Philanthropy and Support
Brian sits on his motorcycle and pulls up his sleeve to show off a large tattoo of a tiger

Management Professor Brian Connelly, the Luck Endowed Eminent Scholar, is in demand as a speaker at institutions around the world, but he always comes back home to the Plains.

October 22, 2026

Drs. Piazza and Calderon stand together in their lab

Two endowed faculty from the Harrison College of Pharmacy are collaborating with the National Cancer Institute to develop a drug that prevents colon cancer.

October 19, 2026

image of samford hall with logo

Auburn University faculty and staff join forces to uplift organizations serving families and neighbors across Lee County.

October 15, 2026

The wheelchair basketball team takes a photo with Aubie in front of a toilet paper-covered oak at Toomer

Through scholarship and operations funding, generous donors help Adapted Athletics recruit top athletes and meet essential expenses.

October 05, 2026

an exterior shot of Comer Hall

Comer Hall is nearing completion of a comprehensive renovation that preserves its historic character while reimagining spaces for learning, research and administration.

October 01, 2026

an old black and white photo of John Neher in a biplane on the ground

To honor her late father, a U.S. Air Force pilot, educator and coin collector, alumna Judy Neher used his valuable coin collection to establish a scholarship for aviation students.

September 28, 2026

Cathy poses for a photo in front of a flower garden

The new Landscape Architecture Advisory Council Endowed Fund for Excellence will allow students to explore Alabama's landscapes by offsetting travel costs.

September 25, 2026

Emily stands proudly wearing a medal while President Roberts and Dean Hicks smile for the photo

Emily Friedman, who holds the Jean Wickstrom Liles Professorship, has exploded onto the cultural scene as one of the foremost experts on Actual Play.

September 21, 2026

Navy ROTC cadets work inside their new study space

Auburn's Naval ROTC program redesigned its midshipmen's study space for success, service and social engagement.

September 15, 2026

Kerry smiles for the camera while pausing from trimming a while hydrangea plant

Master Gardners coordinator Kerry Smith is hoping the Auburn Family will help her expand the program's impact on communities across Alabama.

September 14, 2026

A man in traditional African tribal clothing holds a stuffed animal Aubie as the local residents and Auburn faculty and students surrounding him smile

Through Outreach Global, Auburn students, faculty and staff serve and learn abroad — and donor support could help more students experience these transformative opportunities.

September 08, 2026

Paul Ellen interviews Auburn baseball coach Butch Thompson

To honor Auburn radio legend Paul Ellen, WEGL-FM alumni are helping fund postseason travel opportunities for today's student broadcasters.

September 03, 2026

Rachel Prado stands over a table of students as they all share a laugh

Senior lecturer Rachel Prado has bold ideas for transforming the student experience — and with donor support, she believes those ideas can grow into campuswide change.

August 24, 2026

The BraveHeart community ambassadors wear Auburn sweatshirts in front of Samford Hall

Thanks in part to generous donor support, BraveHeart Center for Place and Purpose helps adults with disabilities find community while giving Auburn students meaningful hands-on experience.

August 17, 2026

Two young women sit at a table working on a craft project together

Thanks to the generosity of donors, Student Affairs creates opportunities for connection and belonging through programs like The First 56.

August 10, 2026

A man in a blue Boeing shirt stands with a group of students under a model airplane

What does it take to turn campus into a launchpad for solving the world's toughest challenges? At Auburn, it's partners who roll up their sleeves and build impact that changes the future.

August 03, 2026

Alison Davis poses for a headshot in her office

An endowed faculty position — named in honor of the College of Nursing's dean — helped bring Alison Davis to lead the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing program.

July 28, 2026

two wheelchair handball players on court competing in game

Ben Edwards' journey from basketball standout to Team USA gold medalist reflects the rise of adaptive sports and Auburn's growing impact.

July 24, 2026

Dan and Mary Lou pose for a photo in front of a Gogue Performing Arts Center sign

After seeing the arts inspire people of all ages, alumni Dan and Mary Lou Ponder are helping the Gogue Performing Arts Center extend that impact.

July 20, 2026

A gravel path winds through a lush, wooded garden surrounding a small pond. Several children and an adult walk along the path while others explore near the water, with tall trees, flowering shrubs, and dense green foliage filling the landscape.

Nestled on the edge of Auburn's campus, the Donald E. Davis Arboretum offers a living showcase of Alabama's incredible biodiversity. Through donor generosity, this treasured green space continues to preserve natural beauty while inspiring students and visitors alike.

July 07, 2026

Two people seated in an auditorium with rows of red theater seats are being recorded during a video interview. A camera operator is visible in the foreground, and two camera monitors display the seated participants. A play button overlay appears in the center of the image, indicating video content.

Ten Auburn Family members with their own unique stories — all united by a shared passion and vision for Auburn's future. Hear their stories in their own words.

July 06, 2026

Karla wears orange scrubs and a stethoscope and stands next to an IV pole

Guerra was in high school when she began serving the community alongside Auburn nurses - now she's a nursing student working to eliminate barriers to healthcare.

July 06, 2026

Hal Schenck jokes around with students in the classroom

As a professor and endowed chair in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Hal Schenck has witnessed firsthand the power of philanthropic giving.

July 01, 2026

A student veteran smiles inside a classroom.

The Rucksacks to Backpacks program equips student veterans for academic success at Auburn and beyond.

June 25, 2026

A group of students stand with the CFWE dean in front of the Washington Monument

Funded entirely by philanthropic support, FEWL Academy gives students leadership skills and networking opportunities to succeed in a career in natural resources.

June 23, 2026

A group of women wearing Auburn shirts and casual clothing pose together outdoors during an Auburn campus event, with white tents and trees in the background.

More than 25 years after meeting at Auburn, six alumnae are turning a lifelong friendship into scholarship support for the next generation of students.

June 17, 2026

Julianna Acomb posing for a photo with Aubie

When Julianna Acomb started searching for colleges, she knew exactly what she wanted: professors who would challenge her creativity and help sharpen her writing. Auburn University's English department immediately stood out.

June 11, 2026

An eastern wild tom turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) struts with tail feathers in fan through a grassy meadow.

Researchers at Auburn University will continue to stay on the cutting edge of wild turkey research thanks to funding from Alabama-based wildlife conservation organizations.

June 10, 2026

Sam Ginn and Emily Traylor at a recent Auburn event.

Emily Traylor, a third-generation Auburn engineer, has been honored by the Auburn Alumni Association with the 2026 Young Alumni Achievement Award.

June 08, 2026

Four students hold large photos of themselves

The Don and Alexandra Clayton Recording Arts Honors is serving as a real-world launchpad for aspiring recording industry talent — both for students onstage and those behind the scenes.

May 29, 2026

For Auburn alumnus Bob Runkle ‘77, investing in the next generation of business leaders is both a professional priority and a personal commitment. Through the Barron's Investing in Education Program, Runkle and The Runkle Group have helped bring real-world financial insights into Harbert College of Business classrooms, enhancing the academic experience for students preparing to enter an increasingly complex global economy.

May 20, 2026

Ben Timm leading cheers during a parade

Mic-man Ben Timm credits the generosity of the Auburn Family for his ability to work on projects with real-life impact in the Design and Manufacturing Lab.

April 28, 2026

Auburn Engineering students, faculty and FMS Aerospace representatives pose with a Skyron X unmanned aircraft system on campus.

Auburn Engineering receives a full-scale unmanned aircraft system from FMS Aerospace, giving students hands-on access to a modern Skyron X platform for research and real-world applications.

April 28, 2026

eagle in stadium

Once grounded by a serious injury, this Golden Eagle's stadium soar is a powerful reminder of why raptor education, rehabilitation and conservation matters.

April 13, 2026

Couple poses with Aubie in front of a vintage dark blue roadster on the Auburn University campus.

With a passion for Auburn and a heart for giving back, Joe Brackin ‘80 and Roberta Marcantonio found a unique way to support the Auburn Family — through Aubie, a vintage roadster and a thoughtfully planned gift.

April 10, 2026

Haley crosses her arms and smiles

With the help of scholarship support and Auburn's Sociology program, Haley Morris is turning her interest in true crime into a career in criminology.

April 06, 2026

Jasper sits at the piano smiling

Donor-funded scholarships help make an Auburn education possible for Jasper Helms, a music major whose piano playing lends elegance to special events at the President's Home.

April 01, 2026

Morgan

Chemical engineering student Morgan Wootton is researching the effects of people's height, weight and gait speed on custom 3D-printed ankle-foot orthoses.

March 24, 2026

guests on podcast set talking

Tiger Giving Day connects the Auburn Family to purpose-driven projects, driving meaningful change. Assistant director of cAUse marketing Lisa Lofland and adapted athletics director Robb Taylor breakdown the impact of Auburn's annual day of giving in this episode of the Everything Auburn Podcast.

March 19, 2026

Clara poses for a headshot next to a building

Clara Ragan planned to plow through college in two or three years and go straight to law school. But the scholarships she received at Auburn changed those plans — and the course of her life.

March 16, 2026

Frank and Esteban stand over the massive 3d printed map

Architecture students studying at Urban Studio in Birmingham now have a massive, 12-foot-square 3D-printed map that allows them to see the city in a different light.

March 11, 2026

Margaret Arnold

Margaret Arnold has been promoted to Auburn Advancement's vice president for philanthropy.

March 05, 2026

Charlotte Baker

Charlotte Baker, a 2022 Auburn alumna who received her Bachelor of Science in child life, passed away Dec. 25, 2025, after a courageous battle with brain cancer. Her family established the Charlotte C. Baker Endowed Scholarship to help future Auburn students wishing to pursue a degree in child life in her honor.

February 27, 2026

Katherine Sechrist smiles at a table at an Auburn University philanthropy event

The College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment is proud to announce the establishment of the Katherine Owen Sechrist Endowed Scholarship for Academic Excellence.

January 14, 2026

Inspired by his grandfather's battle with cancer, Markelle Scott is using every Auburn opportunity to prepare for a career in life-saving research.

January 12, 2026

Herb and Nancy Payne smile for a photo in a room with a window and a piece of art in the background.

Herb Payne was a successful industrial engineer when his sudden passing in 1997 left his family devastated. His widow, Nancy Payne, turned tragedy into possibility by memorializing Herb and supporting the next generation at Auburn.

December 15, 2025

Ralph Wilkinson is pictured with Auburn staff members holding miniature Christmas trees inside the College of Education building.

With a smile on his face, happiness in his heart and memories abounding, Lt. Col. Ralph Wilkinson shared the holiday spirit — and his late wife's legacy — with Auburn College of Education faculty and staff at a special Christmas tree giveaway event Tuesday.

December 03, 2025

Angela Rivera, center, was one of the students celebrated at the College of Human Sciences Scholarship Reception on Nov. 20.

The College of Human Sciences held a special Scholarship Reception the night of Thursday, Nov. 20 to honor the more than 130 scholarships that were awarded this past academic year.

December 02, 2025

Dr. Chance Armstrong stands in front of a barn door

The Auburn Family fuels Auburn's Veterinary Emergency Response Team, providing future lifesaving impact during emergencies and natural disasters.

November 24, 2025

North Elevation Dorm Rendering by SSandL Architects, RDG Planning and Design.

During its Nov. 21 meeting, Auburn's Board of Trustees approved the construction of a 12,000-square-foot dormitory at the Solon Dixon Forestry Education Center, located in Andalusia, Alabama.

November 20, 2025