Two senior leaders join Auburn University

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Two new senior administrators at Auburn University will lead key institutional priorities in economic development, enrollment and student recruitment.

Steve Pelham joins Auburn as chief of staff and vice president for economic development and Joffery Gaymon as vice president for enrollment.

“Steve and Joffery will play key leadership roles as we focus on becoming one of the premier public universities in the nation,” Auburn President Steven Leath said. “Their combined expertise is a powerful asset that strengthens our unwavering commitment to excellence in scholarship, research and outreach.”

Pelham, a 1979 Auburn graduate, returns to his alma mater after serving as chief of staff to Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, where he manages the governor’s legislative agenda, budget and staff. He joined Ivey as her top advisor after her election as lieutenant governor in 2011.

Earlier in his career, Pelham worked as the state director for former U.S. Rep. Terry Everett. In 2001, he was appointed by President George W. Bush as the Alabama state director for USDA’s rural development agency, where he led programs strengthening home ownership, community infrastructure and business growth. He begins at Auburn on February 1.

Gaymon’s career in university enrollment and student recruitment began at Georgia College and State University. She held enrollment positions of increasing responsibility at the University of South Carolina, Beaufort, from 2008 to 2013. She has served as the University of West Florida’s vice president for enrollment and student affairs since 2017, where she has held similar positions since 2013.

Gaymon received a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in public administration from Georgia College and State University and a doctorate in higher education administration from Northeastern University. She also completed the Institute for Management and Leadership in Education at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education. She begins at Auburn on March 4.

“Steve and Joffery distinguished themselves in our interview process through their experience and skills but also with their enthusiasm for serving the Auburn Family and the people of our State,” said Leath. “They are excellent additions to an already strong leadership team.”

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Auburn University is a nationally ranked land grant institution recognized for its commitment to world-class scholarship, interdisciplinary research with an elite, top-tier Carnegie R1 classification, life-changing outreach with Carnegie’s Community Engagement designation and an undergraduate education experience second to none. Auburn is home to more than 30,000 students, and its faculty and research partners collaborate to develop and deliver meaningful scholarship, science and technology-based advancements that meet pressing regional, national and global needs. Auburn’s commitment to active student engagement, professional success and public/private partnership drives a growing reputation for outreach and extension that delivers broad economic, health and societal impact.