FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Spraggins’ passion for diversity shaping AUM into a global community
When Timothy Spraggins came to Auburn Montgomery, he came to build something.
“I think my specialty and even my passion is building programs around diversity,” said Spraggins.
In nearly six months on the job, Spraggins has laid the foundation for a diversity program at AUM. One of the bricks of that foundation Spraggins is most proud of is the Journeys in Common series presented during Women’s History Month.
“We had a very diverse team and this is a series I want to continue not just during Women’s History Month,” said Spraggins.
Spraggins, a first-generation college graduate who calls Alabama home, is originally from Reform, Ala., a small town in Pickens County located between Tuscaloosa and Columbus, Miss. His first job was working at a Columbus factory in 11th grade.
“It was hot and it was outside work. They put me on an assembly line,” said Spraggins.
Spraggins realized factory work wasn’t for him when he saw people as old as his grandfather doing the same work he was. This experience encouraged him and made him eager to attend college and learn more. He graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in English Education.
“Those were the best days of my life,” said Spraggins. He then went on to teach as an adjunct professor at Alabama.
“When I was teaching, students were constantly coming to me, having to leave to go and take care of housing issues, etc.,” said Spraggins. “I came to realize the university was bigger than my classroom.”
Spraggins’ plan was to leave for three years, become involved in minority affairs and get experience in programming, but when the three years ended, he had every intention of returning as a Master Teacher.
“Things we’re doing now, I wanted to do in the ‘80s,” said Spraggins. “I was integrating lives outside of the classroom with lives inside dorms and inside the classroom. My plan was to come back as a tenured faculty member, but I never came back once I started Student Affairs.”
Spraggins said the primary point he wants to emphasize through all areas of his work is that we are a global community, no longer separated by oceans or railroad tracks.
“In the 21st century we are forced to live with and work with people from different cultures and backgrounds, but now we will be forced to work for people that are different from us,” said Spraggins. “The sooner we learn to work together on a common ground and not fear the better, all of us will be able to navigate the 21st century.”
Spraggins said he doesn’t see his job as solving all the problems or answering all the questions. Instead, he sees his job as being a part of a team that asks the right questions, finds solutions and strategies and creates a meaningful foundation on which others can build.
“This is a very exciting time to be at AUM, because AUM is growing. We’re in the middle of a strategic and master plan, and we’re also in the middle of implementing a diversity strategic plan,” said Spraggins. “I’m excited to help the leadership build an institutional infrastructure for diversity.”
Timothy Spraggins speaks at Journeys in Common
during Women's History Month
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Contact Information
Carolyn Kinney
Auburn Montgomery
University Relations
334-244-3642
ckinney@aum.edu