Degree times three

For the Heath family, Auburn University is a family affair. Jamie Heath and his children — Avery and Abbey — will graduate in May from three different programs.

Each Heath had a unique journey through Auburn with experiences as diverse as their individual interests. The tie that binds them is a connection to each other and the Auburn family that supported them. 

“We’ve always been an Auburn family,” Jamie Heath said. “Now we’ll have the alumni stickers to prove it.”

Father knows best

Jamie grew up attending Auburn football games with extended family who lived in town, forming a connection with the school from an early age. 

“That magical tailgating experience was my first exposure to Auburn,” Jamie said. 

Jamie received his undergraduate degree in Colorado and moved around frequently early in his career. He eventually settled in Birmingham, Alabama, with his wife, Heather, and their children to be closer to their extended family.

He is now the director of the project management office for SCA Health, overseeing its enterprise technology portfolio. When the siblings decided to come to Auburn for their undergraduate degrees, he was motivated to join them.

“The Executive MBA (EMBA) program was so enticing,” Jamie said. “I already had an emotional connection to Auburn, and the EMBA is directly applicable to my work.

“Also, it may sound corny, but I really wanted that alumni sticker.” 

Designed for mid- to late-career business professionals, the Executive MBA at the Harbert College of Business combines the flexibility of online learning with short campus residencies and abroad opportunities.

As part of his capstone project, Jamie traveled to Santiago, Chile, and Buenos Aires, Argentina, to meet with local business leaders and a mining consortium.

“We worked remotely with the business leaders for the entire semester, helping them with ideas to expand their business,” Jamie said. “It was a really unique opportunity to gain exposure to international business clients and immediately apply skills we learned to help them tackle challenges in their work.”

Jamie curated his classes to fit his job, taking electives through the Physicians Executive MBA program (PEMBA). 

“It was a great move for me to learn more about health care policy,” he said. “I went with the PEMBA team to Washington, D.C., to meet with policymakers on Medicaid and Medicare. I immediately took that experience back to work. I didn’t have to wait until I graduated to start using those skills.”

Degree by design

Avery came to Auburn and entered the College of Architecture, Design and Construction, thinking he’d follow in his maternal grandfather’s footsteps as an architect.

“Once I got here, I realized that industrial design was more aligned with what I really want to do,” he said.

As one of the country’s oldest and Alabama’s only NASAD accredited industrial design program, the major prepares students to design products and services needed all over the globe. Through a strong emphasis on prototyping and human-centric design, students learn to conceptualize, develop and test design solutions for mass production.

During the program, Avery traveled with a class to Austin, Texas, where he met with businesses, academics and alumni in the industrial design field. 

“There are so many connections in and outside of Auburn,” he said. “There's always a friend to be made and always someone who's willing to help.”

Formative connections

Those connections and friends, both in and outside of class, were tantamount to Abbey’s experience as well. She joined Zeta Tau Alpha as a first-year student, finding a close cohort to support her.

“Auburn is a place where you can be yourself through anything,” Abbey said. “I’ve met so many great friends and made so many different connections. It’s like a family, a home away from home.”

Abbey will earn her degree in law and justice from the College of Liberal Arts, and is currently deciding on which law school to attend. She also minored in Italian, studying abroad for a month in Lucca, Italy. 

“It has been so amazing just trying different classes, clubs and experiences with my sorority,” she said. 

Auburn Cares

Outside of their separate cohorts, the Heaths agree that Auburn’s support systems were vital in their success. Heather Heath, the matriarch of the family, encourages other Auburn families to learn about and take advantage of Auburn Cares. 

“Auburn Cares was there for any kind of help the kids needed,” she said. “I want other families to know that whatever struggle you may be having — whether it’s writing assistance or a medical leave — Auburn Cares will be there.

“They really helped our family, and I am so thankful for them.”

Avery also recommends that students reach out to their professors if they are struggling.

“They were extremely helpful in and outside of class,” he said. “They were always available when we needed help.”

Onward

Commencement weekend will be busy for the Heaths. Beyond three separate graduation ceremonies, there will be a family dinner, a brunch and a rooftop party, among other celebrations. The three graduates will also be honoring Heather on Sunday — Mother’s Day — for her steadfast support getting all of them through their studies. 

“Heather is the real unsung hero of the group,” Jamie said. “Without her, we wouldn’t have made it through.”

All the Heaths agree that Auburn is more than an education, it’s a family.

“Auburn is all about the relationships we built with staff, faculty and classmates,” Jamie said. “That’s Auburn’s promise: You will receive an education and you will carry this experience with you for a lifetime.”