Warhawk Weekly 9-2: Chancellor’s Business Breakfast; OER workshop
Cynthia Crutchfield brings bold vision to Chancellor’s Business Breakfast
Cynthia M. Crutchfield, chief executive officer of Innovate Alabama, will serve as the keynote speaker for the AUM Chancellor’s Business Breakfast Series on Wednesday, Sept. 17.
The event will take place at 7:30 a.m. in Taylor Center 230.
Crutchfield is the founding CEO of Innovate Alabama, the state’s first statewide public-private partnership focused on entrepreneurship, technology and innovation. In her role, she oversees corporate strategy and leads day-to-day operations, advancing the corporation’s mission through partnerships, program development and innovation management.
AUM to host ACHE 2025 Open Educational Resources workshop
Auburn University of Montgomery (AUM) has been selected as a host institution for one of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education’s (ACHE) 2025 Open Educational Resources (OER) workshops in September.
In partnership with Trenholm State Community College, AUM will host the workshop from 8 a.m. -3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12 in Taylor Center 230. The event is free and open to faculty and staff. Register online now.
The free workshops, also taking place at the University of South Alabama, are part of ACHE’s broader statewide effort to reduce textbook costs, increase access to course materials, and support student success.
“We’re excited to serve as a host institution for this workshop and bring together both in-state leaders and nationally recognized experts,” said AUM Library Dean Phill Johnson. “Attendees will gain practical tools and resources to support the adoption and implementation of OER across Alabama’s higher education institutions.”
Funded by ACHE, AUM’s Open Educational Resources workshop will feature the following speakers:
- Joshua Hill – Instructional Designer, Center for Innovative Teaching and Technology, Hillsborough College. Hill is a pioneer in AI-supported OER creation and founder of the Zero Textbook Cost Initiative. He also developed Florida’s only self-hosted Pressbooks platform.
- Jennifer Pate – Director of OpenEd, Texas A&M Libraries. Pate leads textbook equity and OER efforts across the Texas A&M system and is a Founding Fellow with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s OER Fellowship program.
- Nakita Afaha – Program Manager, Affordable Learning Georgia, University System of Georgia. Afaha brings extensive experience in OER development, eLearning instructional design, and student success initiatives.
- Rebel Cummings-Sauls – Director of Digital Services and OER, Florida Academic Library Services Cooperative. With over a decade in higher education, she has held leadership roles at Kansas State University and the University of South Florida.
- Charlotte Ford, Library Director, University of Montevallo. Ford is a passionate advocate for Open Access. With 35 years of experience as a librarian, she has consistently championed free and equitable access to information, particularly in response to the rising costs of journals, database subscriptions, and textbooks.
The workshop also offers professionals the opportunity to connect with peers from across the state who are advancing OER initiatives at Alabama’s colleges and universities.
“We look forward to working together to expand access to high-quality, affordable education in Alabama,” Johnson said. “We hope attendees will leave the workshop with actionable strategies and valuable connections.”
Alumni Professorship: Know an outstanding professor?
The AUM Alumni Association is now accepting nominations for the 2025–2028 Alumni Professorship, a prestigious honor recognizing faculty who demonstrate exceptional achievement in teaching, research/scholarship/creative activity, and service.
Nominees must be current teaching faculty with 10 or more years of full-time service at AUM. The faculty member selected Alumni Professor will serve a non-renewable, three-year term (2025–2028) and receive a $2,500 annual salary supplement. The award will be conferred at the Chancellor Convocation held in the fall.
To nominate your favorite faculty member, submit five letters no longer than two pages (from their dean, department head, a current student, former student, and a colleague) emphasizing their teaching excellence, strong record of publication, and the ways they support students, community, their colleagues. Vitas may be included.
The winner of this award will be chosen by a seven-member selection committee.
The nomination deadline is Friday, Sept. 19.
Send nomination letters to: Awards Committee, AUM Alumni Association, P.O. Box 244023, Montgomery, AL 36124-4023, or email them to alumni@aum.edu.
Step and strut into Kinesiology’s new line dance class
AUM’s Department of Kinesiology, housed in the College of Education, is launching a new course designed to get students moving and teach basic dance theories.
Beginning Oct. 8, “PHED 1803: Step & Strut Line Dance” will meet Mondays and Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in Wellness Center, Room 222.
Open to all students —whether you’re a physical education major or simply curious about dance — the course explores basic dance theories and techniques, with a spotlight on line dance, ballroom, and contemporary styles.
To register:
- Login to MyAUM
- Click on Warhawk Self Service > Student Services > Registration
- When prompted, enter the six-digit PIN you received from your advisor
- Search for PHED 1803 and add the class
Spots are limited and expected to fill quickly. So, lace up your boots, or sneakers, and get ready to step, strut, and learn.
Get in the Game: Register for Fall 2025 Intramural Sports
AUM invites students, faculty and staff to bring their competitive spirit as the Fall 2025 Intramural Sports season officially kicks off in September.
AUM’s Intramural Sports program offers a fun, inclusive way to get active, stay healthy, and connect with others across campus. Whether you’re looking to join with friends or sign up solo as a free agent, there’s a league—and a community—waiting for you.
Registration is currently open for a wide variety of sports and activities, including:
- E-Sports Season: Open Madden, 2K, and FIFA Leagues
- Badminton: Open Singles and Doubles Leagues
- 3-on-3 Basketball: Men’s and Women’s Leagues
- Cricket: Men’s and Women’s Leagues
- Disc Golf: Men’s and Women’s Leagues
- Flag Football: Men’s and Women’s Leagues
Beginning Sept. 1, registration will open for:
- Innertube Water Polo
- Tennis
- Volleyball
All upcoming leagues offer both men and women divisions.
To register, visit the AUM Intramural Sports website or sign up on IMLeagues.com/aum or using the IMLeagues app. For more information, contact (334) 492-1619.
Discover funding opportunities with OSPR’s virtual training series
The Office of Sponsored Programs & Research (OSPR) at AUM is offering a series of virtual trainings designed to help employees enhance their skills in identifying funding opportunities, developing grant and contract proposals, preparing budgets, and understanding key research practices and policies.
These sessions are open to all university faculty and staff interested in research funding, proposal development, or grants management.
The training sessions will be available through November 2025:
- Wed., Sept. 3, 1:30 p.m. – InfoEd Global’s SPIN Database Training
- Wed., Sept. 10, 1:30 p.m. – PIVOT Database Training
- Wed., Sept. 17, 1:30 p.m. – Preparing a Proposal Budget Training
- Thurs., Sept. 25, 11:00 a.m. – Navigating Essentials of Grants Management: Tips for Success
- Wed., Oct. 1, 10:30 a.m. – Foundation Directory Database Training
- Wed., Oct. 8, 10:30 a.m. – InfoEd Global’s SPIN Database Training
- Wed., Oct. 15, 10:30 a.m. – PIVOT Database Training
- Wed., Oct. 22, 10:30 a.m. – Preparing a Proposal Budget Training
- Fri., Oct. 24, 11:00 a.m. – Pre-Award and Post-Award Services in a Nutshell
- Mon., Nov. 3, 1:30 p.m. – Key Aspects of Responsible Conduct of Research
- Mon., Nov. 10, 1:30 p.m. – How to Minimize or Avoid Research Misconduct
Don’t miss these valuable opportunities to build your research capacity and stay informed on best practices.
For questions, please contact Tracy Louder, Director of OSPR, at tlouder@aum.edu or (334) 244-3865.
Make your mark on the AUM Alumni board
Do you have a passion for Auburn University at Montgomery and a desire to help shape the future of its alumni community? The AUM Alumni Association is now accepting nominations for its Board of Directors.
Whether you’re a recent graduate or a longtime supporter, this is a meaningful opportunity to give back, grow your leadership experience, and play a vital role in strengthening the bond between AUM and its alumni. Board members also serve as ambassadors for the university, helping to advance alumni engagement, support student success, and promote AUM in the community and beyond.
To be eligible, candidates must be graduates of AUM or have earned credit toward one of its degree programs, and be a member in good standing with the AUM Alumni Association.
Nominations are open through Monday, Sept. 15. Apply or nominate someone today.
Keep up with campus events
There’s an easy way to keep up with all of the fun events offered on our campus. Enroll in AUM365 and get the 4-1-1 from Curtiss The Warhawk himself. Text curti$$ to 334-398-6025 to receive reminders about upcoming happening.
