It’s been a busy month for Missie Smith, assistant professor of industrial and systems engineering. First, she was named as one of Business Alabama’s Women in Tech for 2026. Then, she was awarded an NSF CAREER Award for her work in augmented reality. Now, she’s the next guest on the #GINNing Podcast. Just imagine how far her career is going after this…

Looking to further your engineering education or acquire new skills through professional development? Alicia Harkless has you covered. The director of Auburn Engineering’s Office of Online and Continuing Education loves learning, both on campus and online. She holds two bachelor’s degrees, two master’s degrees and a Ph.D. And because of her, you too can add a degree to your portfolio from the comfort of your office or home.

When you were a student, did you make the dean’s list every semester? Didn’t think so. But you know who did? India Warren did. In addition, this week’s guest has accomplished a lot in the past month. She was named as the Outstanding Civil and Environmental Engineering Student of the Year, graduated summa cum laude and has begun graduate school. And that was just in her spare time.

Last week, we heard from Roland Walker of the famed Walkers of Orange Beach. This week, hear the other side of the story, as brother Bill sets the record straight on what Roland got wrong. Bill’s blood runs Auburn colors, from Orange Beach to the Navy. This commander was forged by the sea, and now he’s full speed ahead.

This is a tale of two brothers — Roland and Bill Walker — and this is the legacy of the Walker family of Orange Beach who traveled from the charter industry at the Gulf Coast to the orange and blue of the Plains. And now, they’re giving back in both places. 

First up: brother Roland. This fisherman turned electrical engineer brought many good things to life for GE, and now he’s doing the same for future Auburn engineers. 

So, pick up your rod and reels, bait your hook and get ready: this is the Sea Rebel.  

Move over Dmitri Mendeleev and make room for Konstantin Klyukin, an assistant professor or materials and mechanical engineering. While the new Russian research machine may be in search of the holy grail of catalysis, it’s gonna have to wait 20 minutes for this next podcast. 

SpaceX loves Auburn Engineering graduates. SpaceX needs more Auburn Engineering graduates. Enter Nick Raciti. The honors mechanical engineering graduate will take his diploma and head to the West Coast upon graduation as the second #GINNing guest in a row to work with the space giant.

While it may be appropriate for Matt Cobb to drive or fly across the stage this weekend, the senior in mechanical engineering will walk to get his diploma in Auburn Arena before shooting off to Texas.

Following commencement ceremonies, Cobb will finish what he started with the Auburn Formula SAE team as it travels to the national competition before he blasts off to his new position with SpaceX.

Jeremy Henderson, a communications and marketing specialist in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering who served as the cohost of this #GINNing podcast, was born March 19, 1979. He left us too soon on April 17, 2026. 

No, Jeremy’s not dead, but he’s dead to us as he’s moving on to become the new senior manager for editorial and media relations for Auburn University’s Office of Communications and Marketing. Today, we’ll have one last chat with the velvet voice from Vestavia and look back on the man who helped build the best podcast in all of higher education. Buckle up… this is the Jeremy Henderson Experience. 

By the time you finish listening to the latest episode of the best podcast in higher education, it's entirely possible that 2026 Barry Goldwater Scholar, 2025 Astronaut Scholar, Universities Space Research Association Distinguished Undergraduate and 2025 and 2026 NASA Space Grant Scholar Eirik Mulder may have won another award.

Listen to the #GINNing Gang's interview with the Auburn senior boasting a 4.0 GPA in computer science and software engineering and aerospace engineering now and find out.

Sure, these intros have known to feature a pun or two. But Diane Pham may deserve a little more. All in the Pham? Auburn Phamily? Those are cute and all, but do they do justice to  the scope of her potential? From robots to writing, this NASA-minded ISE senior will be delighting — on the job, on the podcast, wherever. So, buckle up and get your ears on for the latest episode of #GINNing because PHAM! We're kickin' it up a notch.