At Harbert: How We Think
C areer and professional development work is important because it transforms the people we serve. Students are fundamentally changed through our programs here at Auburn, and that transformation changes the trajectories of their lives. I think about the generational impact we have. Students leave here different, elevated in some way, which filters through the rest of their lives, their families and their communities. Seeing students grow and change over time is incredibly rewarding and just plain fun to be part of. OUR ‘SECRET SAUCE’ INCLUDES QUALITY AND CARE
I try to focus on delivering a superior student experience. If the work we do with students is not adding value, why are we doing it? If it is not delivered well, with attention to detail and with care for the person, why are we doing it? People can acquire knowledge anywhere. I work with a team of people who believe that the quality of what our students experience and the care with which it is delivered is important. This way of thinking sets our team, Harbert College and Auburn apart from other places. It is part of the secret sauce here. At our core, we need to strive for excellence in all we do. Starting with the foundational stuff — the blocking and tackling — and continuing across the spectrum of all the things we do, people have to have this mindset. People who think this way create a culture that draws others in. It is why so many people want to be part of the Harbert College of Business. I want us to think about our work through an inclusive lens. We should seek out diverse students and staff, bring them all together, and make them all feel we are one group, with similar purpose. We need to think “one program, one college, one university.” I may have “my team,” but our team serves all our students, across all our different programs. When we think inclusively like this, when we think about serving the bigger organization, for the good of our students, we can co-create processes and programming that leads to student transformation. Doing that, day in and day out, allows us to deliver together on our purpose here, and the vision we have to produce highly desired graduates.
FRANK OPRANDY Director Graduate Career Services
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