Auburn dean emerita honored with APLU Lifetime Achievement Award

June Henton, dean emerita of Auburn University’s College of Human Sciences, was recently honored with the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities’ Board on Human Sciences.

Henton, who retired June 30 after serving Auburn for 34 years, was recognized for her leadership, prolific research and championing of initiatives that promote the study of the human sciences during her tenure at Auburn.

The APLU advocates for and advances the work of public higher education across the continent. Each year, the APLU Board on Human Sciences Lifetime Achievement Award goes to a nationally recognized leader who has historically advanced the human sciences in higher education.

As dean of the College of Human Sciences, Henton supported a number of successful initiatives to advance the study of human sciences and improve quality of life worldwide. She was instrumental in establishing the National Textile Center University Research Consortium, which the U.S. Congress would later call “a model for America.” Her success in globalizing students’ worldview is evident in her work building the Joseph S. Bruno Auburn Abroad in Italy program and Global Studies degree program. At the time of her retirement, more than 50 percent of all human sciences graduates left Auburn with study abroad experience.

In addition, the creation of a Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies degree program followed in the success of the Women’s Philanthropy Board and the Cary Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies, two initiatives Henton spearheaded. The Hospitality Management degree program, which Henton oversaw the founding of, is one of only 74 programs in the world accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration.

Beyond Auburn, the initiatives that Henton saw to fruition continue to improve quality of life around the nation and the world at large. Auburn’s War on Hunger, which produced coalitions including Universities Fighting World Hunger, Presidents United to Solve Hunger and End Child Hunger in Alabama, began through a partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme and continues its life-changing work out of the Hunger Solutions Institute at Auburn.

In addition, the International Quality of Life Awards, which honors people and partnerships who have made significant and lasting contributions to individual, family and community well-being, will celebrate its 26th year this December.

Throughout her career as an educator, Henton served on several academic journal editorial boards and published prolific research on marriage and family issues. She has also served as chair of the APLU Board on Human Sciences.