All In, All Pink 2024 - Breast Cancer Awareness Event

A lifelong Alabamian, Cost is a three-time Auburn graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, an M.Ed. in Special Education, and a Ph.D. in Rehabilitation and Special Education - Behavioral Disorders. Before her position at the University of Montevallo, Cost worked in the Auburn area in mental health and special education roles in the Lee County school system, East Alabama Mental Health and Lee County Youth Development Center, at Auburn University as a graduate teaching and research assistant and assistant director of the Summer Clinic program, and later as assistant professor at Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas. At the University of Montevallo, Cost was professor of Special Education and responsible for program coordination, assessment and accreditation activities in the department. During her tenure, she launched the university’s service-learning program and developed two major civic engagement initiatives, “Falcon Scholars in Action,” a community outreach program with Shelby County non-profit agencies engaging university students, and the “Montevallo Connection” initiative which promoted collaboration between the university and the city’s public schools.

Cost’s community engagement and advocacy extended beyond campus to civic leadership, in which she served for more than 16 years as an elected Montevallo city council member and Mayor. In her two terms as mayor, she was responsible for all municipal operations including budget management, direct supervision of ten department heads, infrastructure maintenance and improvements, and overall promotion of civic engagement, social equity and inclusivity for citizens. During her administration she initiated a Students’ Institute, a Junior City Council, and a comprehensive recycling program among several other citywide initiatives.

A graduate of Leadership Alabama and Leadership Shelby County, Cost has received a number of educational, municipal and civic engagement certifications from the Alabama State Department of Education, the Alabama League of Municipalities, and Auburn University’s Community and Civic Engagement Imagining America Institute. She has a comprehensive record of disciplinary research, grant acquisition, publication and presentation across her special education, civic engagement, and community development dossier. Among her many notable scholarly and public recognitions, Cost was named a Kettering Foundation Research Fellow, the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship Humanitarian of the Year, the Alabama Main Street Hero Award, Gulf-South Summit Outstanding Service-Learning Collaboration Award, and Auburn University’s Academy for Civic Professionalism Alumni Award. She has been active in community service at both the local and state level including board service with the Shelby County Chamber, Alabama Environmental Commission, Alabama League of Municipalities, Montevallo Sister City Commission and many other initiatives.

Cindy grew up in Sylacauga and attended the University of Montevallo. She worked in the banking industry for 25 years prior to her move to Auburn in 2006. Cindy joined the Office of Alumni Affairs and later the Office of Development, enabling her to complete her degree through the employee education program.

The initial cancer diagnosis was given at age 40 at Cindy’s first mammogram. A second occurrence happened ten years later and a third, by then metastasized breast cancer, came eight years after that. Cindy chose to retire in 2020 to enjoy her family, gardening, and volunteering.

Johnnie Harris enters her second year as head coach for Auburn women's basketball in 2022-23. A long-time Southeastern Conference assistant and 2018 WBCA National Assistant Coach of the Year, Harris was named Auburn women's basketball head coach on April 3, 2021.

Prior to her arrival at Auburn, Harris spent 16 years combined at Arkansas, Texas A&M and Mississippi State, and spent the 2020-21 season as the Associate Head Coach at the University of Texas. She helped Texas to an Elite Eight appearance during the 2020-21 season, and she worked alongside Longhorn head coach Vic Schaefer the previous 10 years assisting Mississippi State to a pair of NCAA Championship game appearances. She was a central part of Mississippi State's success those eight seasons and is considered one of the nation's top recruiters.

Harris is the mother of two children, Marcus and Kiera, and the legal guardian of Lily. She also has two grandchildren, Samarah and Kaiden.

Dr. LaKeisha King-Menifee, DNP, MSN, FNP-BC, BSN, RN, is currently the Compensation & Pension Provider at Central Alabama Veterans HealthCare Systems, Tuskegee/Montgomery, AL, where she performs compensation & pension exams on Veterans. Prior to accepting this position, Dr. King-Menifee served as the Palliative Care Coordinator, Geriatrics Provider at CAVHCS, Family Nurse Practitioner at Comprehensive Health Care in Tuskegee/Hurtsboro/Lafayette, AL, Adjunct faculty in the Nurse Practitioner Program at Chamberlain University and House Calls Practitioner for United Health Care.

LaKeisha received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Alabama; Master of Science in Nursing from Troy University; and Doctorate of Nursing Practice from the University of Alabama. With a heart for children, LaKeisha began her nursing career as a pediatric nurse. She was inspired by her mother to further her career. Dr. King-Menifee is very passionate about giving back to the career that has given so much to her. She readily accepts speaking engagements at various universities, colleges and churches when called upon. Dr. King-Menifee is married to her high school sweetheart, John and they have one Yorkie-poo, Jaxx. She is a member of the Mu Sigma Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Her motto is, "when God gets through with me, I'm gonna be what He wants me to be".