Auburn College of Education empowers alumna to further her career while achieving academic and advocacy goals

When Elizabeth Smith decided she wanted to pursue a doctoral degree, she knew she needed a program that would allow her the flexibility to continue with her full-time job while also nurturing her academic goals and passions. In Auburn’s College of Education, Smith found the perfect fit in the Adult Education program.

“What I appreciated most about the program was the freedom and encouragement I was given to follow my interests and shape my own path,” Smith said. “I never felt boxed in. Instead, I felt supported, challenged and genuinely cared for. That is why I believe this program is one of the very best things about Auburn and the College of Education.”

Smith’s Auburn journey began in 1986 when she came to the Plains as a walk-on gymnast to study psychology. She met her husband at Auburn, and they were married a week after she graduated in 1988.

She began her career in the field of psychology before transitioning to a teacher and guidance counselor in a K-12 setting. Then, she moved into higher education as a counselor for students with disabilities at a state college in Florida.

“It was there that I discovered how passionate I was about opening access to education for individuals with learning challenges and other difficulties,” Smith said.

In 2015, Smith and her family returned to Auburn, where she took a role as an academic advisor in the College of Agriculture. Shortly after, Smith decided to pursue her Ph.D. and needed a program that would allow her to continue her full-time work while also pursuing her unique research interests.  She had an interaction with former Auburn faculty member Jim Witte that changed the trajectory of her journey.

“When I met with Dr. Witte, he made me feel seen, heard and genuinely appreciated,” Smith said. “He did not just talk with me about a degree program. He helped me see a path forward. He showed me how the Adult Education program could fit the realities of my life while also giving me room to pursue my own interests and goals. I left that conversation with a sense of clarity and encouragement that stayed with me.”

Smith is especially fond of the Learning Styles course she took, which allowed her to fully understand what it means to design assessments that are accessible and inclusive of students’ strengths.

“That class shaped the way I think about teaching and learning in a lasting way,” Smith said. “In fact, the ideas and strategies I learned there are ones I still return to regularly in my own teaching today.”

 

In her next role as a learning specialist in the Auburn Athletics Department, Smith worked closely with student-athletes facing educationally impacting academic challenges. She helped these student-athletes build the skills, strategies and confidence they needed to be successful both in the classroom and beyond.

Smith also teaches undergraduate psychology courses at Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia, and at Gwinnett Technical College in Atlanta, Georgia. As both a teacher and an advisor, she grew even more passionate about increasing access to higher education for students with learning challenges and difficulties.

“Teaching has become one of the most meaningful parts of my professional life, and I truly love it,” Smith said. “I am grateful that my preparation through the College of Education gave me the confidence and flexibility to teach in person, in hybrid settings and in fully online environments.”

Smith said she also began thinking more intentionally about how to make higher education more supportive and effective for students.

“That perspective has shaped both my teaching and my work with student-athletes, and it has strengthened my commitment to advocating for educational spaces at Auburn that are welcoming and accessible.”

This commitment has led Smith to fully identify with the College of Education’s motto, “Opening Doors and Improving Lives,” which she sees as a call to action to help people gain access to opportunities and support them through their journeys.

“Whether I am working with student-athletes, teaching undergraduate psychology courses at other colleges or leading professional development for academic support staff, I want my work to contribute to spaces where students feel supported, challenged and encouraged to grow,” Smith said. “When we remove barriers, teach in ways that honor different learners and help students develop confidence in themselves, we truly do open doors.”

In May, Smith began a new chapter in her life with a relocation to Florida with her husband. She will continue to teach psychology courses for both Columbus State University and Gwinnett Technical College, and she is pursuing career options at higher education institutions and organizations that provide educational technology tools and support.

As she explores her next steps, Smith is still guided by what she learned in her Adult Education courses.

“This degree gave me a deep sense of accomplishment and purpose,” Smith said. “It reaffirmed for me that learning is a lifelong process and that it is never too late to continue growing in ways that matter. The College of Education not only prepared me for new professional opportunities but also helped me become more intentional about the kind of educator and advocate I want to be.”

To learn more about this program, visit the Adult Education program page on the College of Education website.