““Management, as a whole, has a lot to offer its students. I was constantly made aware of job shadowing, internships and full-time opportunities. The major might be smaller in numbers, but the networking and experiences truly made an impact during my time at Auburn."”

Part of the Harbert College's mission is to develop graduates who are highly-skilled, professionally prepared, confident, ethical, and globally minded. We're proud of students like Alexandria Harper! 

Alexandria Harper was immediately drawn to the versatility a management major offers at the Harbert College of Business when she arrived on campus at Auburn University in 2016.

“It can be scary for undeclared students, since management is a broad major, but I was excited in knowing that I would learn the foundation that prepared me for whatever career field I wanted to explore,” said the Auburn, Alabama native. “After declaring and utilizing the Office of Professional Development, the advising office, and my program champion, I was confident in my decision.”

It paid off. Harper, a graduating senior in management with a minor in human resources, has not only served as a ALDI Student Ambassador for the past semester, but will assume the role of District Manager for the growing grocery chain’s Jefferson Division, based out of Jefferson, Georgia, in June.

For her dedication to academics and hard work, Harper is the recipient of the Harbert College President’s Award for the 2019-20 school year.

The President’s Award recognizes one graduate in each school or college across campus who has completed at least three semesters with a minimum GPA of 3.4, and possesses outstanding qualities of leaderships, character and promise of professional ability.

“I am extremely grateful that my hard work and dedication has been acknowledged,” said Harper, who has been active in a number of college programs, including the Freshman Focus Committee, was President of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Miss Black Student Union, and the Society of Human Resources Management, where she was Vice-President.

“I’m thankful that Auburn University takes time to recognize individuals that want to make their mark while attending with this award. Since my freshman year, I knew that I wanted to discover myself and make the most of my college experience. Because of Auburn, and all of its resources, I was able to achieve that.”

“Since my freshman year, I knew that I wanted to discover myself and make the most of my college experience. Because of Auburn, and all of its resources, I was able to achieve that.””

As an ALDI student ambassador, Harper could be found speaking to students in professional development classes or recruiting at career fairs. In other words, student ambassadors are “boots on the ground” for recruiting college campuses.

“I am the only student ambassador this semester at Auburn that breaks the barriers between the company and potential employees,” she said. “It isn’t every day that people graduate to work for a grocery store, so I make students aware of the benefits and the growth opportunities by working for an awesome company like ALDI.

“Being a student ambassador has kept my excitement alive about the future role and made me learn more about the company than I could have imagined before starting my full-time position.”

Harper credited the Management Program at Harbert College for helping her achieve success.

“Management, as a whole, has a lot to offer its students,” she said. “I was constantly made aware of job shadowing, internships and full-time opportunities. The major might be smaller in numbers, but the networking and experiences truly made an impact during my time at Auburn.

“I constantly had faculty and staff in my corner hoping that I was successful while attending Auburn University. I also had the assurance and help from my management professors and I still keep in contact with some of them. My program champions, Jillian Miles and now Megan Sumners, were absolutely incremental in my success as well.

“When I came to Auburn, I knew that I was walking into a large school where I had ample opportunities to learn and the resources to make the most of my college experience. What I didn’t know was that I would create friendships and relationships from the faculty and staff that kept me going down the path that led me here today. That’s what makes Auburn special. There truly is a family environment.”