AAUA 2026 - Col. Chris Richie (USMC Ret.) | Director, HR Development, Auburn University
AAUA: Creating the Future of Higher Education by American Association of University Administrators
Episode notes
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 Leadin ...