Outreach Newsroom

March 9, 2026

Auburn University Outreach’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute will host its first OLLI Arts Fest on Friday, March 27 at Sunny Slope, highlighting the creative spirit of members and art lovers across the Auburn‑Opelika community. Inspired by festival committee chair Cindy McGehee, the event showcases OLLI’s mission of lifelong learning through art demonstrations, member and instructor exhibitions, and a public silent auction supporting the Build OLLI campaign. Guests can enjoy floral arranging, gel pad printing, architectural sketching, knitting, pottery, local food trucks, and live bluegrass by the Town Creek Ramblers. Keep reading to explore the creativity and people bringing OLLI Arts Fest to life.

February 25, 2026

Auburn University has again been recognized nationally for its commitment to community engagement, earning the prestigious 2026 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification. This elective designation, awarded by the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, affirms Auburn’s continued dedication to meaningful partnerships that strengthen communities and enrich student learning.

February 12, 2026

The Government & Economic Development Institute (GEDI) provides over 100 programs for professional development and certification, with most of its students being public servants, elected officials, state employees and employees of other organizations and businesses. As the field of economic development grows, universities are offering majors, minors and certificated programs for students interested in making it their profession.

February 11, 2026

University Outreach and the East Central Alabama Chapter of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators hosted the 2026 MLK Scholarship Breakfast on Jan. 19, celebrating local leaders and students who embody Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of service. The event featured a dynamic panel on “empowering the next generation,” honored The Curtis House with the Community Service Award and recognized Audrey Peters Marshall as Educator of the Year. Four outstanding students—Antoine Harvis Jr., Denise Oliver, Faith Sanford and Jalen Boynton—were awarded MLK Scholarships for their commitment to serving their communities.

February 10, 2026

Hollie Cost, assistant vice president for University Outreach and Public Service at Auburn University, has been elected chair of the National Issues Forums Institute Board of Directors. In this national leadership role, she will help guide NIFI’s nonpartisan work to strengthen democracy through public deliberation and community action. Cost’s extensive background in civic leadership—including her service as a professor, city council member and two‑term mayor of Montevallo—aligns closely with NIFI’s mission. At Auburn, she leads outreach initiatives that connect faculty expertise and research with communities across Alabama, advancing the university’s land‑grant commitment to engagement and public service. 

February 9, 2026

Auburn Magazine showcases how Auburn University fulfills its land-grant mission through student, faculty and staff partnerships that strengthen family well-being across Alabama. Student volunteers lead The Campus Kitchen, repurposing food to address food insecurity for thousands of community members, while gaining hands-on civic learning experience. Faculty- and staff-led efforts—including the Rural Health Initiative, the Marriage and Family Therapy Center and the Center for Autism Research, Treatment, and Training (CARTT)—expand access to affordable health care, mental health services and family support through innovative, community-centered approaches. Together, these initiatives reflect Auburn’s commitment to compassion, trust-building and meaningful impact in the communities it serves.

February 4, 2026

More than a third of Americans live in health care deserts, with limited access to doctors, pharmacies or hospitals—a challenge felt acutely across rural Alabama. In 19 counties identified as “dead zone” areas, residents often must travel long distances or rely on emergency services for basic care. Hollie Cost, with Auburn University’s Rural Health Initiative, highlighted how OnMed CareStations—self-contained, telehealth-enabled clinics—are expanding access in these communities by bringing care closer to where people live and work, helping reduce unnecessary emergency room visits and, in some documented cases, saving lives.