Donor spotlight: Dr. Imogene Mathison Mixson

College of Education Donor Support Spotlight

Auburn’s College of Education is grateful for Dr. Imogene Mathison Mixson and her generous naming support of the Imogene Mathison Mixson Executive Office for the Dean of The College of Education in the new College of Education building, which will open for classes in fall 2025! Below are details about Dr. Mixson, her named room and the new building:

 

New Education Building Room name:

Imogene Mathison Mixson Executive Office for the Dean of The College of Education

 

Named after:

Dr. Imogene Mathison Mixson

 

Her story:

Dr. Imogene Mathison Mixson is a 1963 graduate of Auburn University with a Master of Science degree in Education. She is a native and lifelong resident of the Skipperville/Ozark community in Dale County, Alabama, who dedicated her career to improving the lives of others in her community and the state of Alabama as a teacher, faculty member, department head, academic dean and interim president — through the transformational power of education. She has been noted for her excellence in both teaching and administration, and she received the Teacher of the Year Award three times at Enterprise State Junior College and the Administrator of the Year Award and Distinguished Leadership Award for Two-year Colleges, both in the Alabama College System, when she was at Wallace State Community College in Dothan.

She is active in retirement and still strongly committed to lifelong learning and service. She served on the National Alumni Council and Development Leadership Team supporting the College of Education. In 2016, she was selected for alumnus awards from all three of the institutions she graduated from — Troy University, Auburn University and Florida State University. She is noted for her integrity, strong work ethic and passion for promoting educational opportunities for others. She also funds a Graduate Student Endowment and an Endowed Fund For Excellence Scholarship in the College of Education. She exemplifies the Auburn Creed. She believes in education and has shared it with countless students during her 37 years as an educator. Her contributions, however,  do not end at institutions of higher learning. She contributes her time, talents and resources to the community through her service, social and religious activities.

 

The room’s area of focus:

Serves as the Executive Office of the Dean of the College of Education and Wayne T. Smith Distinguished Professor.

 

What was behind your decision to name a room in the College of Education's new building?

This decision was based on my lifelong love and appreciation of Auburn University! And I was pleased to express my sincere gratitude for the impact this wonderful institution, especially the College of Education, has had on my life and career. My master's degree in English Education enabled me to be a more effective English teacher at Dothan High School, provided the necessary credential for employment in the Alabama College System, and prepared me very well to earn my Ph.D. in English Education at Florida State University. And so the naming of a room in the new College of Education building was a rare opportunity to enhance educational opportunities for many, many years.

 

What makes you most excited about the College of Education's new building?

I am most excited about the new building enabling faculty, staff, and students to achieve their mission more fully as they enjoy "building better futures for all." The atmosphere of renewal will strengthen their relationships as they work together to expand the vision, develop new goals and strategies, and improve all aspects of their work. And the high visibility of the beautiful new building will clearly affirm the significance of education, the university's commitment to progress and excellence, and make access to programs and services much easier for students and many others. In short, the new building will expand opportunities for remarkable achievements and contributions that will serve the common good for generations.

 

There's so much to love about Auburn and its College of Education.  What do you love most?

I do indeed love so much about Auburn and the College of Education: esteemed programs of study, welcoming atmosphere, land-grant mission, diversity, sporting events, special programs, celebrations, etc. But the Auburn Family — faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends — have had a profound impact on my life. And so I love the people, the Auburn Family, the most! And I especially love the College of Education that has provided so many opportunities to participate in various activities that have strengthened bonds with the university, college, and Auburn Family. These activities have included Annual Scholarship Ceremonies, National Advisory Council and Leadership Development Team meetings, Celebration of Philanthropy events, and several remarkable milestones, including the Celebration of the Centennial of the Admission of Women to Auburn University (1992) and my Golden Eagles Reunion (2013). And, for me, the values in that inspiring Auburn Creed help to foster those strong bonds of friendship, love, and loyalty that make my Auburn Family so special!

 

What do you hope future generations will know about you and the importance of the room that bears your namesake?

I hope they will know that I enjoyed an incredibly exciting educational career, that my Auburn experiences had a profound impact on my life and career, that I was humbled and honored with the naming of the Executive Office, and that I am indebted to so many people who assisted me in my remarkable journey. These include my parents and husband, large extended family, church family, teachers, colleagues, classmates, and hundreds of students who inspired and challenged me each day.

And I hope my name on this office will represent the significance of education and leadership, servant leadership, that is based on integrity, vision, quality, teamwork, opportunity for all, community, kindness, and service. I also hope that future generations will experience the importance and joy of generosity and giving, especially giving back to people and places that have helped them along the way. And I trust that they will embrace the values of the inspiring Auburn Creed, especially the challenge of "doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with . . . God." And may they, like me and Auburn people everywhere, always "believe in Auburn and love it."