Keith Hagler's office is right down the hall from the dean's, on the first floor of Ramsay Hall. That's nice, he admits. He shares it with 30 people. That's even better, he adds.
Together they form the Cupola Society, a student organization that was formed little more than a year ago to help the dean in his public relations efforts.
"It was our idea," Hagler, who is president of the group, relates. "And he accepted our proposal. So far it has worked out well to the benefit of everybody involved."
Those whom it's worked out well for include not just the dean and the society's members, of course, but the people they serve - incoming students, alumni, parents, and visitors such as faculty speakers.
"When we drew up our charter, our goal was to form an organization whose members could act as the college's student representatives," Hagler explains. "We conduct tours for visitors, work in alumni relations, and are beginning to travel to high schools to bring Auburn Engineering's message to the state."
In fact, members of the Cupola Society will be deeply involved in the rededication ceremonies scheduled for Wilmore Hall on Oct. 11, in the same way that their presence has been felt at functions such as E-Day, which annually brings more than 2,000 students to the Auburn campus.
"Of course, we also work with incoming students and visiting alumni on a one-to-one basis," Hagler adds. "We give tours of the engineering facilities to them, keyed to their own interests. We hope it gives them a much better feeling for the campus than a random look and a trip to the store for a tee shirt would."
The group also updates the membership of the Auburn Alumni Engineering Council in meetings the group holds twice yearly on campus.
"We're able to give them a student's perspective on some of the things that are going on around campus," he notes. "We also write members throughout the year."
Anyone can request a tour - or simply some time to ask the kinds of questions only students can answer - by dropping into the group's office in Ramsay. Tours and visits can also be arranged through advance notice by contacting the Office of Student Affairs, 104 Ramsay Hall, Auburn University, AL 36849, or by phone at (334) 844-4310.
Hagler's own experience - good and bad - led him to the Cupola Society.
A senior in computer engineering, he came to Auburn despite a better scholarship offer at another in-state institution, and a better recruiting effort by yet another.
"The scholarship thing took care of itself in a way," he relates. "But only because of the efforts of Homer Carlisle of the computer sci-ence and engineering faculty. I have to thank him today for his help in obtaining a Phi Kappa Phi award."
"But I was annoyed that while Auburn only sent a letter to my high school, the University of Alabama was really on the ball in its recruiting efforts - they sent someone to our school, and did a good follow-up job."
Which, he adds, was one of the main reasons he joined the Cupola Society.
"There's no reason we can't do that as well or better, and I want to be part of the effort that makes it happen. Cupola can be involved in this as no other student organization can."
He came to Auburn, Hagler points out, because of the wider range of engineering programs available.
"I also have to say that it was the people - Auburn people - who kept me here from the moment I came," he adds. "Of course, everyone says that. It's not a secret."
But he again points to the contributions that the Cupola Society can make to students fresh out of high school.
"I knew I wanted to be an engineer, but I fished around for a while when I got here. If I would have had the chance to talk to upperclassmen in the kind of atmosphere that Cupola provides, I feel I would have made an informed choice earlier."
Hagler's own direction following graduation will be to work in the field for "two to six years," after which he plans to look at graduate study.
"I think I'll be in a better place then in terms of deciding whether to pursue further study in computer science, another engineering discipline, or the MBA."
Auburn would definitely figure into his plans, he says.
"I grew up in Skipperville, which means I grew up in the country. There were 33 members in my graduating class, and for the most part we were told that going to a junior college first would be more comfortable.
"But I knew what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go. Auburn.
And I hope to be back."