Outreach and Impact
samford hall, auburn sign

Gov. Kay Ivey announced Monday that Auburn University has been awarded $15.3 million through the Alabama Rural Health Transformation Program to advance solutions that improve health care access, workforce development and technology infrastructure across rural Alabama.

August 25, 2026

Pesticide sprayer tractor in field

Auburn researcher says one of the ways growers can optimize efficiency and save some money during pesticide application operations is through proper sprayer calibration.

August 24, 2026

A student poses for a photo inside a classroom with a monitor displayed behind her.

For many people, conversations about mental health can feel intimidating, uncomfortable or difficult to begin. Alexis Dowdell, a doctoral student in Auburn University's College of Education, hopes to change that through a new educational video series designed to make mental health information more accessible, relatable and easier to understand for individuals and families across the community.

August 21, 2026

Representatives from ADRS and Auburn cut the ribbon at the TBI Centers of Alabama: Opelika location

The Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services TBI Program and Auburn Social Work have strengthened their partnership to serve veterans, National Guard members and individuals across the state surviving TBIs for generations to come.

August 19, 2026

From left to right: Asim Ali, Moriah Kent, and Jill Albin-Hill.

Auburn University's TIGER Tech Leaders program has earned a 2026 HR Innovation Award from the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR), recognizing Auburn's approach to helping employees adopt and apply artificial intelligence in the workplace.

August 19, 2026

Auburn's new $224 million STEM + Agricultural Sciences Complex brings six departments, cutting-edge research spaces and a new vision for collaboration under one roof. The university's largest research construction project was designed not just for the science happening today, but for the discoveries still to come.

August 17, 2026

a young student looks into a microscope

A record 514 students spent six weeks exploring science, engineering, coding and robotics through COSAM Outreach's Science Matters and SCORE Robotics camps. Hands-on experiments, laboratory activities and field experiences helped campers build confidence, develop new skills and see themselves as future scientists and problem-solvers.

August 09, 2026

Auburn University's DisruptMS project is reimagining how multiple sclerosis research is done by putting patients at the center of the discovery process. Led by Dr. Evelyn Hunter, the community-based project brings together researchers, doctoral students and people living with MS to better understand how stress affects symptoms and develop practical tools shaped by patients' real-life experiences.

August 07, 2026

Dr. Martin O’Neill was recently honored on a national scale earning the ICHRIE McCool Breakthrough Award on Friday, July 17 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Dr. Martin O'Neill, Head of the Horst Schulze School of Hospitality Management in the College of Human Sciences, was recently honored on a national scale earning the ICHRIE McCool Breakthrough Award.

August 04, 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

Tarozzo stands outside the Advanced Structural Engineering Laboratory at Auburn University where he conducts his research

For Murilo Tarozzo, the word “connection” is the throughline of his life. It describes his doctoral research, his experience at Auburn University and the impact engineering can have on the world around us.

July 24, 2026

Participants in the Auburn University Summer STEM Institute (AUSSI) gather for a group photo at the conclusion of the week-long program, which brought together more than 80 faculty members, postdoctoral scholars and graduate teaching assistants to develop student-centered teaching strategies for STEM courses.

The Biggio Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (Biggio Center) hosted more than 80 Auburn University faculty members, postdoctoral scholars and graduate teaching assistants for the Auburn University Summer STEM Institute (AUSSI), a week-long professional development program that equips STEM instructors with evidence-based, student-centered teaching strategies.

July 23, 2026

Three children and two educators pose in a museum collection room while displaying framed butterfly specimens and an insect collection.

Curious Curators gave rising fourth- through seventh-grade students a week of hands-on scientific discovery while three Alabama middle school teachers learned alongside them. The experience provided educators with new knowledge, classroom-ready activities and resources to bring back to their students.

July 22, 2026

Photo of three guys lifting a piece of engineered lumber with a hoist

The School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture (APLA) is expanding its leadership in sustainable building innovation with a new Master of Architecture with a focus in mass timber design.

July 22, 2026

Franklin Wang stands beside his desk, smiling at the camera. Behind him, two large monitors display the LaTeX code and formatted pages of his accessible dissertation project, while an open laptop sits below with programming code visible. His workspace includes books, a coffee mug and office supplies, illustrating the technology and tools he uses to improve accessibility in academic publishing.

After a bicycle accident changed how he experienced accessibility, Auburn doctoral student Franklin Wang is helping make technical dissertations more accessible for screen reader users.

July 16, 2026

Three Auburn leaders pose in front of an agricultural experiment and university building

Backed by up to $160 million from the National Science Foundation, Auburn and partners will connect farmers, manufacturers and communities to create new markets, new jobs and new opportunities across Alabama and Tennessee.

July 14, 2026

A veterinary technician in a blue uniform works with a black and white dog atop an exercise ball in a room filled with exercise equipment.

Auburn's veterinary care team, as well as family and unstoppable drive, enable a border collie to overcome spinal stroke

July 13, 2026

cyber monitoring

The Alabama Cybersecurity Intelligence Center, a joint initiative of the Alabama Office of Information Technology and the McCrary Institute, offers basic cyber hygiene, penetration testing, incident response planning and round-the-clock monitoring of every device on a municipal network.

July 07, 2026

portrait of Desmond Layne in front of trees

Desmond Layne, professor and head of the Department of Horticulture in the Auburn University College of Agriculture, was recently selected to receive the American Society for Horticultural Science's Outstanding Leadership and Administration Award.

July 06, 2026

A yellow, decommissioned artillery cannon rests in a forest.

Supporting the United States military has been the mission-critical purpose of Auburn University's Center for Natural Resources Management on Military Lands (CNRMML). Since its inception in 2022, the center has established a model partnership with military installations that is redefining how public universities support the military's operations and conservation priorities. In 2026, the CNRMML is now expanding its services to meet the diverse and growing needs of its partners while bolstering the outreach mission of the Auburn College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment (CFWE).

July 02, 2026

A group of people sitting in a circle around a black and white dog. One person, wearing a lab coat, is gently petting the dog. Others in the group are wearing casual clothing and some have rubber gloves. In the background, more people are gathered near a staircase.

Years after attending Auburn Vet Camp as a teenager, Hadley Farnell is back on campus as a second-year veterinary student helping guide future veterinarians through the same experience that fueled her passion.

June 30, 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

An American bald eagle in profile in the foreground with an urban skyline in the background

Independence, the Auburn University Raptor Center's (AURC) often loquacious bald eagle ambassador, will be flying coach on her way to America250 festivities in “The City of Brotherly Love.” While Indy is usually quiet in flight, she can be excused a high-pitched chirp or two in the cabin since she and members of the AURC staff will be present for the America250 Time Capsule dedication and burial at Independence Hall on the morning of July 4.

June 25, 2026

Man standing in conference room

Auburn alumnus Andrew Wren, who built Wren Solutions from a small entrepreneurial start-up into an international provider of asset protection and security solutions for Fortune 500 companies, is the new executive director of the New Venture Accelerator.

June 25, 2026

Dr. Brian Gillis, center, speaks with colleagues on sleep research

Dr. Brian Gillis, assistant professor of Marriage and Family Therapy in the College of Human Sciences' Department of Human Development and Family Science, is helping lead the way to advance sleep research thanks to the collaborative interdisciplinary efforts from various units at Auburn University.

June 24, 2026

Beverly Price and Katheryn Conradson are pictured standing next to one another inside a school.

When Kathryn Conradson stepped into her first principalship at Reeltown Elementary School, she brought with her four degrees from Auburn's College of Education and a passion for educational leadership. But she also gained something equally important — a trusted mentor through Alabama's New Principal Mentoring Program, co-created by Auburn College of Education Professor Ellen Hahn.

June 24, 2026

honey bee colony

Today, the U.S. Beekeeping Survey released its annual colony loss estimates for American honey bee colonies from April 2025 to April 2026. Led by Auburn University, in collaboration with Oregon State University and the Apiary Inspectors of America, the national survey revealed losses of 39.9% during the survey period.

June 24, 2026

Camila Rodrigues and Maggie Edwards hold plaques alongside Blake Taxton, executive director of Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association.

Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist Camila Rodrigues was recently recognized as one of the nation's top young leaders in the produce industry.

June 23, 2026

A graphic displays two people sitting and talking.

Auburn's College of Education has opened the door for candid discussion around mental health in rural Alabama, offering a series that brought Tallapoosa County residents, community leaders and university partners together for months of conversation, connection and practical guidance at Central Alabama Community College.

June 22, 2026

A golden eagle takes flight above a crowded stadium as the sun sets in the background.

While most of the 88,000 filling Jordan-Hare Stadium on June 9 were drawn by the phenomenon of “Messi Mania,” Aurea and the Auburn University Raptor Center (AURC) ensured the uninitiated were properly introduced to the uniquely Auburn tradition of “War Eagle Flights.”

June 16, 2026

Auburn Symphonic Winds members posing for a group photo in Japan

For members of the Auburn University Symphonic Winds — the premier performing ensemble of the Auburn Band program — a recent international tour to Japan was far more than a performance opportunity; it was an experience that reshaped how they understand music, culture and their place in a global community.

June 16, 2026

men play wheelchair handball on court

The road to gold runs straight through the Plains: Powered by Auburn spirit, world-class coaching and a mission bigger than sport, Team USA Wheelchair Handball gears up for OperationGOLD. Head coach Ford Dyke and adapted athlete Jay Denning join the Everything Auburn Podcast ahead of the team's elite selection camp.

June 10, 2026

A student works on a project at the Apparel and Interior Design Day Camp.

For a group of high school students across eight states, a summer camp in Auburn University's College of Human Sciences provided more than a glimpse into college life — it offered a clearer vision of their future.

June 09, 2026

A professor poses for a photo with a pageant queen inside a lab.

What do a biomechanist and a pageant queen have in common? More than you might think.

June 04, 2026

An image of produce, including tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant and others, in wooden bins at a market. Two hands can be seen blurred in the background picking up produce.

Chemicals are everywhere, but we can reduce exposure. Dr. Benson Akingbemi in the College of Veterinary Medicine shares ways to limit the intake of forever chemicals as well as agrochemicals and industrial chemicals.

June 02, 2026

Engineers Without Borders

Thirteen Auburn Engineering students and two advisors recently completed construction of a clean water distribution system for villagers of Parramos Grande, Guatemala.

June 01, 2026

A four-year research project at Auburn University is helping the Alabama Department of Transportation to manage its nearly 30,000 lane-miles of public roadside in more efficient, cost-effective ways by incorporating herbicide as part of an integrated weed management practice.

May 27, 2026

Two people stand holding a large check

The Harrison College of Pharmacy was recently selected as one of the 2026 recipients of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Foundation's scholarship program. The $20,000 award supports a program titled “Rural RxGuidance: A Structured Pharmacy Ambassador Program to Inspire Alabama's Next Generation of Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacists.”

May 21, 2026

Gretchen Oliver speaks at an event.

Gretchen Oliver, professor in the School of Kinesiology and director of the Sports Medicine and Movement Lab, has been elected as a Fellow in the National Academy of Kinesiology.

May 21, 2026

three people on a podcast set

Geo Explorer Auburn gears up to ignite curiosity, deliver hands on STEM learning to thousands of students as part of America's 250th celebration. Department of Geosciences' Tim Hawthorne and Amanda Savrda join the Everything Auburn Podcast to dish on the world's largest mobile geoscience lab — and why they're driving it coast to coast this summer.

May 20, 2026

3 men seated at a desk

NFL players are teaming up with Auburn University to consider investments and career paths beyond the gridiron, and Auburn's Winchester Institute for Real Estate Development is providing them a new game plan.

May 18, 2026

A woman in a lab coat and wearing blue gloves holds two vials with floating brown specks.

As the lead author of the 2026 Pet Parasite Forecasts, Auburn parasitologist Dr. Kathryn Reif shares the rising risk ticks and other disease-carrying pests can post to both pets and their owners.

May 15, 2026

A mother pushes her daughter in an all-terrain wheelchair through the forest.

The Kreher Preserve and Nature Center (KPNC) is expanding access to outdoor recreation through a recent Tier 1 Quality of Life Grant from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, supporting the purchase of three all-terrain wheelchairs designed specifically for trail use.

May 15, 2026

Space command leaders speaking.

As U.S. Space Command prepares to move approximately 1,400 jobs to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville over the next five years, Auburn University welcomed command leadership and reinforced its role as a trusted academic partner in advancing national security through research, innovation and workforce development.

May 12, 2026

Aubie the Tiger, Auburn

The Market at Ag Heritage Park returns to the Auburn University campus Thursday, May 21, and runs every Thursday in the summer from 3-6 p.m.

May 11, 2026

Stacy Brown, a 1999 Auburn alumna, founder of Chicken Salad Chick and co-owner of Botanic, was awarded the 2026 Horst Schulze Award for Excellence in Hospitality.

An upscale evening was brought to life and made possible by 33 students in the Horst Schulze School of Hospitality Management at the 2026 Hospitality Gala held the evening of Thursday, April 23 at The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center. Honoring an icon in the field of hospitality, the evening was centered around Stacy Brown, a 1999 Auburn alumna, founder of Chicken Salad Chick and co-owner of Botanic, who was awarded the 2026 Horst Schulze Award for Excellence in Hospitality.

May 08, 2026

From left, Auburn graduate students Megan Woodall, Emma Wingfield, Sawyer Hopkins and Caitlyn Daniels stand in a cotton farm in Queensland, Australia.

From cotton and peanuts to sugarcane and macadamias, four Auburn University graduate students recently studied how producers in Queensland, Australia, tackle many of the same challenges faced by growers in the southeastern United States—through an international tour with the Alabama Extension agronomic crops team.

May 08, 2026

Grad student Duncan McSorley at the Sand Mountain Research and Extension Center in Crossville.

The agricultural industry is a people business. That was a major factor in Duncan McSorley's decision to pursue a future career in Cooperative Extension. As a graduate student studying ruminant nutrition and forages at Auburn University, McSorley is already getting his feet wet.

May 01, 2026

John Shelby pours in a bag of hops during a brew day at New Realm Brewing–Auburn

In its ongoing mission to serve various organizations and the pursuit to continuously seek exciting collaborations through craft beer, New Realm Brewing–Auburn and the Horst Schulze School of Hospitality Management is excited to team up with the Auburn Student Veterans Association (ASVA) for a joint beer release called "Operation Orange Peel American Wheat" that will positively affect both organizations.

April 29, 2026

A group of Alabama Extension agents and specialists with their Australian hosts standing in front of a piece of farm machinery.

Half a world away in Queensland, Australia, a group of Alabama Cooperative Extension System specialists and agents this spring toured the Bundaburg region in search of fresh ideas they could bring home to Alabama farmers. In visiting a dozen farms and research sites, the team found familiar challenges — water scarcity, rising production costs and the constant pressure to produce more with fewer resources.

April 24, 2026