A Spirit That is Not Afraid

As I enter my second and final year as president of the Auburn Alumni Association’s Board of Directors, I reflect on the great work underway at the alumni association and Auburn Advancement in faithful service to the Auburn University Strategic Plan.

I have also reflected on what drove my desire to return to the Plains and be of service to this elite and singular institution. The place that helped shape my personal and professional identity. I think often of the passage in the Auburn Creed that mentions “a spirit that is not afraid.”

At the core of Auburn University’s identity is this fearless spirit—a trait that courses through its history and resonates deeply within the community. From its origins in 1856 as a small agricultural college, Auburn has continually evolved, adapting to the changing needs of its students and the wider world.

As challenges have emerged, whether through war, economic volatility or social change, Auburn has met them head-on, reinforcing the values of courage and innovation. This fearlessness does not solely belong to those on the front lines of academia or athletics; it is a collective ethos shared by all members, including alumni who venture into their own professional landscapes with an Auburn mindset that is undeterred by obstacles.

That’s most clearly shown in this issue by graduate Blake Gordon ’03, a photographer and filmmaker who has summitted mountains and captured some of the most breathtaking views in the world for Patagonia, The North Face and the Nature Conservancy. Or George McMillan ’66, who went from SGA president to Alabama lieutenant governor to music festival empresario when he founded City Stages in Birmingham in 1989.

As Auburn University moves into the future, I encourage you to think about what scares you or holds you back. Can you, like Blake and George, find a way to improve the world by stepping boldly into it, not knowing what the exact outcome might be? If each of us did that, the world would surely be a better place, one even more infused with that distinctive, fearless Auburn spirit.

War Eagle!