Students Network with Financial Leaders and Explore Cutting-Edge Technology
AAMU Accounting and Finance Students Gain Real-World Investment Insights
Alabama A&M University accounting and finance students recently gained firsthand exposure to the worlds of finance, investment and emerging technology through two professional development experiences in Alabama.
Led by faculty member Dr. Felicia Farrar, six students traveled to Homewood, Alabama, to attend the CFA Society of Alabama’s Annual Forecast Dinner, where they networked with industry professionals, shared a meal and listened to presentations from financial experts discussing market trends and economic outlooks. The CFA Society of Alabama is part of the global Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute network and brings together investment professionals dedicated to advancing ethical standards and professional excellence in the financial industry.
“Being able to interact with professionals who are actively shaping the financial markets gave us a clearer picture of what careers in finance can look like,” said Emilio Angel Gallon, a senior finance major from Bogota, Colombia. “The experience helped connect what we learn in the classroom to real-world decision-making.”
The following day, students traveled to Anniston, Alabama, for a site visit at FirmFarm, an 88,000-square-foot decentralized data center and technology campus associated with Southern Edge Connect. The facility serves as a secure colocation and Edge AI infrastructure provider for government and enterprise clients and features high-speed connectivity and specialized AI-ready technology services.
During the visit, students toured the facility and participated in discussions about infrastructure investments and due diligence, gaining insight into how investment partners evaluate opportunities in technology and data-driven industries.
Both experiences were made possible through Shades Creek Wealth Advisors, a longtime partner of the Alabama A&M University Foundation that regularly works with the University to create hands-on learning opportunities for students interested in finance and investment careers.
Students participating in the experience included Eric Wilson, an accounting junior from Phenix City, Alabama; Classie Stringfellow, an accounting freshman from Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Marayah Davis, a finance sophomore from Orlando, Florida; Tyler Dailey, a finance freshman from Mobile, Alabama; Madison Foster, a finance junior from Phoenix, Arizona; and Emilio Angel Gallon, a finance senior from Bogota, Colombia. They were joined at the FirmFarm visit by Cozzie Walker, a computer science sophomore from Atlanta, Georgia, and Oluwaseun Omotayo, a computer science graduate student from Lagos, Nigeria.
“These opportunities help us see how finance connects to real industries and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and data infrastructure,” said Foster. “Experiences like this motivate us to keep learning and preparing for careers where we can make an impact.”
From left: Eric Wilson, Classie Stringfellow, Marayah Davis, Dr. Felicia Farrar, Tyler Dailey, Madison Foster and Emilio Angel Gallon.