AAUA 2026 - Col. Chris Richie (USMC Ret.) | Director, HR Development, Auburn University
How Auburn University Built a Campus-Wide Leadership Culture | Aspire Auburn with Col. Chris Richie How can a college or university become a true learning organization for its people—not just its students? In this episode of the AAUA 26 podcast, executive coach and AAUA board member Dr. Tim Jansa talks with Colonel Chris Richie, Director of Human Resource Development at Auburn University, about the design and impact of the Aspire Auburn leadership development program. Drawing on his 30-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps and his experience in higher education leadership, Chris Richie explains how Auburn is closing the long-standing gap between when employees become supervisors and when they receive leadership development. He walks through the four program levels—Leading Self, Leading People, Leading Teams, and Leading the Organization—and shows how this values-based leadership framework is embedded into performance management, core values, and the university’s strategic plan. Listeners will learn how Aspire Auburn: Provides leadership development for faculty, staff, and administrators at all levels Integrates university core values (integrity, respect, excellence) into everyday leadership practice Uses cross-functional peer circles to break down silos and foster campus-wide collaboration Turns a voluntary leadership program into a powerful engine for culture change and employee engagement Creates measurable ripples of impact on student success, employee experience, and institutional reputation Whether you are a department chair, dean, program director, mid-level manager, or an aspiring leader in higher education, this conversation offers practical insights on: Building sustainable leadership development programs in higher education Translating military leadership principles into a university context Connecting leadership training to strategic goals and KPIs Designing leadership initiatives that are more than “one-off workshops” If you’re interested in higher education leadership development, organizational culture change, and values-driven leadership on your campus, this episode will give you concrete ideas to adapt and apply in your own institution. Prefer to watch the conversation? View the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/f4REun7pB_0