May 9, 2025
By Ashley MasseyAUBURN, Alabama - A recognized leader within the Harrison College of Pharmacy, the Class of 2025’s Maddie Northington was chosen to lead the 2025 Commencement Ceremony as this year’s Graduation Marshal. This honor is awarded by the respective college’s Dean’s Office to a student who exemplifies what it means to be an Auburn student.
Originally from Prattville, Alabama, it was a personal experience related to her father’s health that led her to pursuing pharmacy. Seeing the impact of medicine on a patient and their family began a path that led her to the Harrison College of Pharmacy (HCOP).
“When I was six years old, my father suffered a severe heart attack, leading to a five-bypass open-heart surgery,” said Northington. “Watching him rebuild his lifestyle and assisting my mother in managing his medications sparked my fascination with the power of medicine and instilled in me a sense of responsibility beyond my years.”
As she grew older, her passion for healthcare deepened, especially when her father’s health battles worsened, including strokes, severe infections, and his ultimate passing in 2021.
“Experiencing the complexities of his treatments firsthand reinforced my desire to become a pharmacist—someone who not only understands the science behind medications but also advocates for patients and their families during difficult times,” said Northington.
Graduating from Prattville High School in 2018, she chose Auburn University to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences and was among the first students to enter in HCOP’s Early Assurance Program.
For Northington, choosing to pursue her degree at HCOP was about finding a place with a strong sense of community, commitment to innovation and emphasis on patient-centered care.
“The Harrison College of Pharmacy stood out to me, and Auburn’s reputation for producing well-rounded, highly-skilled pharmacists reassured me that I would be receiving a top-tier education,” said Northington. “I wanted to be part of an institution that not only provided a strong academic foundation but also fostered leadership, collaboration, and professional growth.”
She feels HCOP has played a transformative role in shaping her as a leader and future pharmacist. Not only have her faculty members and mentors pushed her out of her comfort zone to reach her potential, but also her fellow classmates. That led her into roles that gave her both successes and challenges, ultimately supporting her growth as a student pharmacist. Included among those roles was being elected president of the HCOP Executive Student Council, as well as leadership positions in student organizations.
“My mentors have not only guided me through my academic journey but have also inspired me to take on leadership roles that I once never imagined myself pursuing,” said Northington. “Because of their influence, I have gained experience holding leadership positions at the national level, traveling globally to promote the pharmacy profession and serve unreached populations, and engaging in rotation opportunities across the country.”
When selected as the Graduation Marshal for this year, she recognized it as an honor and privilege that holds significance to her.
“It represents not only my hard work and dedication throughout pharmacy school but also the unwavering support, mentorship, and sense of community that HCOP has provided me,” said Northington. “To serve as Graduation Marshal is more than just a title; it is a way for me to give back to the college that has given me so much. It is a chance to represent my classmates, faculty, and mentors who have supported me, and to honor the legacy of the Harrison College of Pharmacy as a place that fosters leaders, innovators, and compassionate healthcare professionals.”
Northington is looking forward to leading her class during graduation and celebrating this milestone with her family and friends.
“On that day, we will finally be able to call ourselves Auburn Pharmacists, a title that carries a legacy of excellence, service and leadership,” said Northington. “I hope we never take that honor lightly and always strive to uphold the values that have been instilled in us throughout our time at HCOP.”
Following graduation, Northington will move on to a PGY-1 pharmacy residency at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, Tennessee, and hopes to pursue a PGY-2 in oncology in the following year. Ultimately, her dream is to return to the Harrison College of Pharmacy as a faculty member where she can impact the next generation of pharmacists.
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Auburn University's Harrison College of Pharmacy is ranked among the top 20 percent of all colleges of pharmacy in the United States, according to U.S. News & World Report. Fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the College offers doctoral degrees in pharmacy (Pharm.D.) and pharmaceutical sciences (Ph.D.) while also offering a master's in pharmaceutical sciences and a bachelor’s in drug and biopharmaceutical sciences. The College’s commitment to world-class scholarship and interdisciplinary research speaks to Auburn’s overarching Carnegie R1 designation that places Auburn among the top 100 doctoral research universities in the nation. For more information about the College, please call 334.844.8348 or visit http://pharmacy.auburn.edu.