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Branden Farmer, Director of Student Program Assessment and Administration, Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering 

“Be curious, not judgmental.” If there ever was a motto for Branden Farmer, that's it.  

Farmer originally wanted to teach high school math and coach baseball, but a first job in higher education fueled his varied interests and created a diverse career path. In his 14 years at Auburn, he’s held positions in Recreation and Wellness, First Year Experience, teaching and advising. He has three master’s degrees, including one in industrial engineering, and is working on his doctorate.  

“Working in higher ed is all about the students and making an impact in the future of our world,” he said. “College students are so much fun to work with; their energy, ideas, thoughts and opinions are contagious. My roles in engineering have been the most rewarding, working with some of the best students on campus in ISE, but I also get the support from my department to explore new ideas, build new programs and expand my knowledge and interests. 

“I like to think my office just has a lot of me in it and I want people to feel comfortable being in my office,” he said. “I have some cool functional things like a stand-up desk that is a whiteboard on top, along with a TV that I share information with students to see during advising (the students really love this). I also have a couch with scarves from soccer teams I’ve visited, which always stirs conversations about our study abroad trips. Over the past year, I’ve been big into 3D printing, so I have tons of gadgets everywhere. I try to have something in my office that anyone can make a connection with, which allows for some really deep and fun conversations.”