< PreviousPowered by an interdisciplinary team of dedicated educators, Auburn Univer- sity is doing its part to reverse the state’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) teacher shortage through its AUTeach program. Stephanie Shepherd from the Col- lege of Sciences and Mathematics (COSAM) and the College of Educa- tion’s Christine Schnittka are spear- heading Auburn’s effort to solve a state- wide problem of lack of qualified STEM teachers, and they have the full support of the university’s administration and state education leaders. That unity was on full display during a Sept. 28 kickoff event on campus that brought togeth- er university and Alabama educational leaders from far and wide. “I’m really excited about the role AU- Teach will play in creating the next gen- eration of math and science teachers in the state of Alabama,” said COSAM Dean Edward E. Thomas Jr. “AUTeach will give students an opportunity to ex- plore two exciting aspects of education and science, combining them into a solid foundation and open doors to reward- ing careers and will transform the lives of students all across the state of Alabama. It is an honor to partner with our friends in the College of Education and launch AUTeach.” AUTeach already has attracted more than a dozen students to its first cohort, with that number expected to grow to more than 30 in the spring. “This program is a natural collabo- ration between our colleges and rep- resents our shared commitment to in- creasing the number of STEM teachers throughout the state,” said Education Dean Jeffrey T. Fairbrother. “AUTeach is removing roadblocks to science majors so they have the preparation they need to graduate, get certified and be ready to enter the classroom to teach. I look forward to celebrating many more mile- stones in the years to come.” The AUTeach program is a labor of love for Shepherd, Schnittka and their team, which also includes COSAM’s Katherine Buckley and Mary Lou Ewald, as well as Paul Fitchett from Education. “AUTeach has the ability to make a real difference in the lives of Alabama students and prepare our future STEM workforce,” Shepherd said. “My journey to this point is because of the teachers I had in K-12, but we know that is not the same experience for many students in K-12 because of a lack of STEM teach- ers. We are sharing our inspiration with COSAM students and, in turn, we hope we’re preparing them to teach and share their love of science with second- ary students.” AUTeach’s curriculum is specially designed so that students will gain ex- perience in K-12 classrooms early, take courses in their chosen science disci- pline — as well as educational theory and practice — and successfully complete the program in four years. “I’m excited to be here at Auburn, creating a new community with built-in support structures, a physical space that is welcoming and inclusive and a unique curriculum for COSAM students who want to be teachers,” Schnittka said. “I’m anticipating that this program will have a waiting list within two years.” Auburn’s branch of UTeach is one of seven recently created throughout the state, and Alabama’s sites are part of a growing national network of UTeach programs. Auburn Provost Vini Nathan, UTeach Institute Director Kimberly Hughes, Ala- bama Commission on Higher Education Executive Director Jim Purcell and Ala- bama STEM Council Executive Director Lee Meadows all showed their support for AUTeach by attending the kickoff event. Several AUTeach students also were on-hand, including Jackson Belcher, a junior physics major. “I think it can be a great thing for STEM teachers,” he said. “I’ve talked to some seniors in physics who said they would’ve jumped on this [opportunity] if it had happened a year ago. When you give STEM students the opportuni- ty to be successful teachers, a lot more people will gravitate to this than people anticipate. “The majority of STEM teachers I’ve had don’t have a degree in the field they’re teaching, but every now and then, you’ll have that teacher who was a student in the field they’re teaching, and I think it makes a big difference.” AUTeach was created thanks to a partnership between the Alabama STEM Council and the UTeach Institute. UNIVERSITY NEWS BY NEAL REID 50 UNIVERSITY NEWS AUBURNTIGERS.COM Auburn University leaders, AUTeach directors and executives from the UTeach Institute and various Alabama education organizations attended the AUTeach kickoff event in late September. AUTEACH PROGRAM DEDICATED TO REVERSING STATE’S STEM TEACHER SHORTAGECardiacandVascularAwards from EastAlabamaMedicalCenteristheONLYhospital inAlabamatobeamongthetop5% ofhospitalsnationwideforcardiacsurgery! 2023Women'sChoiceAwardsBestHospitalsfor CancerCare,Orthopedics,andObstetrics Congratulationstoourstaff forearningtheseprestigiousawards! ServingOpelika,Auburn,Valleyandan11-countycoveragearea52 MEET THE COACHES: AUBURN STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COACH DOM STUDZINSKI Dom Studzinski knows firsthand the transformation that can take place in a weight room. As a ninth grader in Wisconsin, he weighed 130 pounds. After five years of training and eating like a football player, he weighed 255. An All-American linebacker for NAIA national champion Sioux Falls. “I love this sport,” said Studzinski, Auburn’s head strength & conditioning coach. “I enjoy working with this population of young men who are at a pivotal point in their life.” Studzinski’s role allows him to spend more time year-round with Auburn’s football student-athletes than even their posi- tion coaches. “I love being in the background,” he said. “Being in their lives for the most amount of time and really trying to affect them, physically and mentally, for the next five, 10, 15 years.” Studzinski came to the Plains from Liberty University. He and head coach Hugh Freeze go back more than a decade, having worked together at Ole Miss beginning in 2012. “Working for a coach who is not ashamed to talk about his faith, that’s a work environment I’m very blessed and excited to be in,” Studzinski said. When prospective student-athletes visit, Auburn’s strength and conditioning staff show them around the Creel Family De- velopment Lab, 25,000 square feet of training space within the newly dedicated Woltosz Football Performance Center. They discuss Auburn’s offseason program and show the high-tech training tools they use to maximize development. “I talk about the process,” said Studzinski, for whom physical training is only part of the success equation. “To help shape not just their body but their mind. When they come here on the visit, a lot of times guys are like, ‘Wow.’” Every Saturday in the Southeastern Conference, strength and conditioning levels help determine who wins and who los- es. “I love that word ‘opportunity,’” Studzinski said. “We are guaranteed absolutely nothing, but we are afforded a better opportunity with what we do day in and day out.” Customizing training programs based on position, Auburn’s S&C team combines research and process, a mix of old school toughness with state-of-the-art technology. “We make sure there’s a good blend between those,” he said. “We’re not just research based. We’re also practical. What is practical for our equipment and our athletes to create the best possible program for those guys.” In addition to Studzinski, assistant strength & conditioning coaches B.J. Hayes, Cam Josse, Kevin Kcehowski and Davasia Jones share responsibilities, collecting data on the practice field and in the weight room, and tracking a movement screen to help student-athletes perform at their highest level. Seeking to examine and learn from life’s failures as well as success, Studzinski passes along principles he’s learned along the way. “If we can learn the lessons in sport and not have to go through it in real life as much, I’d rather have them do that,” he said. Studzinski credits University of Sioux Falls exercise science professor Kelly Quick with steering him toward classes that prepared him for his profession. “She affected me greatly,” he said. “She asked me questions, tried to figure out my personality and my thought process. She set me on the path that got me into this field. Our academic people have a great platform to help our student-athletes.” While Dom Studzinkski enjoys developing student-athletes who aspire to professional football careers – and he’s mentored many in his 13 college football coaching seasons – his ‘why’ rep- resents a longer timeline and concerns life beyond the game. “Is he doing the best he can do and is he taking away some of those lessons during your time together?” Studzinski said. “That’s what I get excited about. That’s why I like doing this.” DOM STUDZINSKI BY JEFF SHEARER AUBURNTIGERS.COM MEET THE COACHES: AUBURN STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COACHDINE IN // DELIVERY // CURBSIDE // CATERING Opelika 2664 Enterprise Drive, Opelika, AL 36801 GO TIGERS!54 2023 STADIUM MAP 2023 STADIUM MAP AUBURNTIGERS.COM SOUTH CLUB BROADWAY CLUB NORTH CLUB 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 14 14 13 151617181920 383940414243 3744 44 45 46 46 36 37 35 35 21 21 22 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 100 99 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 AUBURN VISITOR 23 23 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 9 8U 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 20 21 BILL & CONNIE NEVILLE LOBBY 0 EXIT GATE STUDENT GATE STUDENT GATE EAST UPPER DECK ACCESS ONLY SOUTH SERVICE GATE FOOTBALL RECRUITING SOUTH DONAHUE DRIVE HEISMAN DRIVE HD VIDEOBOARD NEVILLE ARENA MIKE & JANE McCARTNEY BRICK PLAZA TICKET OFFICE SALES & PICK-UP GAMEDAY TRANSIT & FANFEST (NS PASS) NORTH STADIUM LOT VISITOR TICKET SALES HARBERT FAMILY RECRUITING CENTER AUBURN PLAYER GUEST EXIT GATEVISITING TEAM LOCKER ROOM SUITE TICKET PICK-UP STUDENT GATE SOUTH NORTH WEST EAST BROADWAY CLUB & MEDIA CREDENTIALS TIGER WALK CLUB ENTRANCE HIGH SCHOOL COACHES 11 10 TIGERWALK TICKET SALES TICKET SALES BROADWAY CLUB ONLY HRC ONLY ADA SHUTTLE PICKUP 1U VISITING PLAYER GUEST & VISITING FAN TICKET PICK-UP ADA SHUTTLE PICKUP NORTH SERVICE GATE OLYMPIC SPORT RECRUITING Entry GateElevator First Aid Tiger Babies LEGEND Charging Station Student Section Seating bowl closed to non-students Team Shop Medical Bag Entry Special Access Statues Guest Services ADA Shuttle56 2023 AUBURN PARKING MAP 2023 AUBURN PARKING MAP AUBURNTIGERS.COM2023 AUBURN PARKING MAP LEGEND 57 2023 AUBURN PARKING LEGEND AUBURNTIGERS.COM© 2022 Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc. 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