Reviewed by: Pat Byington
How this Auburn student landed a coveted NASA internship
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For Michael Moussalli, working for NASA has been one childhood dream he never gave up on—however, getting his foot in the door at NASA was no easy task. See how Michael made himself stand out thanks to the education and help from career services he received at Auburn University.
About Michael Moussalli
Originally from Montgomery, Michael and his siblings—an older brother and a younger sister—all attended Auburn University for their undergraduate degrees.
Fun fact: Michael is a first-generation American and is trilingual—he can speak English, French and Italian!
After graduating from Auburn with a degree in Data Analytics in 2018, Michael immediately landed a job in a financial development program at Regions Bank. He then worked at Regions for the next three-and-a-half years before accepting a position as a Senior Analyst at Shipt. However, he always knew he wanted to make it back to school to pursue a graduate degree.
“I had applied to Auburn’s Full-Time MBA program just to keep my options open, and they came back to me with an offer that was too great to pass up. I had reached a point in my career where, while I was learning and growing, I wasn’t entirely passionate about what I was doing. I remembered how much I loved my undergrad experience at Auburn, so I decided to take the leap and accept. I would say it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”
Michael Moussalli, Full-Time MBA Candidate, Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business
Coming back to Auburn University
Although the Harbert College of Business offers several ways for students to complete their Masters of Business Administration—including a fully Online MBA program and an Executive MBA program tailored for mid- to late-career business professionals—Michael opted to return to campus to study full-time.
“There are two big reasons that drove me towards the Full-Time MBA program. The first is that I wanted to focus on school and only school. Second, I really wanted to be back in Auburn. The campus has changed so much for the better since I was there for my undergrad, and it’s exciting being in an environment that is equal parts familiar and new.”
Michael Moussalli, Full-Time MBA Candidate, Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business
Auburn’s Full-Time MBA program offers an immersive on-campus learning experience built on a robust curriculum, shared with a close cohort of other professionals in a collaborative setting.
“The Full-Time MBA program is very collaborative, which allows students in the cohort who specialize in certain areas to mesh together and lift each other up. The coursework is challenging but very rewarding—and of course the professors are all exceptional. You can tell they all truly care about the students. Whether you are a business undergrad or don’t have a background in business, the Full-Time MBA program helps refine your skills and gives you the tools you need to excel.”
Michael Moussalli, Full-Time MBA Candidate, Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business
Apply today to set yourself up for a lifetime of success with the Full-Time MBA program at Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business.
Landing an internship with NASA
“Working at NASA has always been a dream of mine, but getting an opportunity to get your foot in the door is not easy. I applied to several NASA internships during my undergrad at Auburn and after graduation, but I didn’t make the cut.”
Michael Moussalli, Full-Time MBA Candidate, Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business
While in the Full-Time MBA program, Michael decided to apply for an internship with NASA once more—but this time was different. Utilizing the Graduate Programs Office and Graduate Career Services at Auburn, Michael refined his resume, his cover letter and practiced interviewing until he felt ready.
“After a long interview process, I finally heard back—I was accepted into the NASA internship! The Graduate Programs Office and Graduate Career Services at Auburn made all the difference—they made sure I was in the best possible position I could be in before applying.”
Michael Moussalli, Full-Time MBA Candidate, Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business
Michael’s new internship is with the NASA Office of Inspector General (OIG). NASA OIG conducts objective oversight of NASA programs and operations and independently reports to the Administrator, Congress, and the public. Through audits and investigations, the OIG works to prevent and detect fraud, waste, abuse, and misconduct in NASA programs and operations.
“Essentially, my role is to utilize data analytics to ensure that funds are being spent effectively at NASA, and that taxpayer dollars are being protected from fraud, waste, abuse or any kind of mismanagement. Although I already had a data analytics background, Auburn’s Full-Time MBA program has sharped my quantitative skill set in both statistics and core finance principles, which has been incredibly useful in my role at NASA OIG.”
Michael Moussalli, Full-Time MBA Candidate, Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business
What’s next for Michael?
“Assuming everything goes really well this summer with my internship, hopefully I will follow my internship with a full-time position at NASA. You can never be sure that there will be any full-time positions available, but I’m hoping that everything will work out smoothly!”
Michael Moussalli, Full-Time MBA Candidate, Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business
Michael is pursuing both an MBA and an MS in Finance through Auburn’s concurrent degree program, extending his studies an additional semester to attain both graduate degrees. He is set to graduate from Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business in May 2024.
“If you’ve ever considered getting an MBA, I would definitely recommend you commit and do it. There’s no better time to refine your business skills than the present, especially for people who are early in their career and want to bring something unique to the table. In my personal experience, taking on Auburn’s Full-Time MBA is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”
Michael Moussalli, Full-Time MBA Candidate, Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business
Learn more about Auburn University’s Full-Time MBA program or their wide array of MBA programs by visiting their website or scheduling an online meeting with Program Admissions.
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