May grad Nate Wallace named among nation’s ‘Best & Brightest’ business majors

May grad Nate Wallace named among nation's 'Best & Brightest' business majors

Student-athlete, entrepreneurship major says his Lipscomb experience shaped him as a leader grounded in discipline, faith and purpose.

Kim Chaudoin | 05/07/2026

When Nate Wallace first visited Lipscomb University as a high schooler, he saw a place where he could continue competing in track and field, grow in his faith and prepare for a future in business in the heart of Nashville.

Four years later, the Atlanta native has left his mark on the university as a member of the Bison track & field program, campus leader and recent graduate from the College of Business. Wallace received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in entrepreneurship this spring.

"I wanted to choose a school where I could both continue to run track and build onto my faith," said Wallace. "That, coupled with being in the heart of Nashville, was all I needed to become a Bison."

He was also recently named one of Poets&Quants' 100 Best & Brightest Undergraduate Business Majors of 2026, a national recognition honoring outstanding business students across the country. For Wallace, this recognition is a meaningful affirmation of a college journey defined by hard work, perseverance and a commitment to making the most of every opportunity.

"This recognition honestly means a lot," said Wallace. "It is a blessing that I will forever cherish. I am happy to see that my hard work, whether on the team, in the classroom or in the workplace, has shaped me into a young man who approaches things strategically. I pride myself on perseverance and discipline, and I think that is why I continue to excel in the things I am part of."

During his time at Lipscomb, Wallace served as captain of the men's track and field team for three seasons, president of the Entrepreneurship Club, vice president and later president of the Black Student Association, and track and field representative for Lipscomb's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, where he helped represent student-athletes and engage in conversations related to NCAA rules and regulations.

He also earned Academic All-ASUN honors, was named to the Provost's List for seven semesters, received the 2025 Joe and Malinda Ivey Endowed Scholarship in Strategy and the Robert O. Clouse Innovation Award, and was selected as a Leadership Summit member. On the track, Wallace was part of the men's 4x400-meter relay team that earned gold at the 2025 ASUN Outdoor Track & Field Championships after finishing second in the event in 2024.

Wallace describes his Lipscomb experience in one word: busy. He carried heavy course loads, worked two campus jobs, had a barber business for friends and teammates, pursued internships and competed as an NCAA Division I athlete. But he said he also learned the importance of surrounding himself with good friends, staying grounded and making room for what matters most.

"Since I first came on my visit here, I knew I wanted to make a name for myself and do great things, so I put a lot on my plate," said Wallace. "But over all that, I made sure I was still doing things for me. I didn't want to encounter burnout, and I made sure I had good friends to help take some of the everyday pressures off."

His faith, he said, was strengthened through Bible classes, participation in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the daily experience of learning what it means to serve others well.

"I can 100% say that my faith has been positively impacted while at Lipscomb," Wallace said. "I may not be able to recite all verses from memory, but I can apply what I learn from the Bible in a realistic way, which is how it needs to be."

Wallace said Lipscomb also helped him understand leadership as both influence and service.

"Through Bible classes and going to FCA, I was able to really understand what it means to be a good steward and servant leader to others," he said. "That means staying genuine to people and embracing the College of Business's five values and virtues - credible, creative, bold, purposeful and serving."

Wallace's preparation extended beyond the classroom and the track. He completed internships with Leverage Brands, a Nashville-based digital brand management company; Joe Bennie CPA, PC, in Brentwood; and Absolutely Ridiculous, a Nashville-based company where he was promoted from warehouse specialist to assistant warehouse manager. He also worked at Fleet Feet Nashville, where he combined his passion for running with his interest in business and began building professional relationships connected to NIL opportunities.

Throughout his college journey, Wallace said he has been inspired by the people who helped shape his life, including his parents, Nolan and Kendra Wallace; his siblings, Nolan Wallace IV and Nalon Wallace; his late grandmother, Pearl; and the friends, teammates and mentors who supported him at Lipscomb.

He also points to Lipscomb legends Bruce Bowers ('72), a member of the men's basketball team, and Ted Jamison ('72), a member of the "Miracle Bisons" baseball teams, who are two of the university's first Black athletes, as meaningful influences.

"They showed me firsthand what it was like to be a trailblazer when it came to sports and school," Wallace said. "I still keep in touch with them to this day, and I hope they can read this with a smile on their faces."

As Wallace looks to the future, he plans to begin a consulting internship with a Nashville-based company before returning to Lipscomb this fall to pursue his Master of Business Administration. His goals are ambitious, and he says he is motivated by a desire to grow, serve and make an impact beyond himself.

"Honestly, I'm just getting started," admitted Wallace. "I've put in a lot of work to get here, but I know there's another level for me. I'm focused on growing, staying disciplined and making the people around me proud."

That sense of purpose has shaped the way Wallace sees his work, his leadership and his time as a student-athlete.

"I carry more than just my name when I step on the track," Wallace said. "I represent where I come from, the people who poured into me and the standard I hold myself to. Everything I'm doing is bigger than me."

- Photos submitted by Nate Wallace