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

• The Academic Classroom and Laboratory Complex, or ACLC, (347 Duncan Dr.).  It is next to the Architecture amphitheatre, and across from a facilities chill water plant. We meet in the Biggio Center on the 2nd floor.
• 🅿️ If you do not have a parking tag, use the 4th level guest parking in the nearby stadium deck (425 Heisman Dr.). 

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 . 

Calendar

1. Next meeting  Friday, 6 February  Arboretum Director Morgan Pendergrass,  New Directions at the Auburn Arboretum —Introduced by Charlene LeBleu
2. 9 January, 2026 -- Dylan Mahalko​  The AU Bee Program: Teaching, Research, and Extension 
3. 5 December, 2026 Biggio Center Director Asim Ali,           AI and Teaching: 
   Challenges and Possibilities
4.  15 November, 2025 -- Emeritus Professor Stan Reeves,   What Bitcoin Is and Why Academics (and Everyone Else) Should Pay Attention. 
5.  3 October, 2025 -- Associate Provost Norman Godwin on Emeriti Issues
6. 12 September, 2025-- COLA Panel on the Age-Friendly University at OLLI meeting facility
7. 8 August, 2025-- Emerita Professor Beverly Marshall, QCDs and RMDs: What Tax-Wise Emeriti Need to Know
8. 6 June, 2025--  Ardine Nelson Professor Emerita, Academy Professor, The Ohio State University; The OSU Emeritus Academy.
9. 2 May, 2025-- University of Georgia Emeritus Professor Ian Hardin, UGA Emeritus Academy
10.  4 April, 2025 -- Director, The Clemson University Emeritus College
11. 7 February, 2025--- Emeritus Professor Larry Molt, WHO Update and China Visit
12. 10 January, 2025-- Honors College Director Laura Stevens, HC Engagement Opportunities; University of California-Davis Emerita, The UC-Davis Emeriti Organization.
13. November 8, 2024-- AU Emeriti Allied Organizations, Executive Director, Osher Lifelong Learning Center  (OLLI) Dr. Scott Bishop);  Auburn University Retiree Association (AURA), President Lucy LaMar,  advocacy made by broader statewide retiree associations.
14. October 3, 2024 -- Discussion of Results of AU Emeriti Needs Assessment
15.  August 9, 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
16. July 19, 2024--AU Provost Dr. Vini Nathan, Remarks and Questions; Three Emeriti experiences
17. June 14, 2024-- Dr. Asim Ali, Biggio Center Executive Director,  welcomed the group. Emeritus Professor Joe Molnar, Emeriti Organization: Association, Recognition, Engagement, followed by discussion.
18. May 10, 2024- First assembly of interested emeriti following the launch of the first AU emeriti listserv.
19. April 19, 2024-- Open Meeting to discuss the needs and possibilities of an Emeriti Organiztion at Auburn University.

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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.