Black Alumni Awards

Tiffany Altman is a senior veterinarian for veterinary technical solutions at Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, providing critical communication and technical expertise to veterinary customers across the United States. She plays a pivotal role in supporting sales and marketing teams, ensuring the successful launch and use of Boehringer’s pet products.

Cassandra Bolar is a co-investigator for the National African American Child and Family Research Center and an assistant professor at the University of West Georgia. Her research seeks to understand how contextual factors impact father involvement, intimate relationships and familial functioning in the African American Community.

Upper St. Clair, PA

Carolyn Campbell is interim vice president for college advancement and executive director of the Geneseo Foundation for the State University of New York College at Geneseo. She is also the founder and CEO of Higher Ground Consulting, a fundraising consulting firm. Campbell founded Auburn’s first Office of Corporate and Foundations Relations in 1998 and served as senior director of regional campaigns during the “It Begins at Auburn” campaign.

Joseph Hale is an accomplished senior practice leader at Snowflake, a unified data management platform, leveraging AI and data solutions for healthcare providers. Hale has successfully led high-impact projects for Fortune 50 companies for more than 26 years, and values shaping the future of the industry and inspiring the next generation of leaders.

Brittany M. Hicks is a staff pharmacist at Maxwell Air Force Base, helping to spearhead a new preceptor program that offers valuable opportunities for Harrison College of Pharmacy students. She played a critical role in pharmacy operations during an unprecedented cybersecurity incident that impacted prescription claims and was recognized as the “Member of the Month” for her efforts.

Metrick M. Houser is director of global sourcing, North America, for major paper producer Sylvamo. He oversees the procurement of $1.2 billion of goods and services supporting two North American facilities and Sylvamo’s headquarters. Houser previously was the global sourcing director at International Paper, where he oversaw procurement strategy for raw materials and energy for North America.

Mary Shenita Key is co-owner of Pannie-George’s Kitchen, a staple community restaurant offering comfort food for more than 20 years in Auburn and Montgomery. A dedicated cardiology RN at East Alabama Medical Center for more than 26 years, Key cofounded the Theta Phi Chapter of Chi Eta Phi nursing sorority at Auburn. She achieved “Clinical Ladder Level Four” by conducting research on reducing pacemaker pocket infections.

Los Banos, CA

Mark Marshall is superintendent of the Los Banos Unified School District (LBUSD). A distinguished leader with 38 years of service in education, Marshall enhanced learning opportunities at LBUSD through reorganizing the Education Services Department, crafting a plan to meet rising enrollment and helping fund key development projects.

Andrea Simpson is a licensed architect and director of market development for furniture design firm turnerboone. Currently the first African American president of AIA Alabama, Simpson worked with prestigious firms such as Gensler and HEERY International in Atlanta and is a leader within the AIA National Interior Architecture Knowledge Community Group.

Jerry Michael Smith is the Lamar County extension coordinator for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. He has a degree in preforestry from Tuskegee University and degrees in forestry management and natural resources from Auburn. Smith is a registered forester in Alabama and Mississippi and served on the board of the Alabama Forestry Commission.

Felix Turner, a 2nd Lt. in the Alabama National Guard, is cofounder of The Floyd Turner Foundation, a nonprofit organization that addresses food insecurity among college students, provides college scholarships and promotes financial literacy education. Created with his wife Necole, the foundation creates opportunities and provides support for the academic and personal growth of underrepresented and underserved minority students.