Erin McCreary graduated with her first degree from Auburn in 2014, a Bachelor of Science in biomedical sciences. A year later, she earned her PharmD degree from the Harrison School of Pharmacy. In 2018, she joined the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) team as an infectious diseases and antimicrobial stewardship pharmacist and in June 2020, became a clinical assistant professor at UPMC and an infectious diseases clinical pharmacist for Infectious Disease Connect. She is serving as a member of the COVID-19 System Therapeutics Committee at UPMC, determining the therapeutic options for COVID-19 patients across a major academic health system. She is completing ongoing research as a co-investigator related to COVID-19 modular mapping. In her short time at UPMC, Erin has led several key initiatives with far-reaching clinical impact.

Born in Chattanooga, Tenn., Jim Bullington was a first-generation college student when he enrolled at Alabama Polytechnic Institute in 1957–at the age of 16. In 1962, he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in science and literature and went on to earn a Master’s in Public Administration from Harvard University in 1969. During his senior year at Auburn, Jim passed the highly competitive U.S. Foreign Service examination and began his diplomatic career immediately following graduation. While at Auburn, Bullington was the editor of The Auburn Plainsman. In 1961 he challenged school segregation through editorials and news stories, often resulting in backlash from community members and the local Ku Klux Klan. His support of civil rights was a key factor in launching his career in the foreign services.

Jim Hoskins earned his Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering in 1981 and embarked on a career in the United States Air Force as an intelligence officer, ultimately achieving the rank of major while serving as a leader in the U.S. Intelligence Community. In 1994, Jim retired from the Air Force and joined Scitor Corporation, one of the nation’s leading providers of engineering services to the intelligence community. He advanced in the company to become president, then CEO and chairman of the Scitor Board of Directors. His vision, leadership, and experience helped Scitor grow from an annual revenue of $16 million to more than $600 million today, employing more than 1,400 people. Jim is a founding member of the Auburn Research & Development Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to furthering scientific and engineering research in our state and enhancing economic development in our region.

Bill McNair earned his Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering in 1968 and went on to earn a master’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1971 and a MBA from Auburn University Montgomery in 1977. Bill’s 33-year career in the telecommunications industry began as an engineer with South Central Bell in 1968. He held positions in the company’s engineering, operations, human resources and marketing organizations before retiring from BellSouth as vice president of network operations. His contributions have supported the construction of the Shelby Center for Engineering Technology, created scholarships for students, created an endowed professorship to recruit and retain the brightest faculty, helped launch the Engineering Academic Excellence Program for Auburn’s underrepresented students and was instrumental in establishing the new Office for Academic Advising in the Brown-Kopel Engineering Student Achievement Center.

Anita Newcomb graduated from Auburn University in 1976, earning a degree in accountancy from the then College of Business (now the Raymond J. Harbert College of Business). She went on to earn an MBA in finance from the University of Houston in 1987. Until December 2019, Anita served as president of A.G. Newcomb, a strategic consulting firm that provided customized strategic solutions for financial institutions. She currently serves on the board of directors for Luther Burbank Corporation. Her experience spans over three decades in the financial services industry as a commercial banker, investment banker and strategic consultant. She is considered one of the foremost experts on regional and community bank business models and trends in the United States.