Category: Academics

By Katherine Buck Chastain

The College of Architecture, Design and Construction, or as we call it the CADC, is a community of designers and thinkers, builders and makers, leaders and stewards. We have more than 100 faculty and staff teaching and supporting about 1,550 undergraduate students studying in six programs.

Our students learn to create, design, and build the world around us. Learn more about our programs from some of our faculty and students below:

Allie Pelafos — Architecture and Interior Architecture

Auburn’s Architecture program, founded in 1907, is the oldest Architecture program in the south and is consistently ranked among the top 15 Bachelor of Architecture programs in the country by DesignIntelligence. Allie Pelafos is a 5^th year senior from Champaign, Illinois and she says she chose Auburn because of how many opportunities the program offered. “I instantly felt at home on campus. I was looking at the top ranked Architecture and Interior Design programs in the country. The Architecture/Interior Architecture concurrent degree gave me the opportunity to achieve both goals within 5 years. Learning the ins and outs of a building while creating so many connections so early on in my career was a chance I could not pass up.”  

As a third year student Allie was selected for our degree program in Interior Architecture, which is offered concurrently with the Bachelor of Architecture degree. She also traveled to Rome through the Architecture program’s study abroad opportunities. “Being able to immerse yourself as a student allows you to learn so much about yourself and others that you can apply to projects long term.”  

Allie is the 2021-2022 CADC Ambassador President. “I recommend prospective students who are looking at Architecture school to also consider the university as a whole. You want to pick a place that offers enough opportunities where your education will flourish through your individual interests and goals.”

Upon graduation in May Allie hopes to serve others through architecture. “I want to use my degrees to better the lives of others. Maybe healthcare design? I am keeping options open and looking forward to thesis year!”

Logan Bozeman — Building Science

Our Bachelor of Science in Building Construction degree focuses on construction management and teaches students how to execute, plan and manage construction projects from beginning to end. McWhorter School of Building Science alumni become estimators, project managers, virtual design construction managers and superintendents at construction companies all over the world. Logan Bozeman, a senior from Wetumpka, Alabama, is soon to be one of those alumni!

Logan will graduate from Auburn Building Science in December and is looking forward to his transition into industry. “One of the biggest things I am looking forward to is getting to work on a project from the ground up. I can’t wait to see something come together and look back on it for years and say, ‘I was a part of building that.’ ”

During his time in the program Logan has been involved in student organizations like Associated General Contractors (AGC) Student Chapter and is a CADC Ambassador. He has also been a member of three regional and national competition teams. “I enjoy competition teams because they give you real world experience on what you will be doing after college: things that range from estimating to making a schedule to running a company.”

Upon graduation Logan hopes to move into a pre-construction or project management role with a general contracting company. When asked why he chose Auburn’s Building Science program Logan said, “I grew up playing with Legos and games like Minecraft and thought that would lead to architecture, but I realized the hands-on component that existed in Building Science was my true passion.”

Katie Henry — Environmental Design

Environmental Design is the broadest, most flexible degree offered in the CADC. Students in the program learn core knowledge of all design and construction fields as well as business practices related to human-designed environments. Sustainability is woven throughout the curriculum, and together these subjects lead our students to become extremely versatile and prepared for anything the industry could throw at them. Katie Henry, a senior from Hartselle, Alabama, is finishing her final studio this semester. “I chose to major in Environmental Design because I am the type of person who likes to know a lot about everything. Environmental Design allows me to scratch every itch when it comes to my desire for knowledge. We specialize in systematic thinking and systematic design. I believe everything is connected and my degree allows me to find those connections.”  

It is a common theme among Environmental Design students to want to positively impact the world with their creations. Katie is no exception. “I hope in 10-15 years I can be a part of starting a non-profit organization that serves orphans in third world countries. So much of what we learn in Environmental Design focuses on understanding sustainable design. There are many third world countries who do not use their resources to the fullest extent. I hope to work with world leaders to improve the designs of orphanages throughout the world through my non-profit. “

As President of the Environmental Design Student Organization, Katie participated in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Rainwater Challenge. “Competitions are not for the faint of heart! Patience, team collaboration, managing others, typography, time management and most of all leadership skills. I recommend everyone to take the opportunity, if given, to manage a design team because it allows you to become a better designer.”

Kaiyah King — Graphic Design

Graphic Designers use words, pictures, typefaces and graphics to convey messages, often to large groups of people. From logo and stationery design to interactive media like website design and motion graphics, visual communication is their specialty.

Kaiyah King, a senior from Energy, Illinois, holds two on-campus jobs, served as the VP of Marketing and Communications for the Black Student Union (BSU) for the past two years, is the on the Board of Directors for the Student Alumni Association and is a CADC Ambassador. When asked about how she manages all her involvement and a design major she says, “I am consistently working on my time management skills. You never achieve perfect time management. It requires constant attention. If you love what you are doing and what you are involved in, you make time for it all.”

As a CADC Ambassador Kaiyah gives tours to prospective students and her favorite piece of advice to share is about exploring options for student involvement. “Experiment freshmen year joining different organizations and networking throughout campus. There is a chance what you are involved with in freshmen year will be different than senior year. It’s okay to allow your interests to evolve as you grow and mature. Every experience or group helps mold who you become.”

Recognized as one of Graphic Design USA’s top programs, Auburn Graphic Design pushes students to become the best designers they can be. Kaiyah believes that the rigor of the program is why our alumni are successful upon graduation. “During one of my visits to campus, I saw the Senior Design Show. It inspired me because I knew if I graduated as an Auburn Graphic Designer, I would leave with the education that taught these students to do this incredible work. Now that I am a rising senior, I realize there are so many different career pathways in Graphic Design. The curriculum has taught me a little bit of everything. I look forward to using what I have learned in industry.” 

Roshani Trivedi — Industrial Design

Consistently ranked among the top ten Industrial Design programs in the country, Auburn’s Industrial Design program is known for its unique curriculum in product design and product innovation. Roshani Trivedi, a senior from Knoxville, Tennessee, chose to major in Industrial Design because it combined artistic creation with helping others. “I knew I wanted art as a part of my career, but a fine art degree would have lacked a technical, functional aspect which I was also seeking. I wanted to help people with my work.”  

When it came to choosing a school, Roshani looked all over. Finding a program that had the perfect combination of art and engineering was no small feat, but Auburn fit that search perfectly. Roshani has worked on a number of different projects in her studios. In just the past year she has designed packaging with Pratt Industries; worked with the Marine Discovery Center in New Smyrna Beach, Florida on master planning; designed and fabricated a chess set in collaboration with students in Ireland; designed, fabricated and installed a bike rack for Innovation Portal in Mobile, Alabama; and most recently designed guitar mounts and completed the exhibit design for the Fret Haus Senior Design Thesis Exhibit at the Alabama Contemporary Arts Center in Mobile, Alabama.  Roshani says the Fret Haus Guitar Exhibit Design was her favorite. “I really enjoyed starting with the big picture concept and then working through it until seeing it on opening night. It was very fulfilling to see the senior students show off their work to friends and family through the exhibit we created. Exhibit design is a subtle aspect of design as people are there to see the work in the exhibit not how you set it up, but it is such a crucial aspect of the exhibit.”

This summer Roshani served as a student assistant for the Industrial Design summer camp at the futures studio in Mobile, Alabama. When asked about her favorite part of sharing the Industrial Design program with the campers she said, “I love getting to know people. Getting to introduce the students to something that I love so much was an honor. I personally struggled as a high school student trying to figure out what I wanted to do. Being able to help these students start their journey to find their passion was amazing.”

Professor David Hill — Landscape Architecture

We are excited to launch our Bachelor of Landscape Architecture program in the fall 2021 semester. Landscape Architecture students will learn to imagine, design and build the 21st century’s landscapes during their time with us. Our program will teach students how to engage many of the most pressing issues the world faces today through intentional design of outdoor spaces. 

Program Chair David Hill says, “The discipline of landscape architecture continues to expand in its ability to make meaningful, positive impact in people’s lives and we look forward to continuing to explore how our students can engage the dynamic relationship between society and the land.”

With so many wonderful things going on in the CADC, we know the fall 2021 semester will be one of our best yet. We look forward to starting another year of creating, designing and building.

By Kristen Bowman

Throw out everything you think you know about agriculture.

Because the nearly 20 different majors in the College of Agriculture at Auburn University could open doors to careers you cannot even imagine.

As agricultural scientists, our focus is on the food, fuel, water and natural resources that keep our world moving. We are working to make food safer, the environment cleaner and communities healthier. As one of the founding colleges of Auburn University, we tackle these goals through innovative research, academic rigor and outreach programs spanning around the world.

This is the work that makes the world work. Learn a little more about five of the majors our students are in below.

Johnathan Hampton – Horticulture

Does Johnathan Hampton look familiar? This rising senior horticulture major represents the College of Agriculture as an Ag Ambassador and is one reason why so many prospective students immediately feel welcome at the school. He’s passionate about landscape design and presenting a fuller understanding of what agriculture is.

In his pre-landscape architecture program, Hampton is gaining technical skills from across the discipline, including construction and soil science.

“One of the biggest things I enjoy is plant ID,” he said. “I’ve already taken one ID course called Small Trees, Shrubs and Vines. Having the knowledge of some of the plants already, I absolutely loved it. The course helps you connect the dots and realize, ‘Oh, I finally understand what that is.’”

Hampton chose to attend Auburn after touring a few schools with horticulture programs.

“The atmosphere and ambience of the town and the college really stuck out to me,” he said. “The College of Agriculture is one of the smaller colleges within Auburn and has more of a family feel. It seems like everyone knows and looks out for each other and is happy to be there. And it really shows how students are treated and invited in.”

Hampton encourages incoming students to get involved in clubs and activities in their college. In addition to Ag Ambassadors, he is a member of the Auburn University Landscape and Nursery Association. He said that traveling with the club to Mobile and attending the Gulf States Horticultural Exposition was a highlight of his college career so far.

“Basically, it’s an entire congregation of agriculture industry professionals,” he said. “You have masonry experts, plant wholesalers, people who specialize in annuals or perennials or breeding new cultivars. You also have leaders of horticulture organizations from around the country. So it was a huge deal to go and meet people and make connections.”

Kylie Weis – Applied Biotechnology

Weis has no doubt in her mind about why she chose Applied Biotechnology as her major at Auburn University: She wants to use the tools of nature to make nature better for mankind.

Biotechnologists use genetically modified organisms — commonly known as GMOs — to better utilize currently available resources. GMOs can help farmers by developing plants that are resistant to pests and pathogens or by engineering plants that are more tolerant to drought, for example.

These biotechnological advancements allow farmers to grow the amount of food needed to feed the world’s growing population, which serves as an inspiration to young biotechnologists like Weis.

“One of my biggest inspirations is a project called Golden Rice,” Weis said. “A lot of the world’s population survives on rice, and rice is not that nutritional, so people were beginning to suffer from vitamin A deficiency. But applied biotechnologists were able to modify rice to produce beta-carotene genetically.”

Beta-carotene is an essential nutrient that white rice lacks, which is converted into vitamin A in the body. The Golden Rice project is a symbol of an idea: that genetically engineered crops can help improve the lives of the poor.

Weis loves genetics and has been interested in a few different subject areas within the field since starting her major.

“If you want to go into applied biotechnology, try it even if you are just curious,” she said. “There are a lot of things that could catch your interest once you start getting into applied biotechnology.”

Adam Lenhard – Biological & Agricultural Technology Management

Biological and Agricultural Technology Management is a bit of a mouthful.

So it’s no wonder students in the program, like rising senior Adam Lenhard, call it BATMan.

Lenhard is one of a handful of students currently working in the newest piece of agricultural technology on Auburn’s campus: two vertical farms operating inside shipping containers.

“I have previously worked in an indoor, vertical hydroponic system in Huntsville, Alabama, and I have been itching to get back into that type of growing system,” Lenhard said. “These freights are providing me and other students on campus with the amazingly unique opportunity to work directly with some of the most advanced type of farming technology available today.”

The Freight Farms work by setting every environmental control — air, light, water and space — for optimal plant growth, all of which can be controlled from an app on your phone. With this technology, it is possible to continually grow food 365 days a year.

The food in the freights on Auburn’s campus will be harvested and served right back to students through Auburn’s Dining Services facilities.

Lenhard said he plans to continue to work with these types of indoor, LED hydroponic systems after graduation.

“I enjoy how these systems allow the user to completely manipulate all factors concerning plant growth and development through the proper mixture of nutrients, light and CO2,” he said. “I also believe that the high amount of water conservation that hydroponics provides can drastically help urban areas reduce their water usage while also providing consumers with fresh veggies harvested only a few miles from their apartments or homes.”

His goal after college is to normalize urban hydroponic farming; provide large, consistent yields of fresh vegetables; and provide food to those in need who do not have as much access to fresh produce.

“Having these freights directly on campus is providing me and my fellow classmates with a new and interesting learning experience that is advancing our hydroponic knowledge through hands-on experience,” he said. “I am absolutely stoked to have them here.”

Justin McCaghren – Crop, Soil & Environmental Sciences

Justin McCaghren grew up around agriculture.

That upbringing and his love of working outdoors led him to choose the major Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Production.

“I enjoy working with my hands,” he said. “And most importantly, I love hard work.”

McCaghren believes strongly in the idea that if you eat and you wear clothes, agriculture affects you. And he feels passionately that feeding and clothing the world in a way that helps to sustain the earth “is the greatest contribution or service that a person can give to society.”

The recent graduate from the College of Agriculture is continuing his education at Auburn to pursue a master’s in crop protection.

“I’m mainly focusing on weed science and crop injury,” he said. “Upon completion of a master’s, I plan to work for a chemical company until eventually I can start my own row crop and cattle farm.”

The biggest encouragement he can give to an incoming student would be to consider pursuing something they truly enjoy and that they will look forward to getting up each morning and doing.

“In the world of agriculture, there are unlimited opportunities and careers to choose from,” he said. “Specifically for my major, I would encourage an incoming student to think about whether they would like to pursue a career in helping to sustain life and the environment. If a student enjoys being hands on, working outside, and has a calling to serve their community and the world, then Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Production is definitely a major they should consider. After all, it is our work that makes the world work.”

Gracie Sims – Poultry Science 

Gracie Sims credits her mother for getting her into poultry science. 

“I was adamant about doing something in education until my mother took a job as an ag teacher while I was a freshman in high school,” she said.  

Her mother was also an advisor for FFA, a student-led organization based in agriculture. So she signed her daughter up for a poultry judging competition. 

“After getting over the initial opinion that this was a bizarre thing to compete in, I discovered I was good at it and competed for three years until I graduated high school,” Sims said. “Through this, I discovered Auburn has an excellent poultry department and became part of it in fall 2017.”  

Sims graduated from the department this month and is starting in Auburn’s College of Veterinary Medicine this fall. After graduating from vet school, she hopes to return to the poultry industry as a poultry veterinarian.  

“I am aware poultry science is not the first major that comes to mind when thinking about college majors,” she said. “But during my time as a poultry science student, I have learned the ins and outs of a multibillion-dollar industry that aims to produce poultry meat and eggs for the growing population.” 

Coupling this with what she calls “the absolute best undergrad experience,” Sims says to look no further if you wish to be a part of “something bigger.”  

“Providing food is the ultimate basic need,” she said. “And in the words of the College of Agriculture, ‘this is the work that makes the world work.’” 

If you’re anything like me, coming to college is a little scary and outside of your comfort zone. Meeting new people, making friends, and navigating college classes are all things you hope to conquer during your freshman year. Luckily, Auburn offers Learning Communities which help create a smooth transition to college.  

What is a Learning Community?

A Learning Community is a group of about 20 other Auburn freshmen who are grouped together based on either a common interest or major. The “A Sound Mind” Learning Community focuses on mental health and wellness. The “Global Ambassadors” Learning Community is designed for students who are interested in exploring other cultures. There are also Learning Communities specific to the different colleges/schools on campus such as the “Hello Harbert” for business majors and the “Engineered for Success” for our future engineers. You can view a full list of Learning Communities here.

Within your Learning Community, you’ll be placed into one First Year Seminar class based on the theme of your Learning Community. For example, the “A Sound Mind” Learning Community will take a class on how to manage stress and practice self-care. The major-specific Learning Communities will explore career options within their major and create connections with faculty, staff, and alumni within the program. In addition to the FYS class, you’ll also be placed into core classes with your Learning Community.

Why join a Learning Community?

Learning Communities are a great way to meet people! You’ll automatically have 3-4 classes with the people in your Learning Community during both semesters of your freshman year, so you will have at least 20 familiar faces in class. This is such a big benefit if you’re coming from out of state or just don’t know a lot of people at Auburn. I was in a Learning Community, and I became great friends with several of the students in my group. We were able to sit next to each other in class and study together outside of class.   

You’re also going to be pre-registered for the core classes that are connected with your Learning Community. This is so helpful when you’re signing up for classes at Camp War Eagle because you’re able to build your schedule around the classes already on your schedule through your Learning Community. It takes away some of the stress of registering for classes for the first time!

Sign me up!
Ready to join? Accepted students can fill out an application in AU Access. You can find more information on our website at this link.