Auburn University Young Professionals

“Find where there’s a need, and go meet that need” ~ EL Spencer

This philosophy is what led Blake Butcher to where he is today: Auburn University. Blake began his work in the Auburn community as a personal trainer at Health Plus Fitness Center. Over the span of fifteen years, Blake and his wife helped build a community focused on wellness. For the past seven years, Blake has been working with Auburn University, establishing the Personal Training Program within the Recreation and Wellness Center.

Christopher B. Roberts began his appointment as Auburn University’s 21st president on May 16, 2022.

President Roberts leads the university’s four divisions, including Auburn’s main campus with its more than 31,000 students and 5,500 faculty and staff, as well as Auburn University at Montgomery, the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, a joint enterprise with Alabama A&M University. As the university’s CEO, Roberts marshals the institution’s $1.54 billion annual budget and vast resources, while spearheading the university’s strategic vision and advancing the Auburn’s ever-growing research enterprise and economic development.

Prior to his presidency, Roberts served as the dean of Auburn’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering from 2012 to 2022. He began his career at Auburn in 1994 as an assistant professor in the department of chemical engineering and became department chair in 2003.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Missouri and master’s and doctoral degrees in chemical engineering from the University of Notre Dame.

He and his wife, Tracy, met in Auburn. They have two children, who attended Auburn University.

Mike Clardy is the director of communications and marketing for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, a position he has held since July 2022. In his role, Mike develops strategies for increasing visibility and boosting the reputation of Alabama Extension.

The ACES team takes the scientific discoveries at Auburn University and Alabama A&M University to the people in each of Alabama’s 67 counties, providing solutions that enhance lives. Prior to his work in Extension, Mike spent 24 years in Auburn’s Office of Communications and Marketing, including seven years as assistant vice president, and eight years as a television news anchor and reporter.

Amanda Malone, director of Budget and HR, oversees compliance and supports academic fiscal and human resources decision-making. Amanda joined the Provost’s Office in 2014 as the Special Assistant to the Provost for Budget Management. She became the Director of Budget Services in 2017, where she served as the liaison to all academic units and as an advisor to the Provost on current fiscal policies, budgetary requests, and financial strategic planning.

She is also an active Certified Public Accountant, licensed in Alabama. Born and raised in Valley, Alabama, Amanda graduated from Auburn University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Accountancy) and, in 2019, with a master’s in accountancy. Before working in the Provost’s Office, Amanda was an accountant in the Office of the Dean in the College of Human Sciences and, in 2013, became the Executive Assistant to the Dean and Business Manager. Amanda is married with two daughters and lives in Auburn.

Corey Edwards serves as the Assistant to the Senior Vice President for Student Affairs at Auburn University. This position is responsible for providing strategic leadership and direction to multiple Student Affairs departments including Communications and Marketing, Parent and Family Programs, and the Melton Student Center. Additionally, Corey advises the Aubie Program, War Eagle Girls & Plainsmen hostess group, Miss Auburn, serves as the point of contact for Auburn Athletics for Student Affairs, and instructs group fitness classes for Campus Recreation and Wellness.

Since joining Auburn University in 2006, Corey has served in various roles within student affairs. A native of Alpharetta, GA, Corey holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration - finance and a master’s degree in higher education administration with emphasis in student affairs from Auburn University. In his spare time, Corey enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, working out, watching sports, and traveling.

John Morris is senior vice president for advancement at Auburn University and president of the Auburn University Foundation and the Auburn University Real Estate Foundation.

He previously served as senior vice president for development for the Kansas State University Foundation following his position as senior director of development for the University of Minnesota Foundation. Morris began his career in higher education at Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois, as assistant director of athletics for advancement, later becoming the institution’s associate vice president for advancement.

He holds a bachelor's degree from Winona State University in Winona, Minnesota, and a master's degree from Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois.

Vini Nathan began serving as Auburn University's interim provost and vice president for academic affairs in March 2022. Since 2011, Nathan has served as dean and McWhorter Chair of the College of Architecture, Design and Construction. She is also a tenured professor of Architecture and Interior Architecture and is a Senior Fellow of the Design Futures Council (DFC).

As interim provost, Nathan is the university's chief academic officer and oversees the university's tripartite mission, including providing the academic supervision of Auburn's campus. Working with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and other stakeholders, Nathan ensures the university maintains the highest possible scholarly activity, outreach, and teaching and learning programs. In carrying out these responsibilities, Nathan works directly with the deans of the 12 colleges, the university's shared governance groups, university administrators, student leaders, and other Provost's Office team members.

Prior to Auburn, Nathan held the position of dean and professor in the School of Architecture at Thomas Jefferson University (formerly Philadelphia University). As an architect working for Walker Group/CNI in New York, Nathan collaborated with Cesar Pelli Associates on the design of the Kuala Lumpur City Center (Petronas Towers) in Malaysia.

Jay Gogue returned to his alma mater on July 16, 2007, as Auburn University’s 18th president and retired as president emeritus on July 1, 2017. He was appointed by the university’s Board of Trustees to serve as interim president effective July 8, 2019. The Waycross, Ga., native earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Auburn and a doctorate in horticulture from Michigan State University.

During his tenure as president, the academic strength of Auburn’s student population increased, a new research center was established in Huntsville, Ala., a common book program that generates a shared academic experience was instituted, and outreach partnerships with underserved schools in surrounding communities were established. His leadership during a period of sharp reductions in state support for the university budget protected Auburn’s academic quality and prevented elimination of academic programs. Since his retirement, Dr. Gogue has remained engaged in the realm of academia, advising colleagues at numerous universities and teaching a course on higher education leadership to Auburn students.

Dr. Gogue was selected in 2013 for the Michigan State University Distinguished Alumni Award. In 2012, he was inducted into the Alabama Academy of Honor, a group of 100 Alabamians “chosen for accomplishment or service greatly benefitting or reflecting great credit on the State.”

Before returning to Auburn, Dr. Gogue served as president of New Mexico State University beginning in 2000 and, in 2003, he was named president of the University of Houston and chancellor of the University of Houston System. He started his higher education administration career in 1986 at Clemson University as vice president for research and vice president/vice provost for agriculture and natural resources. Utah State University selected him as provost in 1995.

Dr. Gogue is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi and Golden Key honor societies, Sigma Chi Fraternity, Sigma Xi scientific research society and the National Society of Scabbard and Blade, the honorary military society for all branches of service. He met his wife, Susie, in the 8th grade, and they married during their undergraduate years at Auburn. Like Dr. Gogue, Mrs. Gogue also earned two Auburn degrees. They are the parents of three children and have one grandchild.

Allen Greene, known as a dynamic and energetic leader, is in his second year at Auburn after being named the program’s 15th director of athletics on January 18, 2018. Greene served in the same capacity at the University at Buffalo from November 2015 until his arrival at Auburn.

One of the youngest athletics directors in the NCAA power five ranks, Greene, 42, is highly regarded by his peers. He is actively engaged in the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, Minority Opportunities Athletics Association, and LEAD1, an association dedicated to preparing today’s students to be tomorrow’s leaders.

Auburn has achieved great success competitively under Greene’s leadership as 22 programs have finished ranked in the top 25 nationally, including eight programs in the top 10. The Auburn equestrian program has won a pair of national championships since his arrival and the men’s and women’s golf programs each advanced to the national semifinals once.

The 2018-19 academic year was historic as the men’s basketball program made its first-ever trip to the Final Four, while the baseball program returned to the College World Series for the first time in 22 years.

Academically during Greene’s time at Auburn, 177 athletes have earned their degrees and 331 have been named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll.

Greene’s tenure as director of athletics at the University at Buffalo is noted for success on the field and in the classroom, as well as donor and corporate development efforts that led to an array of facility enhancements.

Prior to being named AD at Buffalo, Greene served as the senior associate athletic director for administration and deputy director of athletics at UB. Greene previously worked in fundraising at Ole Miss and two years as an athletics fundraiser for Notre Dame and five years in its compliance office.

A graduate of Notre Dame with a degree in finance, Greene was a three-year starter for the Fighting Irish baseball team and played three years in the New York Yankees minor league system. Greene later received his master’s degree from Indiana University’s South Bend campus.

Greene and his wife, Christy, have three children, daughters Rian and Seneca, and son Samuel.

Dr. Bill Hardgrave currently serves as Auburn University’s Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. Prior to taking on the Provost’s role in January 2018, he served as the Dean of the Harbert College of Business since 2010.

As the chief academic officer, Provost Hardgrave provides leadership to Auburn’s 12 colleges and schools and oversees the university’s academic resources, support units, and instructional and research programs. Establishing the academic priorities for the university, Hardgrave leads initiatives designed to promote student and faculty success and ensures the quality of student learning at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Providing leadership to the faculty, Hardgrave manages the processes for faculty recruitment, appointments, promotions, and tenure.

Prior to his appointment at Auburn, Hardgrave held the Bradberry Chair in Information Systems in the Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, and served as the Executive Director of the Information Technology Research Institute, which he established in 1999. He also founded and directed the University’s RFID Research Center in 2005 (that later moved to Auburn in 2014).

Hardgrave has published several books and nearly 100 articles in leading journals such as MIS Quarterly, Production & Operations Management, Journal of Management Information Systems, and the European Journal of Information Systems.

Hardgrave's research has been cited by the Wall Street Journal, CNN, and BusinessWeek, among others. In recognition for his contributions, Hardgrave has received the Ted Williams Award from AIM Global as the most influential researcher in the field of RFID and the Special Achievement award from RFID Journal for his overall impact on the field. He is a highly sought after speaker – delivering almost 200 invited talks across the globe to a total audience in excess of 40,000.

Bobby R. Woodard, Ph.D., began his position as the senior vice president for Student Affairs at Auburn University in June 2014. He oversees 27 departments, which directly serve more than 30,400 students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

A native of Smithfield, North Carolina, Woodard received his bachelor’s degree in exercise and sports science from East Carolina University. He obtained his master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Central Florida. He then went on to the University of Georgia to pursue and receive a doctorate in Student Affairs Administration.

Woodard and his wife, Summer, are active in local organizations and nonprofits. In his spare time, he enjoys the outdoors and spending time with Summer and their daughter.