#GINNing Podcast: Biosystems standout to serve as engineering graduation marshal

Natalie Hodge, a graduating senior in biosystems engineering from Daphne, Alabama, has been selected to lead the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering in Auburn University’s fall commencement ceremonies Saturday, Dec. 9.

Hodge completed internships for the Alabama Department of Environmental Management in Montgomery, where she updated their communications database, and for Spire in Opelika, working for its pipeline management department and as an inspector for an extension project.

“The College of Engineering has supported me throughout my academic journey, whether that was through the free tutoring services that helped me during my freshman and sophomore year or helping me find internships through career fairs and the Handshake application,” Hodge said.

She attributes her interest in biosystems engineering to her father.

“My father has always been a big supporter of my journey towards being an engineer. He graduated from Auburn in 1993 with a degree in chemical engineering, and it was always one of my life goals to follow in his footsteps,” Hodge said. “I chose biosystems because it was the best fit for an environmental person hoping to get an engineering degree.”

While at Auburn, Hodge has been involved in several campus organizations, including the Auburn University Marching Band, Auburn basketball pep band, national service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega, and Kappa Kappa Psy, a band service fraternity.

“My father always wished that he would have been involved more on campus, which is a main reason I decided to stick it out with band and try out for the marching band my first year here,” Hodge said. “I ended up loving the band community. I was able to make so many great friends and have amazing experiences.”

After graduation, she plans to join Jacobs Engineering in Montgomery as an environmental engineer.

"It's incredibly rewarding to see a second-generation Auburn Engineer serve as graduation marshal,” said Mario Eden, dean of engineering. “Natalie not only excels academically, she also exemplifies the excellence that defines our students outside the classroom. Her peers couldn't ask for a better representative at commencement."

Auburn will begin commencement ceremonies at 9 a.m.; the College of Engineering is scheduled for 1 p.m. Thomas Dempsey, a 1989 Auburn alumnus and founder and CEO of SylvanSport, will give the commencement address.

Additional information is available on the commencement website. All ceremonies will be livestreamed, with recordings available.

Listen to Hodge discuss her Auburn experience the latest episode of the award-winning #GINNing Podcast below, or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, iHeartRadio or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts by searching #GINNing.