An Auburn alumna with nearly 30 years of banking and higher education experience, Melissa Holland (Spanish ’98) recently returned to the Plains as the executive director of Graduate Programs in the Harbert College of Business. In this role, she provides leadership and strategic direction for the college’s full-time and online MBA and specialty master’s programs.
“Melissa has an impressive record of operational success leading MBA programs at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business,” said Michael Wesson, associate dean of Graduate and Executive Programs at Auburn. “Her strategic thinking and experience are tremendous assets for Harbert Business as we continue to strengthen and grow our programs.”
Holland spent nearly a decade with Northwestern, initially leading the executive MBA (EMBA) program at the school’s Miami, Florida, campus and then leading its EMBA Global Network Program that enrolled up to 800 students across seven campuses and five international university partners.
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Among her accomplishments, she increased EMBA enrollments by more than 70% and enhanced the Global Network Program by working with faculty to create new elective courses and experiential learning opportunities.
For the past four years, she served in executive leadership positions with Austral Education Group and WorldStrides, two of the world’s top providers of experiential learning and education travel.
The Auburn MBA edge
According to Holland, Harbert’s MBA and specialty master’s programs are built on a firm foundation that includes a strong alumni network, vibrant community relationships, experiential learning opportunities like international travel and a set of shared values that are articulated in the Auburn Creed.
One of her goals is to build on that foundation and embrace the Creed’s values throughout the life cycle of Harbert’s graduate programs — from recruiting MBA candidates to the students’ graduation and beyond.
“[Students] will learn finance, accounting and marketing at any MBA program,” she said. “They’re coming here more for the culture, network and experience.
“A spirit that is not afraid is important to our innovation and continued evolution as a modern business school,” she added. “Having a good work ethic and being committed to improving business and the community are a big part [of our students’] education. We’re also building leaders who have good judgment and analytical skills.”
Another goal for Holland is to encourage more Auburn MBA candidates to participate in global business immersion opportunities, including an existing international business course and trip to places like South Africa, Japan, Argentina and Brazil.
“I think growth only happens when you push yourself outside of your comfort zone, and exploring new and different places is one vehicle to do that,” said Holland, whose previous higher education positions enabled her to strategically plan and execute numerous international courses and travel for MBA students.
These trips allow students to be exposed to different business and economic challenges, understand different negotiation styles and exercise more creativity in their decision making when they return to the United States, she added.
It was meant to be
Holland knows firsthand the transformational effect an MBA can have on one’s career.
After graduating from Auburn in 1998, she spent eight years working in corporate finance and banking before enrolling in the EMBA program at the University of Georgia.
“An MBA really does change how students approach business and how they look at themselves as leaders,” she said. “The MBA was so impactful for me, driving me to make the shift [to leadership roles in higher education].”
Now she’s in a position to impact the education and careers of Auburn MBA and specialty master’s candidates.
“Auburn holds a special place in my heart because I had such an amazing time here as an undergraduate and made lifelong connections,” she said. “My new role is at the perfect intersection between what I had been doing in higher education and my passion for Auburn. Everything aligned just right to bring me back here.”
Returning to Auburn comes with one additional benefit for Holland — her daughter is a freshman on campus.
