Administration

Dr. Royrickers Cook provides university-wide leadership for all outreach and engagement initiatives, spanning 12 colleges and schools, aimed at advancing Auburn University’s outreach mission of applying its educational resources to problems and issues faced by citizens of the State of Alabama and beyond. Dr. Cook has led the University Outreach division since 2006.

Dr. Cook is directly responsible for the following Auburn University outreach centers and institutes: the Center for Educational Outreach and Engagement, the Government and Economic Development Institute, the Office of Professional and Continuing Education, the Encyclopedia of Alabama, the Office of Public Service, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, the Office of Faculty Engagement and Outreach Global.

In addition to his administrative responsibilities, he is actively involved in connecting Auburn University to the international community. This involvement includes working on international education programs in South America, Central America, Africa and Asia. Many of these programs promote faculty and student exchanges, educational tours, international program development, and training for educators, businesses and governmental officials from across the globe.

A native of Auburn, Alabama, Dr. Cook holds three degrees in Public Administration and Public Policy from Auburn University, culminating with a Ph.D. in 2000. He also occasionally lectures in the Department of Political Science and the Master of Public Administration Program. He has been principal or co-principal investigator on several large federal grants at the university. Dr. Cook also serves on the boards of several community and academic organizations.

Stacey C. Nickson is in her fourth decade of service as an educator and administrator in both K-12 and higher education. As Director of Center for Educational Outreach and Engagement (CEOE) at Auburn University  Dr. Nickson oversees the development and implementation of K-12 grants, projects, programs and partnerships established by University Outreach. These programs impact districts, schools and students throughout the state of Alabama.

Dr. Nickson also created and administers the Auburn University Cultural Insight Program, which promotes global communication skill development using Culture Bump Approach®. As such, Dr. Nickson presents workshops and seminars locally, nationally and internationally training educational leaders from varied disciplines in cross-cultural communication.

Dr. Nickson earned a Fulbright award in 2012 and served as a Fulbright Specialist at the University of Cape Town’s Center for Higher Education Development in South Africa in 2013. Dr. Nickson currently serves as the president of the Alabama Fulbright Association.

Dr. Nickson's publications reflect her research interests and include book chapters and journal articles on preparing faculty in South Africa, cross-cultural communication across disciplines, diversity leadership and technology, and learning theories.

Dr. Nickson earned a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University-Bloomington and a doctorate from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles.

Click here to view Dr. Nickson's Outreach e-portfolio.

LaKami Baker joined GEDI as interim executive director in August 2019. Prior to her appointment, Dr. Baker served as an associate professor of Management in the Harbert College of Business, and as managing director of the Lowder Center for Family Business in Entrepreneurship. She received her BSEE degree from Prairie View A&M University in 1991, and an MS in Technology Commercialization from the University of Texas at Austin in 1999. She completed her Ph.D. from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2007. Prior to her academic career, Dr. Baker worked at 3M Corporation. In addition to her corporate and teaching experience, Baker has served as a business expert on a research team awarded $1.275M to develop and commercialize biomedical implants and rehabilitative orthotics using additive manufacturing. She is also a co-principal investigator with GEDI on a $590 thousand U.S. Department of Commerce grant to develop an EDA University Center at Auburn University focused on advancing regional commercialization efforts, entrepreneurship, innovation, business expansion, and developing a high-skilled regional workforce in Alabama.

David Mixson serves as Associate Director of Auburn University’s Government & Economic Development Institute. He is responsible for overseeing GEDI’s operations, training programs, and technical assistance offerings to local governments, elected officials, and economic development professionals. David has over 20 years of university based economic development experience helping communities, businesses, and local governments address challenges using innovative approaches and tools. He has worked with federal and state agencies on economic development and government assistance projects over his career including: NIST, NASA, the Alabama Department of Homeland Security, and the Alabama Emergency Management Agency. In his previous role as director of Auburn University’s Economic Development Administration University Center, he linked university expertise with Alabama businesses and organizations to improve their performance. He has assisted dozens of entrepreneurs, businesses, and non-profits implement innovation methodologies including the Lean Start-Up, Business Model Canvas, and Innovation Engineering. David serves also serves as Vice President of the Educational Association of University Centers, an advocacy group that fosters positive economic transformation through higher education.

David is a certified Innovation Engineering Blackbelt, a Professional Certified Marketer with experience in landing page and search engine optimization. He holds a Bachelor's of Science degree in Management and a Master of Business Administration degree from Auburn University. He is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute. His prior experience includes working for Total System Services of Columbus, Georgia, where he held positions as Project Support Manager and Project Analyst.

Hope Stockton earned her bachelor's degree in finance and history from Huntingdon College, a master's degree in management from Troy University, and is a PhD Candidate in Adult Education at Auburn University. She initially came to Auburn in 2003 as the Executive Director of the Blue Ridge Conference on Leadership in the College of Business. Prior to her employment with Auburn, Stockton spent 13 years in healthcare management and worked for the United States Army Budget Office in Vicenza, Italy. She brings 23 years of administrative and financial management experience to the office along with extensive experience in planning, developing and administering professional and continuing education programs. As the executive director, she provides leadership and administrative, financial and academic management for the OPCE.

Claire Twardy received a B.F.A. in Graphic Design from the University of Georgia. She is the coordinator for the Tax & Accounting Professional Seminars, AP Summer Institute, and coordinates other professional development programs. Her background includes event planning and marketing. She and her husband, Joe, live in Auburn and love it! They have two daughters, Sara and Anna, recent graduates of Auburn University.

Jim Franklin earned his bachelor’s degree in Education from Auburn University at Montgomery. Prior to his joining the Office of Professional and Continuing Education, Jim worked for the YMCA of Greater Montgomery for 32 years. He served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operation Officer. Jim is responsible for the Auburn Youth Programs.

Shavon Williams earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Troy University, Phenix City, Alabama and a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from The University of Phoenix, Dallas Texas. Prior to her joining the Office of Professional and Continuing Education in June 2014 as a Program Developer, Shavon was an instructor for Adult Education at Southern Union State Community College. She brings 25 years of combined service in banking, compliance and project management where she has facilitated and served in all aspects/capacities.

Daniel (Dong Woo) Yu earned his Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in Chemical Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ. Prior to his joining the Office of Professional and Continuing Education in November 2015, Daniel was a President/CEO of two Korean Automotive Suppliers, Hanwha Advanced Materials and SCAutotech. He brings the office 30 years of expertise in the areas of automotive industry, new business development and manufacturing operations and management as well as R&D in new technology. He now serves as an Assistant Director for Global Leadership Training Initiatives.

Ralph Foster is Emeritus, Assistant Vice President for University Outreach and Public Service at Auburn University, with over 31 years of service in the Outreach division. A third generation alumnus, he has a BS in business administration from Auburn. Foster also received an MS in human resources from Troy University, and has additional study in adult and continuing education at the University of Georgia National Leadership Institute in Adult and Continuing Education. Foster oversees the Office of Public Service and the Encyclopedia of Alabama, and leads initiatives including community and institutional partnerships, civic engagement projects and interdisciplinary outreach programs. He is responsible for non-credit continuing education certification compliance, and also serves as the division's development and strategic planning liaison. Foster’s professional activities include board and committee positions in several state, regional, and national academic and community organizations. He has received a number of awards and recognitions for his civic and professional engagement over the years, including the title of Fellow in the Society for Advancement of Management, the highest professional designation of that international organization. His publications include journal articles and book chapters on ethics, education, management, marketing, and civic engagement.

Joyce Thomas-Vinson earned a Bachelor's degree in English from the University of Alabama. She came to Auburn University in 1994 as a Program Developer with the Outreach Program Office. She transferred to the Auburn University Department of Psychology where she served for ten years as the support services coordinator for Project Uplift. Joyce joined the staff of the Office of Public Service in July of 2008. In addition to serving as the Coordinator for the AuburnServes network, she is the advisor for Campus Kitchens at Auburn and Circle K International.