2019 - 2021 FMA Magazine

AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIPS
FMA PRESIDENT NAMED
STUDENT LEADER OF THE YEAR
AND HCOB MARSHAL
Jim Brewster came to Auburn as a freshman – eager to get
involved and take advantage of the resources the Harbert
College of Business had to offer. It didn’t take long before the
Atlanta native became involved in the Financial Management
Association (FMA) and discovered his career calling and passion
for the industry. Four years later, not only had Brewster served
as Vice President of the Auburn Student Investment Fund
(ASIF) and President of the FMA – and held five internships –
he’s leaving Auburn as HCOB’s Graduation Marshal for the Fall,
2020 commencement.
“The Harbert College of Business and FMA connected me with
mentors that gave me insights early on in my college experience
on what I needed to do to achieve my career goals,” Brewster
said. “These mentors in the FMA were crucial in my professional
development. In addition, Auburn FMA’s university-sponsored
coursework, Practical Application and ASIF, provided me
practical skills that I will use daily in my job such as financial
modeling, valuation and corporate strategy.”
Tracy Richard, Director of the Integrated Financial Leadership
Program at the Harbert College and FMA faculty advisor,
considers Brewster to be one of the brightest students she’s
mentored.
“Even as an underclassman, Jim worked strategically and
efficiently to follow his goal that one day he would represent
Auburn University where seldom students had gone before,”
Richard said. “His initiative was impressive, but along with that
JIM
BREWSTER
initiative was a character steeped in humility, altruism, and
leadership. Jim is significantly involved on campus, focused on
supporting his peers and the HCOB finance program. As FMA
President, he has worked extensively year-round to provide
guidance and aid to his colleagues – spending countless hours
with students of all majors, who have an interest in finance. He
is both humble in manner, and prodigious in skill.
“Jim has been relentless in his drive, not only for himself, but
also for the organizations that he represents. He is not only a
great leader, but also a great friend and I, along with the dozens
of students that have benefitted from his stewardship, can’t
thank him enough. Auburn is markedly better for having Jim as
a student these last four and a half years.”
Brewster said his time in the FMA was the most impactful
contributor to his college experience.
“Both the people and structure of the program guided me every
step of the way in my personal and professional development,”
he said. “Tracy Richard is the cornerstone for the group, and
I am a personal witness that she dedicates her life to this
program and these students. I recommend this program to every
underclassmen I meet because I have never seen an organization
on campus that creates as much of a tangible impact on students
as this one.”
In four years at Harbert, Brewster was also named AU Involve
Student Leader of the Year for 2020, was recipient of the
Phi Kappa Phi Yates Award, and helped lead a team of FMA
members into the final round of the Duff & Phelps YOUniversity
Challenge. Brewster will soon assume a role within Evercore’s
Mergers and Acquisitions group in New York City. In doing so,
Brewster will become the first Auburn to work for Evercore
directly out of college.
FMA 2019-2021 MAGAZINE 43