May 2012
War Eagle, and welcome to
Auburn Commons.
Here's a look at what is happening this month:
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Roberts named dean of Auburn's Samuel Ginn College of Engineering
 Chris Roberts, department chair and the George E. and Dorothy Stafford Uthlaut Professor of Chemical Engineering in Auburn University's Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, has been named dean of the college, effective July 1.
Roberts succeeds Larry Benefield, who is retiring after 33 years at Auburn and who has served as dean of the college since 1998.
"Dr. Roberts has an outstanding record of achievement in teaching and research and has demonstrated exceptional leadership as chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering," said Auburn Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Timothy Boosinger. "I am confident that he has the ability to significantly advance the college's mission and I look forward to working with him in the coming years."
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Auburn University's vice president for research named to board of national research consortium
 John Mason, Auburn University's associate provost and vice president for research, has been elected to the board of directors for the Oak Ridge Associated Universities.
ORAU is a consortium of leading Ph.D.-granting institutions that cultivates collaborative partnerships to enhance scientific research and education.
Mason earned a bachelor's in transportation from Pennsylvania State University, a master's in transportation engineering from Villanova University and a doctorate in civil engineering from Texas A&M University. At Auburn, he is responsible for research program development, sponsored programs, technology transfer and commercialization. He is also president of the Auburn Research and Technology Foundation.
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Auburn awards 3,312 degrees in spring ceremonies
 Auburn University recently awarded 3,312 academic degrees in Auburn Arena during spring commencement ceremonies featuring talks by Auburn alumni and industry leaders.
Of the degrees Auburn awarded, 2,430 were bachelor's degrees, 542 were master's degrees, 116 were doctorates and seven are educational specialist degrees. The College of Liberal Arts awarded the most bachelor degrees with 565, followed by the College of Business with 449 and Samuel Ginn College of Engineering with 370. The College of Sciences and Mathematics awarded 283 degrees; College of Education, 269; College of Architecture, Design and Construction, 166; College of Human Sciences, 120; College of Agriculture, 110; Nursing, 48; School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, 36; and Office of the Provost, 14 degrees in interdisciplinary university studies.
Auburn University has awarded more than 250,000 degrees since its founding as East Alabama Male College in 1856.
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Auburn University professor named fellow of National Humanities Center
 Keren Gorodeisky, an assistant professor in Auburn University's Department of Philosophy in the College of Liberal Arts, has been named a fellow of the National Humanities Center.
As the recipient of the Phillip Quinn Fellowship in philosophy, Gorodeisky will be in residence at the North Carolina-based center from September 2012 to May 2013, where she will work on an individual research project and have the opportunity to share ideas in seminars and lectures.
"This prestigious award recognizes Keren for what she is: a rising star in the philosophy of art," said Michael Watkins, chair of the Department of Philosophy.
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Two Auburn University student-athletes named finalists for NCAA Walter Byers Scholarship
 Two former Auburn student athletes are among the six finalists for the 2012 Walter Byers Postgraduate Scholarship, the NCAA's highest academic award. Auburn's finalists are Dan Mazzaferro, diving, who graduated in 2010 from the College of Sciences and Mathematics and in 2011 from the College of Business; and Mary "Katy" Frierson, women's soccer, who graduated in 2011 from the College of Liberal Arts.
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Restored eagles return to Toomer's Corner
 A pair of iconic eagles that have stood watch for more than 50 years at the main gate to Auburn University, at Toomer's Corner, were placed back on their pedestals on Friday, April 13, after having been restored to their original stateliness with the assistance of the Auburn University Facilities Management staff and a local company which manages restoration projects.
With a missing beak on one and a damaged wing on the other, the weathered statues were removed from their brick pedestals in November. They have been repaired by The Lathan Company Inc., a Mobile-based firm specializing in the historic preservation of landmark structures and buildings.
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Auburn interior design students win first place in national design contest
 A team of Auburn University interior design students, competing in the Interior Design Educators Council 2012 National Student Design Competition for the first time, earned first place for its design of an art therapy center.
More than 300 students from 45 institutions across the country were challenged to identify the problems faced by South Africa's "Lost Generation," the children who have lost one or both of their parents to HIV/AIDS, such as safe housing, education and access to health care. Student teams chose one aspect of a problem and developed a design response located within their country, while representing their culture and heritage.
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The Lego Lab: An automotive factory floor using Lego cars
 Lego sculptures have entered our shared cultural experience, whether they are created by a 3-year-old building his first space ship, or a serious artist using millions of blocks to create a one-of-a-kind installation on a grand scale.
At Auburn University, Legos are being used to design and build vehicles, with a twist – they can be produced at a rate of 70 cars per hour in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering's new automotive manufacturing systems laboratory, located on the ground floor of the Shelby Center.
Read the rest of this story, and for more featured stories, click here.
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Auburn University scientists to test anti-tumor properties of new drug
 The Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine and Nuovo Biologics, a biotechnology company, have announced a collaborative research agreement to study a new anti-cancer drug which also has antiviral properties.
Scientists with the Auburn University Research Initiative in Cancer at the College of Veterinary Medicine will be working with Nuovo Biologics to examine the anti-tumor properties of this new drug. These studies will look at the drug from the perspective of its interactions with cells, as well as in clinical trials in dogs with malignant melanoma, a form of skin cancer. Preliminary studies have shown that the drug appears to be safe, with no side effects and active against a wide variety of viruses.
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Auburn researcher helps discover links between Facebook profiles, personality and job success
 Employers commonly examine an applicant's resume, cover letter, references and personality to evaluate how well the potential new employee may perform. Now, the applicant's Facebook profile may play a key role as well, according to an Auburn professor.
Kevin Mossholder, a professor in the Department of Management in the College of Business, is one of three researchers who recently published a study linking Facebook profiles to job performance. Mossholder, along with lead researcher Don Kluemper of Northern Illinois University and Peter Rosen of the University of Evansville, conducted two studies of more than 500 students to find links of Facebook profiles with personality, hiring potential and job success.
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Men's basketball ticket priority renewals now available
 Tigers Unlimited basketball ticket priority renewals are now being accepted, and the renewal deadline is July 1, 2012. An informational brochure, donation renewal letter and donation renewal email were sent out in April to all 2011-12 ticket priority members.
If you are a current member and have never renewed your donation online before, please click here to login using your Tigers Unlimited ID number and PIN. If you do not have one or both of those numbers, please contact the Tigers Unlimited office at tuf@auburn.edu. If you are a current member and have renewed your donation online before, please click here and use your Tigers Unlimited ID number and password to login.
Tigers Unlimited is also accepting new memberships for the 2012-13 men's basketball season. Memberships require a minimum $150 annual contribution per seat and provide access to the best seats in Auburn Arena. To join, please click here.
For more information on the Tigers Unlimited basketball ticket priority program and its benefits, please visit www.TigersUnlimited.com. |
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Auburn University to host national Anti-Bullying Summit
 Auburn University's Truman Pierce Institute and the Office of Professional and Continuing Education will host their second national Anti-Bullying Summit at the Grand Hotel and Point Clear Resort in Fairhope, Ala., July 11-13.
The summit enables educators, parents, mental health professionals, researchers, community-based agency personnel and others to learn more about bullying and effective intervention strategies.
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Auburn University College of Education summer reading program for K-2 begins in June
 The Auburn University Summer Reading Program will provide personalized instruction beginning in June for elementary school students who have encountered difficulty developing reading skills through regular class instruction.
The program, now in its 15th year, is open to children in grades K-2. Beginning readers will receive individualized tutoring from junior and senior elementary education majors in Auburn University's College of Education.
The program features teaching in phoneme awareness, phonics, spelling and writing. Children read at least two books or chapters in each session, write a message on a topic of their choice and play learning games. Tutors will work to develop decoding skills, reading fluency, vocabulary, comprehension and enjoyment of reading based on each child's assessed needs.
Click here for more information
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Who will be featured on next week's "Take 5 with..."?
 The Office of Communications and Marketing is spotlighting members of the Auburn Family through the "Take 5 with..." feature.
Each week, a different member of the Auburn campus community answers five questions about themselves and why they love Auburn.
Click here to read this week's feature and browse the archive of past spotlights.
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Stay up-to-date with Wire Eagle and Facebook
Sign up for Wire Eagle -- this free news wire will keep you informed about what's happening at Auburn each week, including news and announcements our Wire Eagle subscribers are the first to hear. Visit wireeagle.auburn.edu.
Stories from Wire Eagle, as well as other interactive features, can be found on Auburn University's Facebook page. Make sure you stop by and "like" it!
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FROM THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ... |
Join your Auburn Alumni Association today
Have you donated to Auburn University? Did you know that donors are not automatically members of the Auburn Alumni Association? Join now: Revenue from membership dues supports the association’s many programs and services, such as reunions, career services and the alumni hospitality tent. We need you!
Watch your mailbox for Auburn Magazine
Auburn Magazine’s summer issue, which mails this month to members of the Auburn Alumni Association, profiles engineer Travis Taylor ’91, ringleader of National Geographic Channel’s “Rocket City Rednecks”; pays tribute in text and photos to the association’s very first alumni magazine, the Auburn Alumni Quarterly, published a century ago this year; and takes a look at the life and times of Mobile sculptor Bruce Larsen ’86. Start receiving Auburn Magazine by joining your association today at www.aualum.org.
On the prowl with Tiger Trek
Auburn Tigers head football coach Gene Chizik and lovable mascot Aubie are making the rounds this summer as part of the Auburn Alumni Association’s annual “Tiger Trek” tour. Next up: Huntsville (May 8), Muscle Shoals/Florence (May 10), Baldwin County (May 14), Destin, Fla. (May 15), Cullman (May 24) and Birmingham (July 18). For more information, see www.auburnclubs.org.
Travel with the football team this fall
Hit the road with the Auburn Tigers by purchasing a package from Total Sports Travel, the official away-game travel partner of the Auburn Alumni Association and Tigers Unlimited. For information and reservations, see http://www.aualum.org/travel and click the away-game travel tab.
Get a sneak peek at the 2013 War Eagle Travelers tours
Join us for a preview of next year’s tours at the War Eagle Travelers Reunion and 2013 Tour Preview from noon to 3 p.m. June 9 at the Auburn Alumni Center. Admission is $10 in advance or $15 at the door and includes lunch. For more information or to register, see http://www.aualum.org/travel.
Walk this way
Construction is scheduled to begin this summer on the Auburn Alumni Association’s new Alumni Walk, located at the Auburn Alumni Center’s front portico facing South College Street. The project allows alumni and friends of Auburn University to buy a personalized paver commemorating a graduation date, celebrating a baby’s birth, honoring or memorializing a loved one, or recognizing a club, sorority, fraternity or other organization. Pavers will be in place prior to the Tigers’ Sept. 15 home football opener and are available in several sizes: 4-inch-by-8-inch bricks for $200; 8-inch-by-8-inch sandstone slabs for $500; and 12-inch-by-12 inch granite squares for $1,000. Each paver may be etched with an inscription of the purchaser’s choosing, and proceeds benefit student scholarships. Purchases are tax deductible. For more information, contact Janet Bryant at (334) 844-1150 or janetbryant@auburn.edu.
’Tis the season … for Auburn clubs
Your Auburn Alumni Association boasts 98 clubs across the nation, from Seattle to Miami and points between. Most clubs hold annual meetings and other events during the summer months. For details and to find a club near you, see www.aualum.org/clubs.
Minority Alumni Involvement Now (MAIN) outings planned
Plan now to attend one of your Auburn Alumni Association’s two MAIN picnics in Atlanta and Birmingham this summer on June 24 and Aug. 5, respectively. To register, contact Tanja Matthews at (334) 844-1113 or tanjamatthews@auburn.edu
Award nominations open through May 31
The Auburn Alumni Association is accepting nominations through May 31 for its Alumni Undergraduate Teaching Excellence, Minority Achievement and Lifetime Achievement awards:
- The Lifetime Achievement Award honors members of the Auburn family—including alumni and former faculty, coaches or administrators—who have obtained professional prominence or have served their communities or Auburn in an exemplary way. Click here for online nomination form and list of past recipients.
- The Minority Achievement Award recognizes Auburn faculty who go the extra mile to recruit minority students or improve race relations on campus. The award carries a $1,000 honorarium. Click here for online nomination form and list of past recipients.
- The Alumni Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award honors faculty who create exceptional classroom experiences for Auburn students. Nominations must be seconded by the appropriate college or school dean. Click here for online nomination form and list of past recipients.
For more information, contact Tanja Matthews at (334) 844-1113 or tanjamatthews@auburn.edu.
Class rings available from Balfour
Missed your chance to buy a class ring upon graduation? You still can: Alumni may purchase Auburn University’s official ring—designed by Balfour and a cross-section of Auburn students, alumni, faculty and staff—online at www.aualum.org/shop. Three styles are available: men’s traditional, women’s traditional and women’s signet, each sporting the university’s interlocking AU logo. The Auburn battle cry, “War Eagle,” is inscribed inside the band.
Holiday travel and 2013 tour schedule available
Ever wanted to see how other cultures celebrate the holidays? Experience Christmas markets in Austria and Germany during the War Eagle Travelers’ “Christmas on the Danube” tour, featuring a six-night river cruise, Nov. 24-Dec. 2. The 2013 War Eagle Travelers tour schedule is also available and includes many great destinations. Make reservations early for the best prices and cabin availability. Questions? Call (334) 844-1443 or email wareagletravelers@auburn.edu.
Shop online at Tiger Discount Mall
The Office of Alumni Affairs reminds alumni and members of the Auburn Alumni Association to save money by shopping online at the Tiger Discount Mall. The site is your online source for discounts from more than 500 retailers offering everything from clothing to vacations, sports to entertainment. Best of all, your alumni association receives royalties when you browse the mall. Funds raised help support the association’s many programs and services. See www.aualum.org/shop to begin saving today.
Take our survey
The Auburn Alumni Association in June will conduct a membership survey of 5,000 alumni, including both members and nonmembers of the Auburn Alumni Association. If you receive a survey, please take five minutes to complete it. Your answers will help us make the association stronger for all alumni.
Save these dates
- Greater Nashville Auburn Club, May 10. Annual meeting, 5:45 p.m. at Bison Café, Lipscomb University. Info: auburnclubs.org/events
- Shoals Area Auburn Club, May 10. Tiger Trek with head football coach Gene Chizik at the Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa conference center. Info: auburnclubs.org/events
- Baldwin County Auburn Club, May 14. Tiger Trek with head football coach Gene Chizik at the Orange Beach Convention Center. Info: auburnclubs.org/events
- Coweta-Fayette Auburn Club, May 14. Annual dinner, 6 p.m. at Flat Creek Country Club in Peachtree City, Ga. Info: auburnclubs.org/events
- Emerald Coast Auburn Club, May 15. Tiger Trek with head football coach Gene Chizik at the Emerald Coast Convention Center in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. Info: auburnclubs.org/events
- Golden Isles Auburn Club, May 15. Annual meeting at the Brunswick Country Club in Brunswick, Ga. Info: auburnclubs.org/events
- Greater Athens Auburn Club, May 15. Annual meeting, 6 p.m. at Buffalo’s Southwest Café in Athens, Ga. Info: auburnclubs.org/events
- Southwest Georgia Auburn Club, May 17. Annual meeting, time and location to be announced. Info: auburnclubs.org/events
- Mississippi Gulf Coast Auburn Club, May 17. Annual meeting, 6 p.m. at the Biloxi Yacht Club in Biloxi, Miss.
- Cape Fear Auburn Club, May 18. Annual meeting, time and location to be announced. Info: auburnclubs.org/events
- Charlotte Auburn Club, May 22. Annual meeting, time and location to be announced. Info: auburnclubs.org/events
- Cullman County Auburn Club, May 24. Tiger Trek with head football coach Gene Chizik, 7 p.m. at McGukin Civic Center in Cullman. Info: auburnclubs.org/events
- New England Auburn Club Meeting, June 7. Annual meeting, 7 p.m. at Tavern on the Square/Central Square in Cambridge, Mass. Info: auburnclubs.org/events
- Carpet Capital Auburn Club, June 7. Annual meeting, time and location to be announced. Info: auburnclubs.org/events
- Auburn Alumni Association Board of Directors Meeting, 9 a.m. June 23 at the Auburn Alumni Center.
- Wilcox County Auburn Club, June 28. Annual meeting, time and location to be announced. Info: auburnclubs.org/events
- MAIN Event Homecoming, Nov. 2
- MAIN Event Extra for Auburn vs. Alabama A&M, Nov. 16
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