2024
- Jennifer Mueller-Phillips becomes the ninth dean of the Harbert College of Business. Since joining the Auburn faculty in 2000, she has served as director of the School of Accountancy and associate dean for academic affairs. She holds a Master of Accountancy and doctorate in accounting from Virginia Tech and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Jacksonville State University.
2024
2023
- Harbert College of Business celebrates the 10-year anniversary of its naming gift.
2023
2022
- Harbert College establishes the Institute for Real Estate Development with a $5 million anonymous gift.
- Auburn RFID Lab partners with Walmart to implement its technology for modern inventory control.
- Flashtract (New Venture Accelerator startup) receives $15 million in Series A funding.
- Joe Hanna is named interim dean.
2022
2021
- The HarbertPodcast debuts, featuring alumni and faculty insights on careers and business.
2021
2020
- Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business forms a Department of Supply Chain Management (announced June 8).
2020
2019
- Horton-Hardgrave Hall opens (new state-of-the-art business building).
- Online MBA program celebrates 30 years.
- College expands offerings, adding Business Analytics.
2019
2018
- Dr. Annette L. Ranft becomes the eighth dean (August 1, 2018).
2018
2017
- Harbert College celebrates its 50th anniversary.
- Dean Hardgrave named Auburn University Provost.
- College breaks ground on new business building (completed for Fall 2019).
2017
2016
- College announces $15M gift from Raymond J. Harbert (plus $15M Auburn match) for a graduate business building (Fall 2018).
- College surpasses $100M target in “Because This is Auburn” campaign.
- Electrical fire temporarily closes Lowder Hall; restoration completed for Fall semester.
- Department renamed to Systems and Technology.
2016
2015
- Auburn University RFID Lab hosts grand opening.
- First Auburn University Entrepreneurship Summit held.
- Panopto becomes course delivery mechanism for online MBA.
2015
2014
- Alumni publication renamed Harbert Magazine and repackaged.
2014
2013
- Exterior renovations to Lowder Hall completed.
- Business Analytics program and Ph.D. in Finance launched.
- College renamed the Raymond J. Harbert College of Business after $40M commitment.
2013
2011
- College sets $100 million goal for comprehensive campaign.
2011
2010
- Dr. Bill Hardgrave named dean (tenure begins in August).
- Strategic Plan sets goal of becoming “among the elite public business schools.”
- Office of Professional and Career Development opens.
- MRED program launches with the College of Architecture, Design and Construction.
2010
2009
- Distance MBA students begin receiving courses via streaming video.
2009
2008
- College offers “custom” MBA program for Pratt & Whitney.
2008
2007
- Department of Aviation and Supply Chain Management replaces Aviation Management and Logistics.
2007
2004
- Paul Bobrowski joins the college as dean (August).
- DVDs replace VHS tapes for distance MBA course delivery.
2004
2002
- $1 million gift from alumnus Bennie Bray supports scholarships and a faculty professorship.
2002
2001
- Undergraduate enrollment reaches 4,511, making the college the largest in Alabama.
- Department of Aviation Management and Logistics created.
2001
2000
- College launches Aviation Management professional option and Entrepreneurship & Family Business program.
- Wayne Alderman resigns as dean; John Jahera named interim dean.
2000
1999
- Physicians Executive MBA Program (PEMBA) launches.
- Executive MBA students travel to Europe (first international trip).
1999
1998
- Executive MBA Program (EMBA) launches.
- Business fraternity Pi Sigma Epsilon starts an Auburn chapter.
1998
1998
- Business administration alumnus Bobby Lowder (’64) and his wife Charlotte make a substantial gift to establish the Robert and Charlotte Lowder Center for Family Business and Entrepreneurship, supporting the development of an entrepreneurship major and related programs in the College of Business.
1998
1995
- Regions Financial Corporation donates $600,000; gift leads to J. Stanley Mackin Eminent Scholar Chair.
1995
1994
- Building named the Edward L. Lowder and Catherine K. Lowder Business Building.
1994
1993
- Wayne Alderman becomes the first Auburn business graduate appointed dean.
1993
1992
- College celebrates 25th anniversary with completion of a six-story facility (opens for fall semester).
- Danny Bellenger announces intention to resign as dean the following year.
1992
1991
- College adds Management Information Systems program.
1991
1990
- College breaks ground on a $15M building (Magnolia & Donahue).
- Agreement enables VHS recording/delivery of courses for MBA students.
- Five students win SEC MBA Case Study Competition.
1990
1989
- Danny Bellenger begins tenure as dean (August 1).
- Auburn announces plans for a business building as part of a $150M campaign.
- Enrollment tops 3,700.
- $2.6M grant establishes the Thomas Walter Center for Technology Management.
1989
1988
- Enrollment rises sharply compared to early 80s.
- Dean Charles Kroncke steps down; Bob Niebuhr serves interim.
- $1.2M Lowder gift creates two Eminent Scholar positions.
- Ph.D. program in Management established.
- Personnel & Industrial Relations renamed Human Resources Management.
1988
1987
- Business minor created; MBA program revised (lockstep model).
- Harold Melton becomes first Black student elected SGA president.
1987
1986
- Charles Kroncke joins as dean and restructures administration.
- Auburn Technical Assistance Center becomes part of the college.
- Plans announced for Executive MBA and lockstep MBA structure.
- Board approves bond issue for design/construction of $15M facility.
1986
1985
- School of Business becomes the College of Business (July 1).
- School of Accountancy formed; Master of Accountancy begins.
- Enrollment tops 3,400 (third-largest on campus).
1985
1984
- Dean George Horton resigns; Ethel Jones becomes interim dean.
1984
1983
- International Business, Industrial & Operations Management, and Management programs added.
- Enrollment stands at 2,600; challenges tied to admissions standards and resources.
1983
1982
- Faculty with doctorates reaches 80%.
- First doctoral program established (joint Ph.D.).
- Overcrowding and staffing pressures highlighted in reporting.
1982
1980
- School of Business deemed “fully accredited” by AACSB in June.
- Small Business Development Center established.
1980
1979
- School of Business faces challenges amid recession-era budget cuts and accreditation concerns.
- Auburn University President Harry Philpott announces resignation/retirement (September 7).
1979
1977
- General Business added to curriculum.
- School granted Beta Gamma Sigma chapter.
1977
1976
- Undergraduate accreditation earned from AACSB (May).
- Auburn Technical Assistance Center (ATAC) begins operations.
- International business debuts as a major (Fall).
1976
1975
- Auburn Student Accounting Association offers free tax service for students (Feb–Apr 15).
1975
1974
- Dean Horton outlines plan to pursue AACSB accreditation.
- Executive in Residence program welcomes its first honorees.
1974
1973
- O.D. Turner replaced by George Horton as second dean (July 1).
- Food Industrial Management added as a professional option.
1973
1972
- First Business Tomorrow Conference held (October).
- O.D. Turner announces resignation at end of academic year.
1972
1970
- Business Advisory Council formed.
- Two-year Pre-Business program established.
1970
1969
- Business Extension Unit forms for research and outreach across Alabama.
- Professional options expand across multiple business disciplines.
1969
1968
- O.D. Turner becomes dean of the School of Business (April 1).
- Professional options include business and secretarial administration.
1968
1967
- Auburn University's Board of Trustees creates the School of Business (March 15).
- Dr. Ellsworth Steele serves as interim dean until O.D. Turner arrives in 1968.
- School becomes Auburn’s 10th undergraduate school and ranks fourth in size with 1,800 students.
- Organized into four departments: Accounting & Finance, Economics & Geography, Management, Marketing & Transportation.
- Initial home in Thach and Tichenor Halls.
1967