Dear Colleagues,
As we transition into March, our campus takes on a familiar, renewed energy. Longer days and spring break ahead offer a brief pause before the semester’s final stretch.
Last month, I shared details about America 250 at Auburn University our institution’s yearlong semisesquincentennial commemoration, including the launch of the Signature Speaker Series on March 30 featuring former Secretary Condoleezza Rice and author Margaret Hoover, which is designed to foster meaningful dialogue across disciplines and perspectives. As we prepare to welcome these distinguished leaders for a robust conversation on leadership, governance, and civic life, tickets continue to be available to faculty, staff, and students and are now open to the general public. I encourage you to reserve a ticket if you plan to attend.
We also continue to advance ongoing important initiatives, including the Core Curriculum Review. As the Core Review reaches its one-year mark, the steering and advisory committees remain focused on a thorough evaluation of the current curriculum and on the analyses of data collected throughout the fall. Feedback from listening sessions, departmental conversations, and surveys of students, alumni, and industry partners is being reviewed alongside national benchmarking data. These findings will inform a report guiding future recommendations, with proposed revisions developed from Spring 2027 through Spring 2028.
At its meeting last month, the AU Board of Trustees approved the next phase of the comprehensive assessment of Haley Center, including the selection of Davis Architects of Birmingham, in partnership with Robert A.M. Stern Architects of New York, to conduct this evaluation. Faculty, staff, and other user groups will be engaged as this process moves forward, which will eventually help shape a renovation program that will be transformative for both the campus and those who utilize Haley Center each day. This work is particularly timely as we prepare to open the new STEM+AG Complex in the coming months and to begin decommissioning older facilities, including Parker and Funchess Halls.
As the semester moves toward its conclusion, preparations are well underway for spring commencement in early May. Across eight ceremonies, we will welcome nearly 50,000 guests to celebrate more than 5,200 graduates. We are also pleased to host a distinguished group of commencement speakers whose careers reflect the breadth and impact of an Auburn education. This spring’s speakers include Michelle Sego-Johnson, ’88, vice president of inflight services and catering operations at United Airlines; cardiologist Dr. Jason Thompson, ’93, and Dr. Mark Peters, '86, president and CEO of MITRE. The Colleges of Pharmacy and Veterinary Medicine will continue to hold separate professional program ceremonies which will feature alumni leaders, including Dr. Doug Hoey and Dr. Janet Donlin as their respective commencement speakers.
Finally, faculty nominations are now open for the 2026 Alumni Professorships. Eligible nominees must be tenured in the year of nomination and demonstrate excellence across at least two of Auburn’s mission areas, along with a record of sustained scholarly achievement. For additional information, please contact Angela Wiley, associate provost for faculty affairs and chair of the selection committee. Nominations close April 3.
I hope next week’s spring break provides a welcome opportunity for you to pause and recharge. Thank you for your continued dedication to Auburn.
