Former student services coordinator promoted to director

The Auburn University Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) has promoted Branden Farmer to director of student program assessment and administration following the retirement of LuAnn Carpenter.

Farmer most recently served as student services coordinator for the department, where he played a key role in student advising, study abroad programming and course planning. In his new position, Farmer will serve as graduate program officer for all of ISE’s master’s programs, oversee ABET accreditation efforts, supervise student services initiatives and staff, co-direct the department’s study abroad experiences and take on additional teaching responsibilities.

Greg Harris, chair of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, said Farmer’s promotion reflects his leadership and commitment to student success.

“He understands the needs of our students and programs, and we’re confident he will excel in this expanded role,” Harris said.

Farmer said he is excited about building the department’s student services team.

“Previously, we operated very independently, and this role gives us an opportunity to increase the standard of how we serve students,” he said. “I’m grateful to have the chance in my career to supervise a team and build something meaningful together.”

Farmer added that he is especially energized by the opportunity to reimagine student services within the department and create systems that allow staff to pursue innovative ideas.

“In higher education, we’re often focused on what we don’t have time to do,” he said. “I want to build a system that allows us to do those fun, impactful things, whether that’s improving a process, creating a new event, developing outreach opportunities or strengthening connections with industry partners.”

The addition of two new student services coordinators will further support these efforts.

“We’re getting an opportunity to reevaluate how student services functions in the department,” Farmer said. “We’re building a strong team that will work well together, and I’m excited about the impact we can make.”

Farmer earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of West Florida in 2010 and a master’s degree in education administration from Texas A&M University in 2012. He later earned a master’s degree in higher education administration from Auburn University in 2022 and a master’s degree in industrial and systems engineering from Auburn in 2023. He is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in industrial and systems engineering.

Having completed his industrial and systems engineering master’s degree while working full-time in the department, Farmer said he is uniquely positioned to support graduate students, many of whom are working professionals.

“I connect with our graduate students because I’ve been in their shoes,” he said. “For most undergraduate students, earning their degree is their top priority. For our online master’s students, their careers, families and educations are all happening at once. That requires a different level of service and a different kind of relationship.”

Farmer will also assist with recruiting students through the department’s company cohort partnerships and is interested in expanding the networking and professional development opportunities available through those relationships.

“I’ve always wanted to be a director of student services because those are the roles that can really create change,” Farmer said. “I’m excited to find new ways to make the student experience better for both our undergraduate and graduate students.”