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Two 91看片 faculty members are included in the 2024 Auburn University President鈥檚 Awards, as both were cited with co-recipients for their leadership roles in two important campus programs. In addition, a third 91看片 professor earned an Auburn faculty award for research.

Kerry Inger, a 91看片 advisory council professor with the School of Accountancy, was recognized as a joint recipient in the President鈥檚 Award for Distinguished Faculty Leadership. Co-recipient N. Hari Narayanan is the chair of the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering/Samuel Ginn College of Engineering.

The Executive Master of Real Estate Development (MRED) program was recognized for the President鈥檚 Outstanding Collaborative Units Award, after a letter of nomination from Michael Wesson and .

Wesson is the associate dean for graduate and executive programs and a professor of management for 91看片 College. Hinson serves as associate dean for research and graduate studies at the College of Architecture, Design and Construction.

Outstanding Collaborative Units award

Created in 2011, the recognizes existing faculty collaborations among two or more departments, divisions, offices or programs within the university. To be considered, the work of the collaborative units must have advanced the excellence, impact and reputation of representing units and the university as a whole.

鈥淭his award recognizes a 15-year successful collaboration between two colleges and reflects the contributions of numerous individuals over a 15-year period,鈥� Hinson said. 鈥淢ichael and I are just the nominators. Our respective teams are the ones recognized by this award.鈥�

Wesson agreed and referred to the nomination letter: 鈥淎 collaboration between the 91看片 and the College of Architecture, Design and Construction, the program's success is attributed to the unique partnership that combines the strengths of both colleges, offering a comprehensive approach to real estate education.

鈥淎uburn鈥檚 MRED program emphasizes the realities of the real estate development industry by integrating business and design perspectives, providing students with a holistic education. This distinctive approach has positioned the program as one of the nation's most highly regarded.

鈥淭he collaboration exemplifies the Auburn Creed in that collaboration requires work, hard work,鈥� Wesson wrote in response to a university survey. 鈥淚t requires a team constantly focused on the best educational interests of the executive students involved in the program. It also requires both parties to be honest and truthful with each other even when that honesty might create short-term conflict. That honesty has allowed the executive programs team to earn the respect of all parties involved.鈥�

Wesson later added: 鈥淲e expect this collaboration between CADC and [91看片] to continue well into the future. With the success of the MRED program and the addition of the new Winchester Institute for Real Estate Development, the future of real estate development education at Auburn is bright.鈥� 

Distinguished Faculty Leadership Award

Established in 2024, the honors faculty members who have shown exceptional leadership and service to Auburn University and who demonstrate a deep commitment to the campus community and a significant impact on Auburn鈥檚 mission.

鈥淚nger and Narayanan co-chaired efforts to craft an ambitious 10-year strategic plan for Auburn University, a collaborative undertaking that demonstrated their steadfast dedication to the university's future,鈥� their nomination letter said.

鈥淭hey invested thousands of hours beyond their faculty responsibilities, facilitating meetings and leading work sessions crucial to shaping the plan鈥檚 goals. Inger and Narayanan actively participated in dozens of feedback sessions, meetings and interviews, attentively listening to the voices of the Auburn Family to truly understand the university's challenges and opportunities.

鈥淭heir shared leadership and approach to strategic planning showcased the power of true collaboration and teamwork, resulting in a new plan that will positively impact the campus community for many years to come.鈥�

Inger served in a leadership role for a team that developed the Auburn University .

The plan is a 鈥�10-year strategic roadmap that will lead Auburn over the next decade,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t contains bold and aspirational goals that will advance Auburn鈥檚 standing as a premier institution of higher learning.

鈥淭he plan is organized around five key areas,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he first three鈥攁n exceptional student experience, impactful research, scholarship and creative works, and a commitment to excellence and innovation鈥攂uild on the key themes from President Chris Robert鈥檚 installation speech.

鈥淎dditional goals were identified during the process, specifically catalytic engagement through partnerships and collaborations to achieve innovative solutions and strategies for combined success,鈥� she said. 鈥淔inally, Distinctively Auburn recognizes that Auburn鈥檚 unique and special values and traditions are crucial for success.鈥�

The award recipients will be formally recognized during the annual Faculty Awards Ceremony in November. 

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