Auburn College of Liberal Arts Year in Review 2023 Annual Report
“The College of Liberal Arts exemplified leadership in 2023. We are a leader on Auburn’s campus and in communities across the state in academic excellence, innovative research and life-changing outreach. We will continue to set high standards and exceed expectations with a spirit that is not afraid.”
Jason Hicks Dean, College of Liberal Arts
Students
OUR STUDENTS ARE AT THE TOP OF THEIR CLASS.
For the second consecutive year, Auburn Aviation students took home the Loening Trophy after competing in the “Super Bowl” of collegiate aviation competitions. Awarded by Delta Air Lines and the National Intercollegiate Flying Association at the 2023 SAFECON competition, the Loening Trophy recognizes a culture of excellence, enduring legacy and aviation leadership.
The War Eagle Women placed third among collegiate teams and sixth overall in the Air Race Classic 2023. The 46th annual Air Race Classic was a more than 2,400-mile, cross-country race comprised of 44 women-led teams.
The Auburn University Model United Nations team was the only competitor at the Southern Regional Model United Nations competition to earn an award for all delegations. All three Auburn delegations collectively earned an Honorable Delegation Award, placing among the top delegations at the competition and indicating a strong performance across the board.
Theatre and Dance students shaped the production of several performances in 2023. During “Monstersongs,” students worked with the playwright, Rob Rokicki, to bring the monster musical to life at Auburn. Katie Wolfe, a senior in theatre design and technology, served as the student lighting and scenic designer of “Edges,” and Samantha Briggs, who minors in dance, helped choreograph the dance concert “Fractals: Infinite Movement.”
Allen Li, a double major in economics and political science, received the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award and a 2023 President’s Award. Joanne Kim, a political science major, received the W. James Samford Jr. ’72 Memorial Scholarship. The President’s Award and W. James Samford Jr. Foundation Award recognize one graduate in each school or college who possesses outstanding qualities of leadership, citizenship, character and promise of professional ability.
Journalism senior Noah Griffith’s column, “Auburn Arena built for able-bodied students,” led to significant accessibility improvements at Neville Arena. Three days after the column was published, Auburn administrators announced a new arena seating policy that includes accessible seating in the student section that can be reserved with instructions on how to enter safely.
The Department of Art & Art History celebrated student artwork at the 2023 Juried Fine Art Student Exhibition. The exhibition included an awards ceremony and lecture from artist and distinguished guest juror Jamaal Barber. Sarah Walker’s, “War Eagle,” won the Dean’s Choice Purchase Award and is displayed in Tichenor Hall.
The Oaks Agency, Auburn’s student-run public relations firm, was designated a Nationally Affiliated Student-run Firm by the Public Relations Student Society of America. The Oaks Agency was recognized for upholding the core values of advocacy, expertise, independence, loyalty, fairness and free flow of information as they work with real-world clients.
Faculty and students in the Department of Music traveled to Europe in 2023 to share the sounds of Auburn with thousands of music enthusiasts. The Auburn Symphonic Winds ensemble toured for nine days in Spain, and the Auburn University Choirs performed at Cadogan Hall in London. In addition to traveling abroad, 11 members of the Auburn University Piano Studio visited New York City for a tour of the Steinway factory and to select the Department of Music’s newest piano.
The Auburn History Club partnered with WEGL radio to launch a podcast on the importance of history research. Co-presidents Sofia Foradori and Victoria Ashley host “It’s All History to Me” once a week on Auburn’s student-run radio station, focusing on history topics at the intersection of power and people.
Public relations senior Mattie Whitney found and secured her dream job at MELT, an Atlanta-based, full-service sports marketing agency, through Career Services. Whitney was first introduced to MELT at a Career Services event, and as she neared graduation, Career Services’ contacts and career coaching helped her earn a full-time position.
Faculty
OUR FACULTY ARE THOUGHT LEADERS.
Steven Brown, Morris Savage Endowed Chair in the Department of Political Science, and Eric Marcus, professor of philosophy, received two of Auburn University’s most prestigious honors at the 2023 Faculty Achievement Awards. Brown received the Gerald and Emily Leischuck Endowed Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching and Marcus received the Creative Research and Scholarship Award for Fine Arts, Liberal Arts, Architecture and Design, Business, Social and Human Sciences.
Assistant Professor Rachel Rudolph and Associate Professor Elay Shech in the Department of Philosophy are investigating how bias enters artificial intelligence and provided a discussion of ethical questions society will need to confront about evolving artificial intelligence.
Associate Professor of Public Relations Myoung-Gi Chon was one of eight Auburn faculty members to receive a Research & Scholarship Connections Travel Grant. Chon traveled to Taiwan to help leverage Auburn’s international partnerships to foster collaborations across disciplines.
School of Aviation Director James Witte received the prestigious Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award, which recognizes aviation expertise, professionalism, commitment and 50 years of piloting experience. The award is the Federal Aviation Administration’s most prestigious award and highest honor for pilots.
Endowed Alumni Professor of French Evelyne Bornier received the prestigious L’Ordre des francophones d’Amérique, awarded each year by the Canadian Ministry of the French Language. Since 1978, the decoration has recognized the merits of people who are dedicated to the support, preservation and development of the French language and culture in America.
Assistant Professor of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences Gregory Spray traveled to Bulgaria to teach medical students how to evaluate and treat motor speech disorders. Spray’s work was supported by the Fulbright Specialist Program and helps meet Bulgaria’s urgent need for medical speech-language pathologists.
Renowned sound designer and Assistant Professor of Theatre Andrew Lynch reimagined the music and soundscape for Shakespeare’s return to the Telfair Peet Mainstage with the Department of Theatre and Dance’s production of “Twelfth Night.” Lynch, an accomplished composer and performer, also consulted on the production of “Edges.”
Africana Studies Director Ernest Gibson wrote a poem honoring the home and life of late Georgia congressman and civil rights leader John R. Lewis. “This Land” was recited at a historical marker ceremony for the Lewis family farm in Troy, Alabama. The John R. Lewis Legacy Institute presented a framed copy of the poem to Gibson at a special celebration at the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts and Humanities.
Programs
OUR PROGRAMS BUILD ON EXCELLENCE.
The Auburn School of Aviation continues to soar in national rankings and career preparedness. College Transitions ranked Auburn second in the nation, citing the school’s long history of aviation education, academic flexibility and career readiness partnerships with major airlines. Southwest Airlines joined Delta, United, JetBlue, Envoy, Republic, Skywest and Endeavor as airlines who seek Auburn-educated pilots to fill their flight decks.
The Alabama Broadcasters Association, the official voice of the broadcasting industry in Alabama, established a $50,000 scholarship fund to support promising journalism students in the College of Liberal Arts. The scholarships will allow students in the School of Communication and Journalism to pursue their goals without a significant financial burden.
The Alabama City Year Program, led by Master of Community Planning faculty, was honored with an Auburn University Spirit of Sustainability Award. The awards honor individuals and groups who exhibit a commitment to excellence in sustainability on campus and in the community. Students and faculty in the Alabama City Year Program work with communities across the region on planning projects and quality of life improvements.
The Department of Theatre and Dance hosted its 110th season and celebrated the addition of “and Dance” to the department title. The 2022-2023 season highlighted the art of movement in each performance and culminated in the annual dance concert, which featured guest artists and showcased the history of dance instruction at Auburn.
Yamaha Music USA featured the Department of Music’s world-class recording studio, which will be led by renowned recording artist, composer and producer Trammell Starks. The recording studio, along with two new majors, music composition and technology and commercial music, underscore Auburn’s commitment to a modern, interdisciplinary approach to music education and ensuring students are prepared for professional careers.
Alumni
OUR ALUMNI SET THE GOLD STANDARD.
Auburn’s own “Legally Blonde” alumna, Isabella Dee, enrolled at Harvard Law School after graduating with a degree in law and justice in spring 2023. The Aliceville, Alabama, native credited the Pre-Law Scholars Program, Student Government Association and Career Services for preparing her for law school.
Political science alumna Sherry Potts ’23 set an example for students of all ages when she finished her Auburn degree at 70 years old. Potts returned to Auburn after 50 years of working for the state of Alabama to inspire her granddaughter to pursue higher education.
Wilbron Inc.’s Brandon Wilson ’02 and Missy Burchart ’92 won the top prize in public relations: the coveted Silver Anvil Award. Wilbron’s “for good” approach ensures each campaign improves the world in some way or changes the life of the everyday person, and the Public Relations Society of America rewarded Wilbron’s measurable change with the Silver Anvil Award for Most Effective Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Campaign.
Art alumna Teil Duncan Henley ’10 and interior design alumna Erika Powell ’03 combined creative talents to launch a collection of coastal-inspired textiles. The Teil + EMP Textiles collection features Henley’s paintings expressed as colorful patterns and repeating beach scenes on fabric.
The Event Troupe founder Amanda Piper ’91 brought her daughter, Taylor, to Auburn University in fall 2023. Piper began her own wedding planning business while taking care of Taylor, who was diagnosed with cancer at 14. Today, Taylor is cancer-free and Piper’s business averages 25 weddings per year in Colorado.
Diani Bailey ’23, the youngest of five siblings to graduate from Auburn, served as the summer 2023 graduation marshal. The “Bailey Bunch” siblings – Harlan, Kayla, Jakobi, Jordan and Diani – share eight Auburn degrees between them and made names for themselves through various involvement opportunities on campus.
Research
OUR RESEARCH CHANGES LIVES.
During his presidential installation, Auburn University President Christopher B. Roberts charged the campus community to “dream the biggest dreams” for their research work. Faculty across the College of Liberal Arts heard that call to action and are leveraging their expertise to improve our world.
Faculty from across our schools and departments joined the “Things You Didn’t Know You Didn’t Know” podcast to share expertise on everything from artificial intelligence chatbots to the history of Christmas. Whether the topic was the Nutrition Facts label, mental health, the Hollywood strikes or women in politics, the College of Liberal Arts made a variety of research helpful, entertaining and accessible.
Psychological Sciences faculty turned their research into intervention models to help individuals with cannabis use disorder and eating disorders. By combining wearable technology, best practices in psychology and smartphones, those experiencing addiction or suicidal thoughts will have more avenues to get help.
Eight College of Liberal Arts students won awards for their research at the 2023 Auburn Student Research Symposium. Student work focused on a variety of topics across disciplines, including nursing shifts, tabletop games, romance novels, speech clarity and more. Liberal Arts students won top prizes across the undergraduate, graduate, poster and oral presentation categories.
Neuroscience student Sarah Frazier used her experience with childhood concussions to inspire undergraduate research in the Department of Psychological Sciences.
Outreach
OUR OUTREACH HELPS COMMUNITIES.
The Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities hosted family historian Terrance Vickerstaff as its first Pebble Hill scholar-in-residence. Vickerstaff is the first member of his family to stay on the property since his ancestors were enslaved to the original owners of Pebble Hill. During his stay at the newly established Lowrey Guest House, Vickerstaff shared his family’s history with students to teach about slavery, emancipation, reconstruction and local history.
Assistant Professor of Sociology Makeela J. Wells and Assistant Professor of Social Work Katherine Crawford are working with the Opelika Police Department to improve crisis intervention efforts. The East Alabama Crisis Intervention Team, led by OPD Officer Chase Higgins, works to connect and provide support services to individuals experiencing crises. Wells and Crawford support the team by providing research expertise and evaluation.
The Auburn Eating Disorders Clinic, which provides evidence-based services to treat clients who struggle with disordered eating and body dissatisfaction, began accepting new clients. Co-directors April Smith and Tiffany Brown, both faculty members in the Department of Psychological Sciences, work to provide and improve life-saving treatment for individuals, families and underserved populations.
The Auburn University Psychological Services Center began offering Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills Groups. DBT Skills Group is an evidence-based treatment designed to improve problematic patterns in emotion regulation, impulse control, interpersonal relationships and self-image.
The Department of Political Science’s partnership with The Election Center continues to secure elections and train election administrators. Political science faculty teach classes in the Certified Elections/Registration Administrator program, bridge the gap between elections research and practice and work as election observers to ensure the quality of elections in developing countries.
Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences students and faculty championed quality of life for individuals with traumatic brain injuries and memory loss by volunteering their expertise at the Bright Ideas TBI Camp and REACH community respite program. Students guided TBI survivors through various treatments and exercises at the camp and organized social activities for individuals with memory loss through REACH.
College of Liberal Arts faculty supported K-12 education across Alabama by sharing subject expertise and elevating community stories. Faculty from the Department of History, School of Communication and Journalism and Department of Theatre and Dance provide access to women’s and gender history lesson plans, newspaper creation for small communities, civil rights education workshops in Selma and voice and acting lessons.
Draughon Associate Professor of Southern History Keith Hébert is serving as lead historian on the Discovering Stone Mountain Park Museum at Memorial Hall redesign project. Hébert will assist the Stone Mountain Memorial Association in providing more information about the history of the monument and updating the exhibits in the museum.
Support
THE AUBURN FAMILY SUPPORTS US.
The College of Liberal Arts family raised more than $120K on Tiger Giving Day, supporting:
- Auburn Eating Disorders Clinic
- AU Singers
- Mock Trial Competition Team
- Department of Theatre and Dance
- Center for Autism Research, Treatment and Training
- Auburn student filmmakers
- Ethics Bowl Team
- Auburn University Choirs & Symphonic Winds
- Department of History
Social Stats, Student & Career Services
Fundraising
Research Numbers
The College of Liberal Arts hosted more than 1,500 alumni and friends during the 2023 football season.
We celebrated the Auburn Spirit across the South in Mobile and Nashville and made plans to visit Huntsville in spring 2024.
College of Liberal Arts
1161 W. Samford Ave. Bldg 8, Auburn AL 36849-0001
t: 334.844.4026 . cla.auburn.edu . clanews@auburn.edu
@AULiberalArts
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Produced by the College of Liberal Arts Office of Communications & Marketing, 2024.
Auburn University is an equal opportunity educational institution/employer.
Auburn University is an equal opportunity educational institution/employer.