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

Kerry Inger, a Harbert advisory council professor with the School of Accountancy, was recognized as a joint recipient in the President’s 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’s Outstanding Collaborative Units Award, after a letter of nomination from Michael Wesson and David Hinson.

Wesson is the associate dean for graduate and executive programs and a professor of management for Harbert 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 award 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.

“This award recognizes a 15-year successful collaboration between two colleges and reflects the contributions of numerous individuals over a 15-year period,” Hinson said. “Michael and I are just the nominators. Our respective teams are the ones recognized by this award.”

Wesson agreed and referred to the nomination letter: “A collaboration between the Harbert College of Business 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.

“Auburn’s 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.

“The collaboration exemplifies the Auburn Creed in that collaboration requires work, hard work,” Wesson wrote in response to a university survey. “It 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.”

Wesson later added: “We expect this collaboration between CADC and [Harbert] 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.” 

 

Distinguished Faculty Leadership Award

Established in 2024, the President’s Award for Distinguished Faculty Leadership 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’s mission.

“Inger 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,” their nomination letter said.

“They invested thousands of hours beyond their faculty responsibilities, facilitating meetings and leading work sessions crucial to shaping the plan’s 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.

“Their 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.”

Inger served in a leadership role for a team that developed the Auburn University Strategic Plan 2035: Grounded & Groundbreaking.

The plan is a “10-year strategic roadmap that will lead Auburn over the next decade,” she said. “It contains bold and aspirational goals that will advance Auburn’s standing as a premier institution of higher learning.

“The plan is organized around five key areas,” she said. “The first three—an exceptional student experience, impactful research, scholarship and creative works, and a commitment to excellence and innovation—build on the key themes from President Chris Robert’s installation speech.

“Additional goals were identified during the process, specifically catalytic engagement through partnerships and collaborations to achieve innovative solutions and strategies for combined success,” she said. “Finally, Distinctively Auburn recognizes that Auburn’s unique and special values and traditions are crucial for success.”

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

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Learn more about Auburn University 2024 faculty awards.