ASHLEY Walls Farish
President
class of ‘05
Ashley Farish, a proud Madison, Alabama native and 2001 graduate of Bob Jones High School, brings a deep-rooted passion for community and connection to everything she does. A 2005 graduate of Auburn University with a degree in Public Relations and Communications, Ashley has been an integral part of the Board since 2009. Over the years, she has worn many hats, including Vice President for six years and Scholarship Committee Chair for seven. She now leads the Board as its President, excited about the opportunities ahead.
Professionally, Ashley serves as the Senior Campaign Specialist at Alabama Media Group, where she helps bring stories and strategies to life. Outside of work, she enjoys life with her husband and longtime best friend, Justin Farish, and their two beloved fur babies, Bella and Beau. As a proud member of an Auburn legacy family, Ashley’s love for all things Auburn runs deep—from cheering on the Tigers to maintaining strong ties with the university.
Her favorite pastimes include traveling abroad, spending quality time with family, and immersing herself in Auburn spirit. With energy, enthusiasm, and heart, Ashley looks forward to leading the Board into an exciting and impactful chapter.
LARISSA CHASTAIN
vice President
class of '91
A native of Huntsville, Larissa graduated from Auburn in 1991 with a BFA in Graphic Design and a minor in Business. Larissa met her husband Mark at Auburn who graduated in 1992 from the Harrison School of Pharmacy.
Larissa and Mark have three children who all graduated from Auburn. Carley, a 2017 graduate from the School of Architecture, Claire a 2020 pre-med student who graduated with a degree in Biomedical Science, and Ethan, who graduated from the school of Kinesiology. They have fond memories of both girls being members of the Auburn University Marching Band and Ethan working for the Auburn football team.
Larissa has been part of the board for over twenty years and has served as Scholarship Chair, Treasurer, Vice-President, and President. While each role has been meaningful, her most fond memories are the connections that have been made with the scholarship recipients.
Larissa works for Abbott Laboratories as a Manager of US Conventions and Events for the Medical Device business. She and Mark love traveling and have a German Shepherd named Ripley.
bradley cooper
treasurer
class of ‘10
Insert biography here (Brad Cooper)
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John Dingess
secretary
class of ‘14
John attended Auburn from 2010-2014, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering with a minor in Business-Engineering-Technology while also meeting his future wife, becoming a diehard Auburn fan and having an overall wonderful experience. John has since worked in the Aerospace industry for Lockheed Martin supporting future Space Exploration and Defense programs. This line of work has taken John all over the US from Huntsville to Philadelphia to Denver. John relocated back to Huntsville in 2018 with his wife (a Huntsville Native) and lives in their dream home in historic Five Points.
As a senior in high school in Aurora Colorado, John had no idea where Auburn Alabama was, but he quickly fell in love with everything Auburn had to offer within weeks of beginning school. His parents and siblings became diehard Auburn fans during his time in school and he was lucky enough to meet and marry his college sweetheart, a third generation Auburn graduate. Orange and Blue now runs deep in his family and he looks forward to one day seeing his three children become Auburn graduates!
logan matthews
class of ‘11 & '‘13
Logan is a proud two-time graduate of Auburn University, having earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science in 2011 and a master’s degree in public administration in 2013. While at Auburn, Logan served as Auburn’s beloved tiger mascot, Aubie. A Huntsville native, Logan went to Grissom High School and was one of four proud recipients of the Huntsville Madison County Auburn Club Scholarship.
After graduating from Auburn, Logan attended law school at that “other school.” Logan is now a Senior Attorney at King & Spalding, LLP, where he represents clients in cases involving product liability, consumer fraud, and business disputes. He is married to his college sweetheart, Paula, and they have two children, Chandler (4) and Cooper (nearly 1).
Sophia Moore
class of '91 & ‘14
Sophia is a lifelong resident of the greater Huntsville area and has always had a passion for both people and business. She earned her degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from Athens State University in 1991 and later went on to receive her MBA from Auburn University in 2014.
Family means everything to Sophia. She and her husband Otis, love spending time with their two sons and daughters-in-law—Dion and Katrina, Deonta and Stephanie—and their three wonderful grandchildren. Their favorite pastimes include family gatherings, watching hockey and football, staying active, and traveling. Sophia treasures every moment with her loved ones.
With years of experience in the service and sales industry, Sophia brings a wealth of knowledge spanning retail, banking, and real estate. As a seasoned business owner and realtor, she combines industry expertise with a passion for people. Known for her warm personality, strong work ethic, and unwavering commitment to helping others, outside of work, she remains actively involved in her church and community, believing deeply in the power of giving back and creating meaningful connections wherever she goes.
Nina Sani
class of ‘90 & ‘91
Nina (Anita Sani) Damian graduated from Auburn University in 1990 with a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering and in 1991 with a Master’s in Communication. While working as an electrical engineer at Chevron Corporation in Houston, Texas, she earned a Juris Doctorate (cum laude) from South Texas College of Law in May 1998. She and her family moved to Huntsville, Alabama in October 2000. She has over 26 years of experience practicing law in both Alabama and Texas and is a registered patent attorney before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
She is currently Associate General Counsel for Bristol Bay Government Services Group, a subsidiary of Alaska native parent company, Bristol Bay Native Corporation. Her husband is also a graduate of Auburn University (BSEE 1991) and the University of Houston (MSEE 1993). They have 3 adult children: Luke, who graduated with a BSChE (Chemical Engineering) from Auburn in May 2018; Lexi, who graduated with a BSN (Nursing) from Auburn in 2019; and Sasha, who graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Media in 2021.
Nina also serves on the Board of Trustees for St. John Paul II Catholic High School and has served in various capacities as a volunteer with the Junior League of Huntsville, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, on the PTA boards of her children’s schools, various booster clubs, and in the legal community. She is excited to serve the local community on the Huntsville Madison County Auburn Club board!
woody gillespie
class of '93
Woody is a 1993 graduate of Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. He has established a 28-year career in pharmaceutical sales and is currently with Alkermes, Inc.
Woody arrived in the Fall of 1989, just in time to witness the first Iron Bowl played at Jordan Hare. It was one of his favorite memories of Auburn, in addition to meeting and marrying his late wife, Jayna May. Jayna was a lifelong Auburn Tiger, and her brother Jesse May set up an endowed scholarship in her honor in the College of Science and Mathematics.
Woody and his wife Jill married in 2015 and are football season ticket holders. Faith, family, and football are three of Woody’s biggest passions, and he enjoys living these out with Jill. They also serve together in the JH Outback family ministry with a focus on marriage and parenting.
TIFFANY NOEL
class of '91 and '93
As a native of Huntsville and a graduate of Grissom High School, Tiffany graduated from Auburn in 1991 with a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering and in 1993 with a Master’s in Business Administration. After a few years working as an engineer at SCI in Huntsville, Tiffany moved to Washington, DC and spent over a decade working on Capitol Hill for Congressman Robert Aderholt. Tiffany moved home to Huntsville in 2010 and was employed as the District Director/Deputy Chief of Staff for Congressman Mo Brooks. Tiffany joined Kids to Love in January of 2023 as a Development Officer where she works to create and sustain donor relationships. As a volunteer for Kids to Love for several years, she knew this was a place where she could help change lives.
Tiffany had a lot of great Auburn experiences and is grateful for the life-long friendships from those years. She remembers walking across the stage as a third generation Electrical Engineer from the Auburn College of Engineering. But her favorite memory of her time at Auburn was the first ever Auburn-Alabama game played in Auburn. Tiffany will never forget the orange and blue haze over the stadium from the paper shakers and the thrill of beating an undefeated Alabama team.eam.
Jennifer Ivey
class of ‘13 & ‘14
Jennifer, a Huntsville native, is a 2009 graduate of Huntsville High School. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Auburn University in 2013, followed by a master’s degree in the same field in 2014. She has been a valued member of the board since 2019.
A dedicated educator, Jennifer serves as a fifth-grade teacher in the Huntsville City School System. She is deeply committed to education, community service, and her involvement with the Huntsville-Madison County Auburn Club. In her free time, she enjoys playing pickleball, spending time with family, and supporting Auburn University in all capacities.
jeanne greer
class of ‘98
Jeanne Baird Greer was born in Huntsville and has lived here most of her life. She is excited to join the Board and continue to support Auburn University and education in this role. Jeanne serves as the Executive Director of The Schools Foundation and is also a principal mentor for the State of Alabama. Jeanne retired from Huntsville City Schools as the principal of Grissom High School in 2023.
A graduate of Grissom High School and Auburn University, Jeanne has been involved in education for more than 30 years. She has supported the Huntsville community in the areas of leadership, community collaboration, and long-range planning. She currently serves as the HOA president for Stonemark subdivision.
In her free time, she enjoys traveling, spending time with her family, and taking care of her new puppy. She is married to Jody Greer, a Huntsville attorney, and they have two children. Bailey attends Auburn University, and Jake is a recent graduate of Harvard University.
KATRINE BALCH
class of '92 and '96
Katrine has been on the Board since 2011, graduating from Auburn with a BA in Sociology in 1992 and again in 1996 with a Masters in Education. She works for a NASA contractor and does education activities for NASA. She married an Ole Miss grad and has two elementary aged kids. Her favorite Auburn moments involve working with Camp War Eagle as a graduate student. Sharing the AU family traditions and spirit with new students and their parents was a lot of fun. She enjoys traveling to Auburn games both on the road and at home. Since she is now also tied to the Ole Miss family, the family knows how to tailgate and does it up big when the two schools play each other.
justin farish
class of '05
Justin Farish is a proud Huntsville native and 2001 graduate of Butler High School, where he made his mark on the baseball field. His athletic journey continued at Chattahoochee Valley Community College, just outside Auburn—a place that quickly became more than a college town. Over the years, Auburn has become part of Justin’s identity, shaping him into the true Auburn man he is today.
A deep Auburn legacy runs through his family. His grandfather, Preston Terry Farish I, was a professor at the university in 1955, and his uncle, Joe Eakes, spent over three decades as a respected professor of Horticulture. With multiple Auburn graduates in the family tree, Justin's connection to the Plains is both personal and profound.
Justin is happily married to his wife and best friend, Ashley Farish. Together, they share a full life with their two spirited pups, Beau and Bella. Whether they’re traveling, enjoying time with loved ones, or simply tossing a ball in the yard with the dogs, they cherish every moment.
A passionate Auburn fan, Justin never misses a chance to cheer on (and, let’s be honest, coach from the sidelines) his beloved Tigers. His commitment to giving back to the university reflects both his gratitude and his pride in being part of the Auburn family.
cindi williamson
class of ‘89
Cindi Williamson is a 1989 graduate of Auburn University. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications with a concentration in Mass Communications and a minor in Journalism. Cindi met her husband, Sean, at Auburn. They reconnected five years later in Huntsville at the Auburn/Alabama baseball game at the former Joe Davis Stadium. Cindi and Sean have three children who also bleed orange and blue- Payton graduated from Auburn in 2022, Parker in December of 2024 and Cooper is set to graduate December 2026.
When she is not doing all things Auburn, Cindi is the Executive Director of the New Hope Children’s Clinic. She is responsible for the management of the staff, programs and expansion. She also focuses on raising awareness of the clinic’s mission- “to increase the access to and provide comprehensive medical care for children in Madison County and surrounding communities.” This includes grant writing, development and organizing special events.
Prior to this she was a stay-at-home mom volunteering with the PTA. Cindi also worked with the EarlyWorks Foundation as its Special Events Coordinator. She helped plan and manage events like the Whistle Stop Festival and Santa’s Village. Her first career stop after Auburn was as a television journalist.
Christie finley
class of ‘89
Christie Finley is a veteran educator with over 30 years of experience in public education. Throughout her career, she has been committed to serving students, families, and educators, bringing a passion for leadership and community engagement to every role she has held.
Her career in education has been marked by versatility, having served as a superintendent, deputy superintendent, director of secondary programs, principal, teacher, and counselor. She holds an undergraduate degree from Auburn University, a master’s degree in school counseling from Alabama A&M University, and an educational leadership degree from the University of South Alabama.
Christie has been recognized for her leadership and advocacy, receiving the 2020 Legislative Engagement Award for her work in policy collaboration and partnerships with state legislators. In 2021, she was named the Alabama SSA District 9 Superintendent of the Year and honored as a “Women Honoring Women” recipient by the Women’s Economic Development Foundation. She has also served on the boards of the Alabama State Superintendents Association and the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools.
Currently, Christie is the Chief Executive Officer of Leadership Greater Huntsville, where she continues to foster leadership development and regional collaboration. She is an active member of the Huntsville Committee of 100, the Huntsville Rotary Club, the Junior League of Huntsville, Land Trust of North Alabama Board of Directors, and proudly serves on the Huntsville/Madison County Auburn Club Board of Directors.
Christie and her husband, Kirk, have two sons. In her free time, she enjoys exercising, gardening, and cheering on the Auburn Tigers. War Eagle!
john starnes
class of ‘89
John Starnes graduated from Auburn University in 2000—but his Auburn story started much earlier. He attended his first Auburn football game in 1984 against Cincinnati during Bo Jackson’s junior season, and he’s been hooked ever since.
As a student, he worked in Athletic Media Relations and served as the primary media contact for both the men’s and women’s golf teams. One of the highlights of that time was working with Jason Dufner, who was on the men’s team and later became the 2013 PGA Champion.
Originally from Huntsville and a graduate of Grissom High School, he has spent 23 years in the banking and finance industry. He joined the board in 2025 because he wanted others to have the same incredible Auburn experience that has meant so much to him. The friendships and connections he made at Auburn were still some of the most special in his life.
In his free time, he enjoys traveling, working out, relaxing with friends, and, of course, supporting Auburn Athletics.
Two favorite Auburn memories are being there for the Kick Six—it was like a movie—and attending the 2019 Final Four. Seeing the men’s basketball team during Final Four open practice on Friday was surreal—something he had dreamed about since elementary.
first name last name
class of ‘25
Insert biography here.
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