< Previous A UBURN UNIVERSITY 41 Auburn University is a compre- hensive land-, sea-, and space-grant institution with a renowned history of pioneering research, life-changing outreach, and innovative instruction. Auburn students, graduates, and faculty transform the fruits of the university’s research and scholarship into products and services that meet society’s most pressing needs. More than 30,000 students are enrolled on the picturesque, 1,841-acre campus known as “The Loveliest Village on the Plains.” Throughout the years, the institution has had four official names: East Alabama Male College (1856-72), Agricultural and Mechanical College (1872-99), Alabama Polytech- nic Institute (1899-1960), and Auburn University (1960-present). Students can choose from more than 150 majors in 12 colleges and schools at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels. Auburn has awarded some 300,000 degrees in agriculture, architecture, business, education, engi- neering, forestry, human sciences, liber- al arts, nursing, pharmacy, sciences and mathematics, and veterinary medicine. The university provides real-world learning laboratories where students can gain experience and leadership princi- ples, better preparing them to compete in the marketplace and make mean- ingful contributions to society. When freshmen arrive on campus, they find an array of community service opportu- nities. Auburn students are involved in more than 500 clubs and organizations that enrich their educational experienc- es outside the classroom as they serve others on campus and in the community. In addition to societal impact, Au- burn makes a $5.6 billion yearly eco- nomic impact in the state of Alabama and is designated as an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. Auburn is led by President Jay Gogue, an alumnus who returned to his alma mater in 2007 as the university’s 18th president and served until 2017, retiring as president emeritus. In 2019, he was appointed by the Board of Trustees to serve as interim president and, in Febru- ary 2020, was named the 20th president. Generations of alumni have been propelled to success by their Auburn education. The list of accomplished alumni includes the CEO of Apple, the founders of Habitat for Humani- ty and Wikipedia, an Oscar-winning actress, many sports legends, and six astronauts. The worldwide network of Auburn alumni is 233,000-strong. The Auburn Alumni Association has more than 42,000 members and contributes to a significant number of scholarships, professorships, and faculty awards each year. In addition, there are more than 100 Auburn Clubs throughout the country dedicated to raising and sup- porting scholarship funds for incoming freshmen. Tigers Who Yell “War Eagle!” Aubie the Tiger is the university’s mascot, and all Auburn athletic teams are nicknamed the Tigers. “War Eagle” is the battle cry. For more than 100 years, eagles have been associated with Auburn’s football program, and, since 2000, an eagle has flown above the crowds before home football games. To the Auburn Family, it’s very simple: They are the Tigers who yell “War Eagle!” Auburn retired its famed golden eagle Nova, War Eagle VII, in November 2019 and named golden eagle Aurea as War Eagle VIII. Aurea, a 6-year-old female, is Auburn’s eighth official War Eagle to carry on the storied tradition of golden eagles at Auburn Tiger football games. The Southeastern Raptor Center, a division of Auburn’s College of Veterinary Medicine, also flies a bald eagle, Spirit, at home games and it has a new eagle, Indy, flying occasionally in the stadium. The center’s mission is to rehabilitate and release injured and orphaned raptors and to educate the public about their role and importance and to research raptor-related issues. All birds used in the educational programs, including pregame flights, are non-releasable due to injury or human imprinting. AUBURN UNIVERSITY: MAKING A SOCIETAL IMPACT A UBURNTI G ERS.C O M Samford Hall, Auburn UniversityAT SUMMER VILLAGE, OUR PRIORITY IS UNWAVERING ATTENTION TO OUR RESIDENTS’ HEALTH. • Monitoring of staff according to CDC recommendations • Medication delivery and administration to our residents • On-site assistance available 24/7 UNCERTAIN TIMES CALL FOR CERTAIN CARE — AND A COMMUNITY THAT’S WARM, ENGAGING AND CONNECTS WITH YOU. All the loving comfort of home. With care that goes above and beyond. TO LEARN MORE OR TO TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR, VISIT MYSUMMERVILLAGE.COM INDEPENDENT LIVING • A S SIS TED LIVING • MEMOR Y CARE MY SUMMER VILLAGE.C OM • 866.996. 7 130 1601 Professional Parkway • Auburn, AL 36830 334 741 9348 1306 McCoy Street Opelika, AL 36801 Mon-Fri, 7am-7pm Sat 9am-2pm pamperingmypet.com Grooming Boarding Daycare Retail Now Offering Mobile Grooming War Eagle and Good Luck is Season! 1980 West 2nd Street, Unit A Gulf Shores, Alabama 36542 (251) 980-1500 getcleartitle.com Lisa Hannah Walker Owner 2590 Pepperell Pkwy., Opelika Shop online at: www.homeoutlet.com Kitchens, Baths, Floors & More BUSINESS FRIENDS WORKING FOR THE FUTURE OF AUBURN Auburn FB 20.indd 2Auburn FB 20.indd 28/17/20 11:39 AM8/17/20 11:39 AMUNIVERSITY PRESIDENT 43 returned to his alma mater on July 16, 2007, as Auburn University’s 18th president and retired as president emeritus on July 1, 2017. He was appointed by the university’s to serve as interim president, effective July 8, 2019, and appointed the university’s 20th president, effective Feb. 7, 2020. The Waycross, Georgia, native earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Auburn and a doctorate in horticulture from Michigan State University. During his first tenure as president, the academic strength of Auburn’s student population increased, a new research center was established in Huntsville, Alabama, a common book program that generates a shared academic experience was institut- ed, and outreach partnerships with underserved schools in surrounding communities were established. His leadership during a period of sharp reductions in state support for the university budget protected Auburn’s academic quality and prevented elim- ination of academic programs. Since his initial retirement, Dr. Gogue has remained engaged in the realm of academia, advising colleagues at numerous universities and teaching a course on higher education leadership to Auburn students. Dr. Gogue was selected in 2013 for the Michigan State University Distin- guished Alumni Award. In 2012, he was inducted into the Alabama Academy of Honor, a group of 100 Alabamians “chosen for accomplishment or service greatly benefitting or reflecting great credit on the State.” Before returning to Auburn in 2007, Dr. Gogue served as president of New Mexico State University beginning in 2000 and, in 2003, he was named president of the University of Houston and chancellor of the University of Houston System. He started his higher education administration career in 1986 at Clemson University as vice president for research and vice president/vice provost for agriculture and natural re- sources. Utah State University selected him as provost in 1995. Dr. Gogue is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi and Golden Key honor societies, Sigma Chi Fraternity, Sig- ma Xi scientific research society, and the National Society of Scabbard and Blade, the honorary military society for all branches of service. He met his wife, Susie, in the eighth grade, and they mar- ried during their undergraduate years at Auburn. Like Dr. Gogue, Mrs. Gogue also earned two Auburn degrees. They are the parents of three children and have one grandchild. DR. JAY GOGUE, PRESIDENT A UBURNTI G ERS.C O MBO ARD OF TRUS TEES 45 A UBURNTI G ERS.C O M GOV. KAY IVEY President (Ex-officio) BOB DUMAS (Auburn) Banking Executive Vice President Pro Tempore Third District - Lee WAYNE T. SMITH (Nashville, Tenn.) Healthcare Executive President Pro Tempore At Large B.T. ROBERTS (Mobile) Commercial Real Estate Executive First District CLARK SAHLIE (Montgomery) Business Executive Second District JAMES H. SANFORD (Prattville) Agriculture Executive Fourth District ELIZABETH HUNTLEY (Clanton) Attorney Sixth District JAMES W. RANE (Abbeville) Business Executive Third District GAINES LANIER (Lanett) Business Executive Fifth District SARAH B. NEWTON (Fayette) Retired School Principal Seventh District MICHAEL A. DEMAIORIBUS (Huntsville) Retired Technology Executive Eighth District LLOYD AUSTIN (Great Falls, Va.) Retired Army General At Large CHARLES D. MCCRARY (Birmingham) Retired Utility Executive At Large JAMES PRATT (Birmingham) Attorney Ninth District RAYMOND J. HARBERT (Birmingham) Investment Management Executive At Large QUENTIN P. RIGGINS (Birmingham) Utility Executive At Large JON WAGGONER Board Secretary SHERRI M. WILLIAMS Deputy Board Secretary THROUGH THE LENS: A T OLE MISS 47 THROUGH THE LENS: AT OLE MISS A UBURNTI G ERS.C O M UNIVERSITY NEW S 49 Ada Ruth Huntley anxiously awaited word below the back steps of Cater Hall on Feb. 4, when the beloved Auburn tradition of callouts began. In a few min- utes, she would know if her exhausted team’s hard work had paid off, or if she must graciously accept defeat. Then, it happened. The elections board called out her name. She was to be Auburn’s first African American fe- president—she had made history. “It was such an incredible moment being surrounded by friends and family, hearing my name called, and knowing that I would get to serve students over the next year,” Huntley said. Over the past three years, she has been counselor, a member of the organizations. However, the SGA has always had a special place in Huntley’s heart. “One of the reasons I fell in love with this organization is because I took the time to get involved wherever I could,” she said, “whether that was volunteering for Hey Day, joining Freshman Forum, or doing a concourse hour.” When it comes to making history on Auburn’s campus, Huntley has taken a gracious and humble approach. “It is very overwhelming for me that I am the first African American female SGA president,” Huntley said. “I am so grateful to the Black leaders on campus who paved the way for me to be able to have this honor. All that I am as a leader is a testament to the leaders and mentors I have had the opportunity to learn from.” Huntley said she sees this achieve- ment as a way “to represent the student body through a completely different lens” from her predecessors, as she hopes to offer a new perspective. “It means giving students who look like me an opportunity to hopefully see themselves in these roles,” she said. Huntley officially stepped into her position as SGA president on March 1. However, a few weeks later, the univer- sity announced the spring semester would be completed remotely because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “I could never have anticipated these circumstances,” Huntley said. “But I have been joyous through it all from getting to do this job and reflecting on the honor that it is.” Huntley realizes that the 2020-2021 school year will look a little different, but she remains optimistic about the future. “I know that the administration is working incredibly hard to ensure that all of our students have an incredible and fulfilling experience, while continu- ing to prioritize the health and safety of the Auburn student body.” Huntley sympathizes with Auburn’s freshmen and wants to reassure them that they won’t be missing out on the college experience. “Try to stay positive and get excited for your freshman year,” she said. “I know that your senior year did not end as expected, and you did not get to experience many of your high school ‘lasts.’ However, there is so much to look forward to with your freshman year, and everyone is working incredibly hard to make sure it is a great experience for you.” Huntley has nothing but love for Auburn and has cherished her time as a student. “I have never been in an academic environment where I have felt so loved and supported throughout all of the trials and tribulations that college pres- ents,” she said. UNIVERSITY NEWS BY SHELBY JULIEN A UBURNTI G ERS.C O M Huntley Makes History as Auburn’s First African American Female SGA President Ada Ruth Huntley has made history as Auburn’s first African American female president of the Student Government Association. Next >