Finance Major Joins Elite Group of 20 Students Chosen Nationwide

Autumn Peoples, a sophomore finance major from Spring Hill, Tennessee, has made history as the first Alabama A&M University student selected for the prestigious Milken HBCU Strategic Initiative and Fellowship Program. She joins just 19 other students from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) across the country as part of Cohort IV.

Peoples said she applied in mid-August and was selected following an interview with the fellowship’s selection team. “I shared my passion for wealth management and the broader financial services industry,” she said. “I was truly excited and grateful when I received the email confirming my selection. I see this as a blessing and a sign that my hard work and dedication are paying off.”

The year-long fellowship provides students access to Viable EDU, a learning platform focused on wealth management, asset management, investment banking, and venture capital. Fellows also attend several all-expenses-paid conferences throughout the year to learn from and network with leading professionals in the financial industry.

Peoples traveled to Washington, D.C., September 24–26 for the fellowship’s kickoff ceremony, where she met the other fellows in Cohort IV. She said being chosen for the program is more than an individual honor – it’s a reflection of the preparation and support she’s received at Alabama A&M.

“This fellowship means a great deal to me,” she said. “I strive to put myself in spaces that prepare me for the workforce, and being selected brings me closer to my goal of working in wealth management and commercial banking, ultimately becoming a chief financial officer of a Fortune 500 company.”

An AAMU Merit Scholarship recipient, Peoples also holds the Adopt-A-Bulldog Scholarship – awarded by the Phi Beta Lambda Business Fraternity, Inc. – and the Leave-A-Legacy Scholarship. She just served a summer finance and business operations internship with Lockheed Martin and this semester has a finance externship with The Coca-Cola Company. She is also a Fellow in the Management Leadership of Tomorrow (MLT) Career Prep program.

At AAMU, Peoples is an Honors Program scholar, Vice President of the National Association of Black Accountants, and a Residential Advisor with University Housing. She credits her mentor, Dr. Felicia Farrar, for her guidance and encouragement. “Dr. Farrar’s accomplishments in the field and her commitment to students have opened doors to opportunities that have shaped my journey,” she said.

Peoples said she decided to attend Alabama A&M because of its strong record of preparing students for professional success. “I chose AAMU because of its commitment to developing leaders and scholars,” she said. “On my campus tour, I met several students who were graduating with full-time offers from Fortune 500 companies, and I knew this was the environment where I wanted to grow.”

Peoples said her time on The Hill has strengthened her confidence and sense of purpose. “I’ve loved my time at AAMU,” she said. “I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve had and for the support from the College of Business and Public Affairs, which has helped me grow as a leader and a scholar.”

When asked what she hopes others will take from her success, Peoples said, “I’ve learned the importance of being a resource for others. Success isn’t just about personal achievement – it’s about uplifting others and helping them along the way.”