Adam Maggard
A new associate dean of academic affairs will begin serving the Auburn University College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment (CFWE) in 2026. Adam Maggard, the current CFWE Harry E. Murphy Endowed Associate Professor and Alabama Extension specialist, was selected by the college.
Maggard will lead the CFWE’s coordination and management of academic activities, curricula, programs and policy moving forward as associate dean. In this role, he will aim to continue and build upon the advancements of the college’s robust degree programs and offerings as well as developing new opportunities for students to enhance their academic development and growth.
“Throughout his tenure with the CFWE, Dr. Maggard has built a distinguished record of teaching excellence, program leadership and student engagement that reflects the high standards of this position,” said Janaki Alavalapati, the Emmett F. Thompson Dean of the CFWE. “We are confident he will offer forward-thinking leadership and strong support for our faculty, staff and students as he works to enhance the college’s academic programs and elevate the overall educational experience.”
A faculty member at Auburn since 2017, Maggard’s areas of expertise include forest business, finance and investment as well as timber markets, forest management and forest landowner outreach. He has taught several courses at the CFWE including those in forest management and administration, forest business and investment, forest economics and forest valuation. Maggard co-developed and oversees Auburn’s online Forest Business and Investment Master of Science degree and the Forest Finance and Investment Graduate Certificate program.
In another unique role, Maggard co-leads the CFWE’s Forest, Environment and Wildlife Leadership (FEWL) Academy. Through curricula and engagement with state and national leaders, this program prepares students with leadership abilities necessary for the critical problem-solving of issues related to the management, utilization and stewardship of natural resources. Since the academy’s inception, Maggard and Alavalapati have graduated 82 distinguished students from the program, adding to their academic portfolios and invaluable experiences that shape their future careers.
As an Extension specialist, Maggard has coordinated approximately 150 community-based outreach events, refereed 12 journal articles and 26 Extension publications and composed 22 feature articles as well as 13 timely information briefs. He is also credited with being lead organizer for two Auburn-hosted, international cross-laminated timber (CLT) conferences (2022, 2024).
Among Maggard’s accolades are 15 Extension awards across the university, state, regional and national levels including the CFWE Harry Murphy Extension and Outreach Award (2020, 2025) and the Alabama Farmers Federation Duncan Award for Excellence in Production Agriculture and Forestry Extension (2022).
On the state level, Maggard was honored at the Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards as the Conservation Communicator of the Year by the Alabama Wildlife Federation in 2024. Nationally, Maggard was recognized by the Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals three times in the last five years for his outreach accomplishments as well as the Forest Landowners Association and Forest Landowner Foundation as Extension Forester of the Year in 2023.
“My aspirations for this role are grounded in Auburn’s strategic plan and the CFWE’s mission to advance education, research, outreach and service in support of sustainable natural resources and resilient communities,” Maggard said. “Auburn’s focus on elevating the student experience, strengthening academic quality, supporting faculty excellence and expanding partnerships provides the framework for my approach to academic leadership. I will work to ensure that our college’s academic programs are aligned with Auburn’s institutional goals, that our students receive a transformative educational experience and that our faculty and staff are supported in ways that enable them to thrive.”
As associate dean, Maggard is poised to further elevate the CFWE’s academic excellence, stewarding the continued success and future promise of its students. He will succeed Todd Steury, CFWE professor of wildlife biology, effective Jan. 1.
“Through collaborative leadership, thoughtful planning and a devoted commitment to student and faculty success, I aim to help position the CFWE for a future defined by innovation, growth and academic distinction,” Maggard said. “The CFWE stands at a pivotal moment of opportunity, and I am committed to guiding the college forward with a strategic, student-centered and mission-driven approach to academic leadership.”
Learn more about Maggard on the CFWE website.
