore, that she has been selected as the Harbert College of Business summer 2025 graduation marshal.

She will lead her fellow business graduates into the commencement ceremony at Neville Arena on August 9. A ceremonial honor, marshals are selected for their leadership, citizenship, character and promise of professional ability.

Even before entering Auburn as a microbiology and Spanish double major in the fall of 2021, Zavala felt like a member of the Auburn family. Her alumnus stepfather David Bruce (premed-microbiology ’88) brought her and other family members to campus many times during her childhood.

They were in the stands for memorable football games like the 2013 Prayer at Jordan-Hare win over Georgia and the Kick Six victory against Alabama.

“I’m proud to be a fifth-generation Auburn Tiger through him,” said Zavala, noting that her older siblings also attended Auburn and her younger sister is entering her sophomore year this fall. “From the moment I arrived [as a freshman], I felt welcomed and supported.”

She embraced leadership opportunities through participation in the Freshman Forum—representing her class in the Student Government Association—and she recruited fellow students for the annual Auburn Dance Marathon fundraising event to benefit Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

In the spring of her sophomore year, a unique international experience studying aboard a cruise ship that sailed to Europe, Asia and Africa inspired her to chart a new educational course.

By the following fall, she changed her microbiology/pre-med major to study digital marketing.

“I realized I didn’t want to go to med school and be a surgeon like my parents,” she said of her decision. “I wanted to make my own path and pursue something with greater flexibility and broader opportunities.”

“I believe in work, hard work…and a spirit that is not afraid…”

As excited as she was to delve into her business classes, Zavala had some catching up to do if she wanted to graduate in less than five years.

Undeterred, she took the maximum allowable number of course hours—21—during consecutive semesters junior year and completed multiple business courses through Harbert College’s Global Programs 12-week summer abroad in Milan and Madrid the summer before her senior year.

Yet, she still found time to play midfield for the Auburn Women’s Lacrosse Club team all four years, practicing three days per week and competing on weekends during each spring season.

“Lacrosse was the foundation for many friendships and although we all had different majors, we loved the sport,” she said. “Everyone just loved it for the game, and we loved [representing] Auburn.”

Zavala discovered her knack for sales in the Personal Selling course and networked with guest speakers from the Sports Entertainment Marketing course.

“These [courses] confirmed my strengths in communication and creativity and helped me secure my current job. I also value the mentorship I received from faculty and the supportive environment that encouraged me to try new things.

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“Auburn has helped me become confident in following what I’m passionate about and has encouraged me to take risks, including changing majors and forging my own path.”

Camilla Zavala

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Zavala also shared her experiences and knowledge with first-year students enrolled in the BUSI 1010 course about why they should consider majoring in marketing, as well as competing in multiple national marketing sales competitions.

One of those sales competitions was the National Collegiate Sports Sales Competition, where students from dozens of universities showcase their talents through role-playing and speed selling events, while networking with many professional sports organizations.

Having been in Harbert Marketing Lecturer Kristin Forthofer’s Sports and Entertainment Marketing class, Zavala responded to an invitation to participate in the January 2025 competition and spent Christmas break preparing for the event.

“I had no idea what a big deal this was,” recalled Zavala, who participated in multiple interviews with professional sports teams at the event.

“Camilla was not intimidated in the competition,” said Forthofer, adding that Zavala was Auburn’s first student to participate in this particular event. “Because of her experience at NCSSC, the department plans to have more students participate in the event as it proved to be extremely worthwhile in regard to networking and career opportunities in addition to giving students confidence and clarity in their career goals.”

“Camilla is truly the definition of an Auburn Woman—always willing to learn and grow while enriching the lives of those around her,” added Danielle Corrigan, lecturer in the Department of Marketing.

Following the competition, Zavala received and accepted a job offer in ticket sales with the Chicago Fire FC, a Major League Soccer team. She starts work in mid-August.

Ultimately, Zavala said she’d like to work for one of Spain’s two most famous professional soccer teams—Real Madrid or FC Barcelona—in either sales or marketing.

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Learn more about the Harbert College of Business.