A member of the Registrar’s Office since 2020, Beth Hatcher serves as the Director of Academic Programs where she supports students transitioning to the university through the Auburn First and Path to the Plains programs. A vital member of the Pathway and Transfer Center’s leadership team, Hatcher oversees numerous processes that advance the institution’s strategic goals of increasing access and affordability by creating opportunities for students to understand and realize their academic potential at Auburn.

Building on her experiences working with international and exploratory student populations, Hatcher also works with students in the Auburn Global and Auburn Abroad programs to ensure they have the resources and support they need as they matriculate. Working with partner institutions, parents, and prospective students, Hatcher has developed a unique ability to simplify complex institutional processes that have creatednumerous institutional efficiencies. In addition to teaching academic and orientation courses, Hatcher serves as secretary and chair-elect of the Auburn University Advisors and Counselors Caucus Executive Committee.

A member of Career Discovery and Success since 2022, Sophie Pierce brings more than five years as a mental health professional to her role in the Exploratory Advising Center. With an emphasis on supporting and advocating for students as they explore degree options, Pierce’s efforts to advance the center have resulted in innovative ideas and new resources that have enhanced students’ experiences within the center. During her first two years at Auburn, Pierce developed an Advisor’s Caucus Professional Development Training focused on mental health and volunteering with several campus initiatives.

By facilitating programs to help students make effective decisions about their academic goals and aspirations, Pierce encourages students to discover their passions and make informed choices on their majors through cross-curricular academic advising, career assessment, and guided exploration.

An advisor with the Honors College since 2018, Yvette Stone is a recognized higher education professional who works to advance the educational experience for academically motivated students across the university by providing them with unique opportunities to achieve their potential.

Supporting more than 500 students annually, Stone has developed several advising approaches and strategies to help students take advantage of immersive opportunities, including undergraduate research, study abroad, community engagement, and other creative activities. In addition, Stone teaches multiple courses each semester, including Honors Book Clubs, Lyceums, and Study and Travel courses. As the lead for the college’s Peer Academic Coaching program, Stone remains an active member of Auburn’s professional advisory community, where she has helped promote and advance advising practices across campus.

A member of Auburn’s advising community since 2011, Candi Vann leads a team of professional advisors within the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering where she creates resources, policies, and programming to advance student success. With an advising philosophy that blends teaching and mentoring, Vann works with colleagues across campus to foster innovative approaches that help students realize their academic and professional goals.

Often recognized for her professional leadership and commitment to excellence, Vann received the university’s Outstanding New Advisor Award in 2017 and, along with Dr. Janet Moore, won the National Academic Advising Association: The Global Community for Academic Advising (NACADA) Best of Region 4 Presentation for Creating a Framework for Transfer Student Success in 2018. In addition to these achievements, Vann partnered with several advising colleagues to pilot the college’s award-winning Engineered for Success Program, impacting student success and improving retention. In addition to her efforts, Vann has served as Alabama’s liaison for NACADA and the Technical Chair for the Auburn University Advisors and Counselors Caucus.

Since joining Auburn in 2010, Julia Wiard has demonstrated a commitment to student success through her outstanding service, teaching excellence, and exemplary advising. As a role model and intentional mentor, Wiard has helped guide undergraduate students through the university’s interdisciplinary leadership minor, teaching more than 56 course sections and over 1,300 students. Her emphasis on student mentoring has informed her roles as a director, instructor, and advisor across multiple programs and fuels her work with the Women’s Leadership Institute (WLI). Developing and advising the WLI Student Advisory Board, Wiard continues to demonstrate the impact of effective mentorship while ensuring the program remains a rewarding experience and contributes to the betterment of Auburn’s campus.

During her more than a decade of teaching, Wiard has been awarded the Faculty Excellence Recognition from the Student Government Association in 2017 and 2020. Additionally, she received the Mortar Board Excellence in Teaching Award and was recognized as Organization Advisor of the Year by the Division of Student Affairs.

Auburn University Honors College In addition to college-level advisors, the Honors College provides students with comprehensive advising and programmatic support, including creating opportunities for higher learning experiences, such as study abroad, prestigious internships and scholarships, undergraduate research, and an advanced curriculum. With an emphasis on student achievement, Honors College students are effectively guided and afforded ample resources to achieve their goals, complementing the programs provided by the colleges and the broader campus community.

On average, Honors College advisors complete more than 2,000 advising appointments during the academic year, in addition to numerous campus programs and initiatives. These efforts significantly impact student retention and elevate Auburn’s campus community through thoughtful service and leadership.