Dear Colleagues,
As we prepare to host our final commencement ceremonies later today, I want to express my sincerest gratitude to each of you for an exceptional semester. We welcomed nearly 50,000 families and guests during this weekend’s graduation events—an experience that undoubtedly stands out as one of the highlights of serving as a faculty member. It was wonderful to watch our students as they concluded their Auburn journey and anticipate the many ways they will use their Auburn education to lead purposeful lives.
The end of the spring semester is always a time to reflect on the experiences and accomplishments that have defined our academic community over the past year and what they mean for our future. This year was characterized by significant achievements across our colleges, departments, and units — a direct testament to your contributions and hard work. Your engagement and support of our students remain invaluable as we work to enhance Auburn's learning both within and beyond our classroom walls.
Moreover, your commitment to our research mission resulted in yet another year of unprecedented scholarship and service. As we outline the goals that will shape our 10-year strategic plan, I am optimistic that we will continue to translate our opportunities into practical solutions to the many complex social and global challenges we face.
During the past few weeks, I’ve had the privilege of participating in several end-of-the-year celebrations that honor our hardworking students and recognize the outstanding contributions and achievements of our dedicated faculty and staff. Notably, Dr. Sean Forbes, an educational psychology professor, was selected as this year’s recipient of the prestigious Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award. Additionally, we celebrated two exceptional academic programs: Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Hospitality Management and Culinary Science. Both programs received the Provost’s Excellence in Assessment Award for their innovative approaches to enhancing student learning in collaboration with the Office of Academic Insight.
I'm pleased to share that we are in the final stages of our dean's searches. On May 1st, Dr. Jennifer Mueller-Phillips started in her role as the new dean of the Harbert College of Business, and in the coming weeks, I anticipate preparing to announce our new leaders for the College of Nursing and the College of Architecture, Design and Construction. I am excited about the prospect of closely collaborating with each of them, along with all our academic leaders, as we strive to achieve our shared goals.
While the upcoming summer months offer a chance for rest and reflection, they also signal a period of careful planning as we anticipate another record-sized first-year class this fall. Since Camp War Eagle registration is still open and the estimates are still fluid, we are preparing for approximately 350 additional first-year students this fall. As we gear up to welcome all our students, we remain committed to providing an optimal learning environment accommodating additional course sections. A significant aspect of this effort involves working with our campus partners to modernize and maximize the capacity of our current instructional spaces.
As we look forward to a brief break before the start of the summer term, I hope each of you will take time to rest and reflect. If you are staying in Auburn over the summer, I hope to see you on campus. For those journeying elsewhere, I look forward to welcoming you back in the fall.
Best wishes for an enjoyable and productive summer.
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