Auburn University News - August 27, 2025

AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn University was the scene of three major developments today, spanning campus safety, academic appointments and scholarly engagement.

False Threat at Ralph Brown Draughon Library Cleared A heavy police presence at the Ralph Brown Draughon Library yesterday evening stemmed from a false report of a potential threat on campus. Auburn University Campus Safety confirmed that Auburn Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Atlanta conducted a thorough search of the library and surrounding areas, ultimately determining there was no danger to students, faculty or staff. Library operations have since resumed normally, and authorities continue to urge anyone with information about the hoax to come forward, noting that such swatting incidents endanger both individuals and critical law enforcement resources.

Symposium on Outreach and Engaged Scholarship Kicks Off The 2025 Outreach and Engaged Scholarship Symposium, hosted by the Office of Faculty Engagement and University Outreach, began today at the Auburn University Hotel and Dixon Conference Center. The event’s theme, “Catalytic Engagement through Strategic Access, Opportunity & Collaboration,” launched with a check-in at 9:30 a.m., followed by a Graduate Student Poster Session and networking. Later sessions include a poster award announcement at 1:00 p.m., an AAA Reflection Reception at 3:00 p.m., and a Recognition Ceremony beginning at 6:00 p.m. The two-day symposium seeks to foster interdisciplinary partnerships and showcase community-focused research and outreach efforts.

New Industrial and Systems Engineering Faculty Member Announced Auburn University’s Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering welcomed Dr. Casey Eaton as an assistant professor today. Eaton, who earned her bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, will contribute to the department’s emphasis on integrating technical and sociotechnical approaches to systems engineering. Her research focuses on how measurement processes influence system design, drawing on both quantitative and human-centered perspectives. Eaton cited Auburn’s burgeoning opportunities within Alabama’s aerospace, defense and manufacturing sectors as key factors in her decision to join the Plains.