Auburn’s TIGER Tech Leaders earns national HR Innovation Award for AI workforce development Auburn program earns national HR Innovation Award
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Auburn’s TIGER Tech Leaders earns national HR Innovation Award for AI workforce development Auburn program earns national HR Innovation Award
August 19, 2026
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Auburn University’s TIGER Tech Leaders program has earned a 2026 HR Innovation Award from the College and University Professional Association for Human Re, recognizing Auburn’s approach to helping employees adopt and apply artificial intelligence in the workplace
The award honors forward-thinking human reor other institutions. As part of the recognition, CUPA-HR will contribute $5,000 to Auburn University
As artificial intelligence continues to reshape how people work, Auburn has taken a proactive approach to helping employees build confidence and competence with emerging technologies. TIGER Tech Leaders, short for Technology, Innovation, Growth, Efficiency and Results, was created to move AI adoption from isolated experimentation to a coordinated, campus-wide effort rooted in learning, collaboration and practical application.
The program is jointly led by Human Reng and Learning (Biggio Center) and the Office of Information Technology. Participants complete AI literacy training and engage in biweekly virtual meetings focused on real-world applications, peer learning and problem-solving
What began as a Microsoft Copilot pilot involving approximately 100 employees has expanded into a university-wide community of more than 870 participants. According to program surveys, 98% of participants report feeling empowered to support Auburn’s strategic goals through their use of AI in the workplace. The initiative has also drawn national attention, including Auburn’s recognition by Microsoft as a Center of Excellence for AI adoption.
The CUPA-HR award highlights Auburn’s approach as a model for integrating emerging technologies into workforce development across higher education.
Moriah Kent, instructional designer for Human Res helped guide the initiative since its earliest stages and now leads its day-to-day operations
“I’m honored to be able to call our TIGER Tech Leaders award-winning, and I’m proud of the community we’ve built that keeps our Auburn Family coming back week after week to invest in themselves and our institution through continuous learning and sharing how AI is impacting their work,” Kent said. “I’m excited to continue growing this community and to support our TIGER Tech Leaders commitment to excellence and innovation.”
The program’s growth is one measure of its success, but leaders point to its culture of shared learning as its greatest achievement.
“What makes TIGER Tech Leaders so impactful is the culture that has grown around it, one built on curiosity, courage and shared learning,” said Jill Albin-Hill, deputy CIO and executive director of Technology Operations. “Moriah Kent has been instrumental in shaping that culture, guiding colleagues with clarity and encouragement while fostering a community that is unafraid to try, learn and lead. This award is a testament to her leadership and to the many Auburn colleagues who contribute to this work every day.”
The recognition also highlights the collaborative approach behind TIGER Tech Leaders, bringing together expertise from across Auburn to create opportunities for employees to learn, experiment and apply emerging technologies in meaningful ways.
“This recognition reflects what becomes possible when an institution commits to meeting people where they are,” said Asim Ali, executive director of the Biggio Center. “TIGER Tech Leaders demonstrates the power of building around community and continuous learning. The impact extends well beyond any single tool or technology, creating a model that can help shape the future of higher education.”
Building on the program’s success, TIGER Tech Leaders are invited to help identify new opportunities for AI innovation across campus. Employees who are members of TIGER Tech Leaders are encouraged to submit proposals for workflows, processes or recurring tasks that could benefit from an AI agent, a tool designed to assist with a defined process or series of tasks.
Auburn employees interested in participating in this opportunity who are not yet TIGER Tech Leaders can complete the introductory training at aub.ie/it500e and follow the instructions provided in the ElevatED completion email to become part of the program.
Selected proposals will receive technical and design support from the Biggio Center in exploring and developing an agent tailored to the identified workflow, giving employees an opportunity to turn everyday workplace challenges into practical AI solutions while helping Auburn continue to learn what effective, responsible AI adoption can look like at scale.
TIGER Tech Leaders members are invited to answer the question: If you could create an AI agent to help with one process or workflow in your work, what would it do? To submit a proposal, visit aub.ie/ttlgrant.
