visit Auburn.edu
 |
|
Harbert marketing team members (left to right) Colvin Prince, Deanna Blue and Morgan Williams (second from right) with Hattie B's founder Nick Bishop Sr. (center) and executive chef Brian Morris (right) at the restaurant chain's newest location in Auburn. |
Harbert students and Hattie B’s are the hottest collab in town
Hattie B's Hot Chicken, a family-owned restaurant chain known for its Nashville hot chicken, officially opens its newest location in downtown Auburn on Thursday, July 16. A group of Harbert College of Business students were given the unique opportunity to help amplify the excitement around the restaurant’s grand opening.
The opening of Hattie B's, 19th location overall and third in Alabama, is a memorable one for co-founder Nick Bishop Sr., a 1976 graduate of the College of Business, who co-founded the restaurant in Nashville in 2012 with his son, Nick Bishop Jr., who is also a proud Auburn alumnus.
"We are incredibly excited about opening in a city we hold dear, and in a treasured local landmark across from campus near Toomer's Drugs. It doesn't get any better than this," said Bishop Sr.
A taste of real-world marketing experience
The Harbert-Hattie B’s collaboration began in the fall of 2025 when a Hattie B’s marketing team member invited the college’s student creators to contribute to a real-world social media marketing campaign.
The student creator team was tasked with designing and creating graphics, reels, posts and other social media content leading up to the official opening of the restaurant. The students were also invited to an exclusive friends and family soft opening where they produced and shared content for the restaurant to boost the already growing excitement around the grand opening.
Morgan Williams, a senior majoring in marketing, truly appreciated this opportunity and reflected on how much it enriched her student creator experience.
"Working on the Hattie B's Auburn opening has been one of the most memorable experiences I've had as a student creator. I loved learning more about the Bishop’s Auburn roots and seeing Auburn alumni invest back into the place that helped shape them makes it even more meaningful,” Williams said.
Harbert Student Creator Program
Established in 2022, the Harbert Student Creator Program (formally known as the Social Media Ambassador Program) gives students a skill-based, career-aligned experience in digital media and content creation. This unique program is currently led by Colvin Prince, the college’s social media manager.
“Watching our students grow into professionals and seeing them secure internships and full-time positions has been one of the most rewarding outcomes of the program,” Prince stated.
Since its launch, more than 40 student creators have completed the program, with more than 80% securing internships and more than 15 students landing full-time positions at organizations like Johnson & Johnson, ADP, Regions Bank, Kraft Heinz, Auburn Outreach and Auburn-Opelika Tourism.
Student creators collaborate directly with the Harbert Communications and Marketing team, producing content that authentically captures the undergraduate student experience, from campaign videos and photography to short-form content and podcasting. Creators develop portfolio-ready work, learn to analyze content performance and gain mentorship from marketing professionals.
“My experience as a Harbert student creator demonstrated that I could bridge the gap between digital creativity and business coursework, allowing me to combine both passions rather than choosing one over the other,” business management alumna and former student creator, Deanna Blue said.
“It reinforced my belief that the strongest ideas emerge when creativity, strategy and the Auburn community come together. I’m forever grateful for this program!”
###