Retired professors, linked through an Emeritus Organization,
officially recognized and modestly funded,
bring institutional knowledge and perspective,
and gain from continuing engagement with the university .

  

​Welcome to the Informational Home for AU Emeriti!​

Venue

• We meet in ACLC 259A, 2nd floor, in the Biggio Center
• The Academic Classroom and Laboratory Complex, or ACLC (347 Duncan Dr.), next to the Architecture amphitheater, across from a chill water plant.  
• 🅿️ Use the nearby Stadium Parking structure. If you do not have a parking tag, use the 4th-level guest parking. 

Membership

• ​​​​Emeritus Faculty is inclusive of other nomenclature referenced with the term Emeritus.
• All retired faculty of Auburn University who have received the title of emeritus or emerita are regular members. 
• Others are welcomed upon request. 

 Engagement

• ​​Emeritus engagement post-retirement is a valuable and essential aspect of academic and professional life, allowing retired individuals to continue contributing to their fields and staying connected with their communities. 
• ​Many are healthy, financially secure, and willing to engage their talents in interdisciplinary and intergenerational projects on the campus and in the community. 

Engagement Opportunities

• The Honors College often needs instructors and mentors. Contact ​Laura Stevens [email protected]
• Propose a course or attend an OLLI program.  
• Let your Dean of Instruction know of your interest in volunteering.  You might be invited to the graduation! 

Calendar

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    Next meeting  Friday 5 August @ Biggio, Speaker TBA            

1. 6 June 2026,  AU Arboretum, AUEO Annual Picnic        
   
2. 10 April 2026– RSA Assistant Director, Erica Thomas, PEEHIP Update; Blake Butcher, School of Kinesiology, “A Vision for the Auburn University Wellness Center.” 
3. 6 March 2026–  Emeritus Professor John Carvahlo,  Finding My Roots: Teaching at the Catholic University of Portugal
4. 6 February 2026– Arboretum Director Morgan Pendergrass,  New Directions at the Auburn Arboretum
5. 9 January 2026– Lead Technician Dylan Mahalko, The AU Bee Program: Teaching, Research, and Extension 
6. 5 December 2026– Biggio Center Director Asim Ali, AI and Teaching: 
Challenges and Possibilities
7. 15 November 2025– Emeritus Professor Stan Reeves, What Bitcoin Is and Why Academics (and Everyone Else) Should Pay Attention. 
8. 3 October 2025– Associate Provost Norman Godwin on Emeriti Issues
9. 12 September 2025– COLA Panel on the Age-Friendly University at OLLI meeting facility
10. 8 August 2025– Emerita Professor Beverly Marshall, QCDs and RMDs: What Tax-Wise Emeriti Need to Know
11. 6 June 2025–  Ardine Nelson Professor Emerita, Academy Professor, The Ohio State University; The OSU Emeritus Academy.
12. 2 May 2025– University of Georgia Emeritus Professor Ian Hardin, UGA Emeritus Academy
13. 4 April 2025– Director, The Clemson University Emeritus College
14. 7 February 2025– Emeritus Professor Larry Molt, WHO Update and China Visit
15. 10 January 2025– Honors College Director Laura Stevens, HC Engagement Opportunities; University of California-Davis Emerita, The UC-Davis Emeriti Organization.
16. 8 November 2024– AU Emeriti Allied Organizations, Executive Director, Osher Lifelong Learning Center (OLLI), Dr. Scott Bishop; Auburn University Retiree Association (AURA), President Lucy LaMar; Advocacy by Broader Statewide Retiree Associations.
17. 3 October 2024 – Discussion of Results of AU Emeriti Needs Assessment
18. 9 August 2024– OIT representatives Kelsey Prather and Neal Henry, Update on Software Access Policies; Emeritus Professors: Stan Reeves, Rich Pensakovic, and Conner Bailey, Post-retirement Engagement and Challenges
19. 19 July 2024–AU Provost Dr. Vini Nathan, Remarks and Questions; Three Emeriti Experiences
20. 14 June 2024– Dr. Asim Ali, Biggio Center Executive Director, welcomed the group. Emeritus Professor Joe Molnar, Emeriti Organization: Association, Recognition, Engagement, followed by a discussion.
21. 10 May 2024-- First assembly of interested emeriti following the launch of the first AU emeriti listserv.
22. 10 April 2024– Open Meeting to discuss the needs and possibilities of an Emeriti Organization at Auburn University.
    
    

Emeriti as Resource

• Auburn University has over 1,200 Professors Emerita and Emeritus , many of whom continue to affiliate with their departments and the broader institution in various ways. 
• The AUEO aims to facilitate and guide faculty transitions to retirement and provide opportunities for continuing involvement in teaching, research, and service. ​ 
• Emeriti are sometimes overlooked as an important resource that resides in the skills, experience, and knowledge.
• Some continue extramural research programs.
• Others fill instructional needs when replacements leave or are otherwise not available to teach. 
• Extension and outreach programs can connect Emeriti to community needs. 

AUEO Connects Emeritus Faculty at Auburn University

• Service: The organization provides a nexus between the university and retired faculty for volunteer, advisor, and temporary service opportunities to meet student and institutional needs. 
• Recognition: It recognizes and honors the endeavors of retired faculty members who have significantly contributed to the university and their fields.
• Information Sharing: The website and the associated can provide practical information to faciliate continued engagement in service to the university, its academic activities, research, publications, and creative work.
• Networking: It may facilitate connections among emeritus faculty, current faculty, students, and the broader academic community.
• Resources: The site can offer resources and information relevant to emeritus faculty, such as opportunities for continued engagement with the university or contributions they can make post-retirement.
• Events and Activities: It might feature information about events, lectures, or activities that involve emeritus faculty or that they may participate in.
• Legacy and History: The website can serve as  one means for preserving the legacy of emeritus faculty and promoting ongoing engagement with the academic community. 
• ​Information Sharing: The website and the associated can provide practical information to faciliate continued engagement in service to the university, its academic activities, research, publications, and creative work.
• Networking: It may facilitate connections among emeritus faculty, current faculty, students, and the broader academic community.
• Resources: The site can offer resources and information relevant to emeritus faculty, such as opportunities for continued engagement with the university or contributions they can make post-retirement.
• Events and Activities: It might feature information about events, lectures, or activities that involve emeritus faculty or that they may participate in.​

Conclusions from a 2024 Needs Assessment

• A 2024 AUEO Needs Assessment gathered Emeriti perceptions and aspirations for continued engagement with their professional work and support of the Auburn University missions in teaching, research, and extension. 
• Their summarized comments reflect a strong interest in fostering a vibrant, engaged, and respected community of Emeriti who can contribute meaningfully to both the university and the wider community.
• One broad take is that some emeriti experience a sense of emotional abandonment as part of the retirement transition.  Attachment is a foundational aspect of human experience and retirement can be a jarring experience for some, as one’s attachments to colleagues and students undergo fundamental changes. ​
• ​The Auburn University Emeriti Organization is one means for managing the transition and forging new connections with colleagues across the university. 

• The Auburn University Faculty Handbook has relatively generous provisions for Emeriti faculty for their post-retirement arrangements, but departmental leaders often seem to be unaware or disregard these guidelines.
• The responding emeriti advocate for a stronger institutional framework that supports their continued involvement in research and scholarship, emphasizing accessibility, advocacy, recognition, and community building.
• There is a clear desire for supportive community spaces and meaningful programming that fosters connection, engagement, and the sharing of knowledge among emeriti faculty.
• These responses collectively emphasize the role of Emeritus Faculty as leaders, mentors, and advocates in fostering a strong commitment to service among university members. The Emeriti faculty believe they can provide a unique blend of experience, advocacy, and continued scholarly engagement that benefits Auburn University and its community.