Dear Colleagues,
It is hard to believe we are nearing the end of the semester and will soon be celebrating our more than 5,400 graduates during our spring commencement ceremonies at the end of this month.
Earlier this week, we launched our Democracy in Dialogue Signature Speaker Series with former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and commentator and author Margaret Hoover at the Gogue Performing Arts Center. Together, they offered an engaging and thought-provoking conversation on the enduring strength of American democracy. Drawing on her experience in government, academia and public life, Dr. Rice stressed the vital role of universities in fostering leadership, encouraging open debate and preparing our students to engage more thoughtfully in democratic life. This event is part of a yearlong series of programs, and we are grateful for the strong engagement of several colleges across campus.
That same spirit of engagement surrounding our America 250 initiatives continues to take shape outside our campus as well. I am pleased to congratulate the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Raptor Center on its selection to participate in the Time Capsule Burial ceremony on July 4 at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. As part of the national celebration, Auburn’s bald eagle, Independence, will travel with her care team to Philadelphia ahead of the ceremony. This invitation highlights our Raptor Center’s national reputation and provides an additional opportunity for Auburn to be represented in our nation’s semisesquicentennial celebration.
On campus, our Honors College is completing the selection process for the Foundation Faculty Fellows and Student Fellows programs, which attracted a competitive pool of 64 student applicants and 26 faculty applicants representing a wide range of disciplines. Once selected, our Faculty Fellows will participate in a yearlong reading and discussion series and will help guide conversations with the Student Fellows on topics central to democratic life, including representative government, free inquiry, civil discourse and civic engagement.
During last month’s Senate meeting, I provided key updates for faculty, including on our ongoing Faculty Compensation Analysis study supported by Huron Consulting. In addition to spirited meetings with the Steering and Advisory workgroups this semester, the consulting team met with academic leaders and additional faculty stakeholders, ensuring representative input. These groups will continue working through the remainder of spring with plans to provide recommendations later this calendar year.
As the semester winds down, I would like to highlight recent recognitions within our faculty community, beginning with the upcoming retirement of Dr. C. Randall Clark after an extraordinary 53-year career at Auburn. Dr. Clark will retire at the end of this semester, concluding more than five decades of service to Auburn and the Harrison College of Pharmacy. Since joining the university in 1973, he has distinguished himself as a dedicated teacher, accomplished researcher and scholar, and a valuable mentor to our students. His work in medicinal chemistry, including research in forensic drug chemistry, chromatography and biologically active compounds, has undoubtedly advanced the field and the college while shaping generations of pharmacy and graduate students. Please join me in recognizing his many years of service.
I also congratulate our colleague from the Department of English, Dr. Emily Friedman, who has been selected as the Public Humanities Fellow at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C. for the coming year. During her residency, she will organize a series of public programs exploring the intersections of history, culture and games, with events planned both in Washington, D.C., and at Auburn.
As we near the end of the academic year and prepare to graduate another class of students, I thank you for your continued commitment and for the work you are doing to help us finish the semester strong. |
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Key Spring 2026 Dates for Faculty: April 17 — Last Day to Withdraw; April 24 — Classes End; April 25–26 — Studying/Reading Days; April 27–May 1 — Final Exam Period; May 1–4 — Commencement Ceremonies.
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