During a recent visit, Auburn and CFWE leadership, Dixon Foundation members, and Dixon Center staff gather for a photo outside the center’s Solon and Martha Dixon Foundation Learning Center in Andalusia, Alabama.
The Auburn University College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment (CFWE) has received a substantial commitment from the Solon and Martha Dixon Foundation to support the construction of a new dormitory at the Solon Dixon Forestry Education Center, a beacon of experiential learning and stewardship in the fields of forestry, wildlife and environmental education in the Southeast.
The gift represents another significant philanthropic investment by the foundation, which has supported the center since its inception.
Located in Andalusia, Alabama, the Solon Dixon Forestry Education Center, or Dixon Center, is a 5,400-acre residential field station that hosts the CFWE’s immersive forestry and wildlife summer practicum, in addition to several other research and training programs facilitated by state and federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations and universities.
A VISION BROUGHT TO LIFE
Following the sale of the Dixon family’s timber-related entities, consisting of sawmills, a plywood mill, timber, resin, farms and land in the region in 1981, Solon and Martha, with land owned, acquired and swapped, gifted the acreage to Auburn University to establish the center.
At that time, Solon and Martha also formed the Solon and Martha Dixon Foundation with the primary purpose to support and promote educational research, knowledge and practices for the cultivation, management and growth of forests and conservation of natural resources. In addition, the foundation supports charitable entities within the Covington County area.
Through the foundation, the couple brought Solon Dixon’s vision to life with the establishment of the Dixon Center. As the largest gift to Auburn University at the time, Solon created the center as a place “where young people could experience nature while learning about forestry, wildlife and other aspects of natural resources management.”
Bordering the Conecuh River and Conecuh National Forest in Covington and Escambia counties near Andalusia, the Dixon Center’s diverse ecosystems function as a living laboratory for hands-on, experiential learning for students, practitioners and landowners to learn best practices from leaders in their profession.
Providing students with immersive experiences that allow them to apply classroom theory directly in the field is central to the Dixon Center’s educational mission.
A PHILANTHROPIC LEGACY
Since it was created, the continued engagement and support of the Solon and Martha Dixon Foundation has fueled the expansion of the Dixon Center to become one of the finest educational facilities of its type in the nation.
“Through the Solon and Martha Dixon Foundation, the visions and gifts continue to support, promote and improve the Solon Dixon Forestry Education Center,” said Philip Jones, the foundation’s current president. “As directors and stewards of the foundation’s resources, we are honored and proud to carry on Mr. Solon’s and Miss Martha’s legacy.”
Today, the property includes the 6,500 square-foot Solon and Martha Dixon Foundation Learning Center, which houses a state-of-the-art auditorium, classroom, conference room, the Martha Dixon Administrative Building and the Charles Dixon Auditorium. There are also two large dormitories, five semi-private dormitory buildings, a recreation center, a classroom, a computer lab building, a maintenance shop and a cafeteria. The original Dixon family home is also on the property, preserved as a historic landmark and museum.
Completed in 1979, the stick-built board and batten-style dormitory buildings were two of the Dixon Center’s earliest construction projects. Both buildings have undergone extensive maintenance and upgrades due to South Alabama’s tropical climate. However, the aging infrastructure of the dorms still poses significant and ongoing challenges.
“Despite the efforts of dedicated staff, the structures now face critical issues such as rot within the exterior walls, crumbling interior sheet rock and historic water damage,” said Joel Martin, the center’s director. “These challenges not only compromise the safety and comfort of occupants but also hinder the center’s capacity to continue its critical mission to host educational programs, such as the CFWE’s summer practicum.”
Replacing the two dorms with one updated structure will ensure the facility’s continued operation and enhance the user experience for the thousands who visit the Dixon Center each year.
“By addressing the structural deficiencies and modernizing the facilities, we aim to create a welcoming and efficient environment conducive to learning and collaboration,” said Martin.
While visiting the Solon Dixon Forestry Education Center, Joel Martin, director of the Dixon Center, discusses the proposed dormitory construction project with members of the Solon and Martha Dixon Foundation and Auburn’s senior leadership, including President Christopher B. Roberts.
USHERING IN A NEW ERA OF LEARNING EXCELLENCE
With the support of the Solon and Martha Dixon Foundation, the estimated five-million-dollar dormitory project will feature an updated floor plan that will offer modern amenities, enhanced privacy and security and suite-style shared bathrooms.
“The directors are excited to see the construction of the new dormitory which will be a continuing contribution to the enhancement of Mr. Solon’s and Miss Martha’s visions for the center,” said Jones.
This steadfast support has profoundly impacted and catalyzed the growth and success of the Solon Dixon Forestry Education Center.
“The foundation’s investments have enabled the center to evolve as a vital hub for education, research and conservation efforts that directly benefit the college, as well as a range of stakeholders within the state and nation,” said Janaki Alavalapati, the Emmett F. Thompson Dean of the CFWE.
Offering high-quality experiential learning opportunities is essential to the CFWE’s educational platform. Investments in facilities like the dorm project guarantee that future generations will receive the hands-on field training crucial for their natural resource-focused careers.
The CFWE will plan to submit the final project for the Auburn University Board of Trustees’ approval in November.
To learn more about the Dixon Center dorm project or other philanthropic opportunities, contact Heather Crozier, CFWE director of development, at 334-844-2791 or vannhea@auburn.edu.
(Written by Jamie Anderson)
