Alumni Spotlight: Tom & Griff Howie

Being born in the South, you come to develop an innate passion for the lower states. So, after an unexpected move to Maryland and spending much of my life there, I was hopeful to attend a school back in the South. Fast forward to June 2012, following my high school graduation, my family was packed and hitting the road to get back to our southern roots, moving to be near our family in Pensacola, FL.

I went on a few campus tours with some nearby schools but never felt the click that any were the school for me. We made the drive over to Mobile to explore and made a stop to South Alabama’s campus to take a walk down my parents’ memory lane and potentially see if this would be the place for me. It was. Driving through South’s beautiful campus gives you a feeling of comfort, connection, and purpose. Growing up, I always remember hearing the stories of my parents meeting “36 years ago” on these very grounds and that only made me feel even more connected from the start. My mom was on a full ride volleyball scholarship, still having time to double major in Psychology and Criminal Law. I went more down the path that my followed my dad’s footsteps, majoring in business and devoting our “spare time” to Fraternity life.

Diving into freshmen year, I was fortunate enough to land a job at the Office of New Student Recruitment giving campus tours to potential Jags. I’ve always enjoyed talking to people and building relationships, and the role gave me the opportunity to do just that. That job whole heartedly re-enforced that sales was in my blood.  

The Mitchell College of Business prepared me extremely well for “The Real World” and I couldn’t be more proud to be an Alumni from such a great school.