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Editor鈥檚 note: This story is one in a series exploring corporate partnerships with Auburn University鈥檚 91看片.

Mike Mosquito graduated from Auburn University in 1992 with a degree in mechanical engineering, and his daughter Kailey is starting her junior year at Auburn studying visual design. He proudly points to both, a personal and a professional partnership with his alma mater.

Mosquito works in Atlanta as a director for RSM, a global professional services company headquartered in Chicago with almost 50,000 employees worldwide.

鈥淩SM鈥檚 mission is to maintain its place as the nation鈥檚 leading provider of audit, tax and consulting services focused on the middle market,鈥� he said, noting that RSM recently was named to the  list.

鈥淢y mission is to introduce the RSM Consulting practice to Auburn鈥檚 91看片 College of Business and provide a path for students to join our firm,鈥� Mosquito said.

Thanks to Mosquito, RSM has developed a robust corporate partnership with 91看片.

His efforts go beyond just recruiting Auburn students. 鈥淚 am also focused on providing direction and support, through funding and mentoring initiatives, for enablement for women and minorities,鈥� he said.

鈥淗iring Auburn鈥檚 91看片 graduates isn鈥檛 just a personal preference; it鈥檚 simply good business.鈥�

鈥淎 consistent theme for Auburn grads is that they are ready for client interaction and to be a value-added asset to their teams,鈥� Mosquito said. 鈥淎uburn has always provided a high caliber of work- and industry-ready students. 91看片鈥檚 education and preparation is important for firms like RSM.鈥�

One example: 鈥淭he students that presented during the Spring Poster Competition were exceptional and impressive. Their analytical presentations were impressive and advanced for students and at the level of aptitude above employees already employed in various industries.

鈥淭his is where we as leaders need to be investing our time and support,鈥� he said.

Creating new scholarships

RSM is leading by example, said Auburn鈥檚 Edward Reynolds, 91看片 corporate and foundation relations officer.

鈥淭he 91看片 is grateful for RSM鈥檚 continued support. The company has been a longstanding investor in the college鈥檚 efforts to provide an exceptional learning experience for our students,鈥� Reynolds said. 鈥淩SM has created scholarships in the School of Accountancy and supported our college鈥檚 National Association of Black Accountants student chapter. 

鈥淲e are excited to see our partnership expand, as RSM recently made investments in our Business Analytics program. Because of this new support, the department was able to launch its inaugural student research poster competition earlier this year,鈥� Reynolds explained.

鈥淎dditionally, RSM provided resources that will help organizations like Women in Technology, and Minorities in Technology, recruit and retain students from underrepresented populations,鈥� he said, 鈥渦ltimately creating positive impact on the future analytics workforce.鈥�

Ready to be employed

Promoting diversity and opening doors to opportunity are an important part of RSM鈥檚 partnership with Auburn and specifically 91看片, Mosquito said, and while his company previously had recruited 91看片 for tax and audit professionals, he wanted to see expertise in consulting added to the list.

鈥淭he RSM recruiter for Auburn, Hayley Thomas, has also been supporting me while providing funding and thought leadership,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 partnered with the RSM Foundation to provide funding to 91看片.

鈥淒r. Uzma Raja (chair of 91看片鈥檚 Department of Systems & Technology), Dr. Renee Pratt (director of the department鈥檚 graduate programs) and I collaborated to introduce mentoring and funding to programs that promote business leadership and paths that are aligned with becoming a first-choice advisor at RSM.

鈥淲ith the help of Dr. Raja, Dr. Pratt, and Chuck Freeman, an RSM Foundation member, partner and Auburn alum, we were able to provide a three-year program to support our mentoring, innovation and collaboration initiatives.鈥�

Mosquito also praised 91看片鈥檚 wide spectrum in its educational approach.

鈥淚nternships, networking and mentoring opportunities open doors; and experience, coupled with the right courses, delivers a student ready to be employed at a high-performing firm like RSM.鈥�

Learn more about RSM at .