Auburn University College of Liberal Arts

04/23/2025

Happy Administrative Professionals Day! 🎉

Today, we’re proud to recognize the recipients of the CLA Staff and A&P Employee of the Year Awards — two individuals whose dedication and excellence truly shine.

Congratulations to Trixie Langley, academic programs coordinator for the Department of Psychological Sciences, and Charisse Bowen, administrative support associate for the Department of Economics! Their commitment, positive attitude, and impact have inspired us all and made a lasting difference in our college.

To all of our incredible administrative professional staff — thank you! You are the backbone of CLA, and your hard work, attention to detail, and unwavering support keep everything running smoothly. We are so grateful for all that you do.

04/22/2025

🎓 Congratulations to Victoria Ashley, the 2025 President’s Award recipient for the College of Liberal Arts! A standout in both history and political science, Victoria has excelled in academics, leadership and service—from hosting a campus radio show to earning a prestigious fellowship in D.C. Her Auburn journey is a true example of living the Auburn Creed and making a difference.

Read more: https://bit.ly/3RZ17Al

The Auburn University President’s Award recognizes history and political science senior Victoria Ashley for academic excellence and extracurricular success in the College of Liberal Arts.

04/21/2025

Congratulations to Political Science Professor John C. Morris, who received the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award! Presented annually at Auburn since 1951, the award recognizes humanitarian leadership and contributions to the community.

04/16/2025

Law and justice graduate J.W. Norris ’24 knew he wanted to pursue a career in Indigenous Peoples Law. Through studying history, networking and internships, he secured admission to the University of Oklahoma and is currently pursuing his certification in American Indian Law.

Learn more: https://digital.cla.auburn.edu/perspectives-fall-2024/law-schools-love-auburn/

04/15/2025

Congratulations to our newly tenured and promoted faculty!

The Office of the Provost is pleased to announce the promotion and/or tenure of 26 CLA faculty members, reflecting the institution’s high standards of professional achievement in instruction, research, creative scholarship and service.

04/10/2025

Tickets are on sale now for "Violet". The production runs April 16-25 at the Telfair B. Peet Theatre. Auburn student tickets are FREE!

Taking place in the 1960s, the musical “Violet” follows the titular character as she journeys to Tulsa, Oklahoma, in hopes of a miracle.

04/08/2025

Laura is inspiring a generation of students at Lochapoka High School and providing them with a global education. Her Auburn University degree and travels with the Fulbright program are helping set her students up for success!

04/07/2025

Eric Ludgood, a 1978 graduate of the School of Communication and Journalism, award-winning journalist, editor and producer, will deliver remarks during the commencement ceremonies for the College of Liberal Arts and the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering on May 11 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.

A native of Mobile, Alabama, Ludgood most recently served as the head of Scripps News, a 24/7 news network broadcast to more than 95 percent of the U.S. and distributed on major streaming platforms.

Read more:

Five esteemed alumni to address graduates at ceremonies honoring baccalaureates, doctoral, master's, pharmacy and veterinary medicine recipients.

04/04/2025

Last chance to help future Auburn graduates by taking the Auburn Grad Career Survey! Survey closes April 7. Go to aub.ie/auburngradsurvey.

04/03/2025

✨ A Night to Remember: Celebrating Excellence & Generosity ✨

CLA recently hosted our Annual Scholarship Banquet, a special evening dedicated to honoring our exceptional scholarship recipients and the generous donors who make their dreams possible.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended and continues to support our students on their academic journeys. Your generosity and encouragement create lasting impacts, shaping the future one scholarship at a time!

04/02/2025

Karsen Betzold, a commercial voice major from Charlotte, NC, is making waves in the music world! From performing at Auburn University’s new recording studio to singing the national anthem at a Charlotte Hornets NBA game, Karsen is turning her passion into a professional dream.

With Auburn’s supportive music program and hands-on opportunities, she’s building the skills to leave her mark on the industry. 🎵

We can’t wait to see where her journey takes her next!

Read more: https://bit.ly/3QPslJi

With growing performances and hands-on experience at Auburn, Betzold aspires to build a career in the music industry.

04/01/2025

We are so proud of the career that Marianna has built by connecting her two loves!

Marianna's Journey: https://digital.cla.auburn.edu/perspectives-fall-2024/caring-for-all/
Career Discovery and Success | Auburn University Social Work Program

03/31/2025

"Auburn pushed me both academically and personally. I wasn't the same person when I started. I learned to invest deeply in relationships with professors, classmates and community members and that's been valuable."

Read how Julia Herrin's path to law school was built from confidence, ambition and unwavering determination.

Julia Herrin's path from a small town in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, to the spotlight as Miss South Carolina 2021 and now to the University of South Carolina law school was built from confidence, ambition and unwavering determination.

03/28/2025

At 91, Donald Street ’59 has a lifetime of stories shaped by hard work, global travels and an enduring love for Auburn University. From chopping cotton as a child during the Great Depression to earning his doctorate and teaching economics around the world, he’s never stopped pushing boundaries. Now, through scholarships and faculty endowments, he’s giving back to the place that gave him so much.

“If I can make it easier for others than it was for me, that’s what I’m going to do.”

Read more: https://bit.ly/3Rl8Vfv

Professor Emeritus Don Street's experiences as an Auburn student and faculty member molded his perspective on giving to help the next generation of the Auburn Family.

03/27/2025

From Auburn University to Washington, D.C., Clara Ragan’s journey showcases her dedication to public health. Inspired by her mom, a VA pharmacist and Auburn alumna, Clara, a political science and philosophy major, shifted from law to public health after shadowing a judge focused on the opioid epidemic.

Her internship with the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy and work with the Student Government Association led to Narcan being available in fraternity houses, residence halls, and on blue light phones across campus. Clara also ensured opioid overdose response training for RAs.

A Truman Scholar nominee, Clara’s advocacy work is a testament to her passion for public health and student safety. Read more: https://bit.ly/3QC5IIj

Junior Clara Ragan has transformed her passion for public health into impactful advocacy, from interning at the White House to implementing Narcan availability on campus. Her journey, inspired by her mother's work with the VA and a pivotal internship, showcases her dedication to creating safer commu...

03/21/2025

Faith Miller is determined to develop the comprehensive information about Alzheimer's that her family lacked after two grandparents were diagnosed with the disease.

More about her work: https://bit.ly/44E2Y3c

03/20/2025

Dale and Angela Speetjens have a mission: innovate food procedures on Earth so farms produce more, farmers pay less and no one goes hungry in Alabama communities. To get answers, they went to space.

Read more: https://digital.cla.auburn.edu/perspectives-fall-2024/seeds-of-greatness/

Auburn University Master of Community Planning | Auburn University College of Architecture, Design and Construction | College of Agriculture at Auburn University

Dale and Angela Speetjens have a mission: innovate food procedures on Earth so farms produce more, farmers pay less and no one goes hungry in Alabama communities. To get answers, they went to space.

03/20/2025

🏀 Full Circle Moment for Bryant Smith! 🏀

Meet Bryant Smith, a team captain of the 1999 Auburn basketball team that won the SEC Championship. Now, 25 years later, he's back on The Plains—not as a player, but as a graduate assistant, helping guide the 2025 Auburn Tigers through another incredible season!

During his return, Smith earned his undergraduate degree in sociology and a master’s in community planning, proving that success isn’t just about what happens on the court—it’s about growth in every aspect of life.

Read more:

Twenty-five years after his team won the SEC championship, Bryant Smith gets the unique opportunity to help lead the 2025 Auburn Tigers through another extremely successful season.