Auburn HFES earns Gold Student Chapter Award
Published: Dec 11, 2023 4:05 PM
By Victoria Martino
The Auburn University chapter of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) recently received its first award from the HFES Awards. The Gold Student Chapter Award was presented to the student organization during the 67th HFES International Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.
The student chapter awards recognize chapters for their contributions and achievements across several categories, emphasizing demonstrated excellence in a specified number of areas. There are three levels of recognition: Gold, Silver and Bronze. Gold requires activity in at least eight categories with excellence in at least five categories and at least 50% of the student members being HFES student affiliate members. Auburn’s student chapter is advised by Yadrianna Acosta-Sojo, assistant professor of industrial and systems engineering.
Victoria Ballard, Auburn HFES chapter president, said gaining recognition has been in the works for years.
“The journey began two years ago with Nathan Pool as student chapter president and the executive board’s pioneering vision,” Ballard said. “Their dedication laid the groundwork, notably by enhancing student engagement within our Occupational Safety, Ergonomics and Injury Prevention Center — a NIOSH-funded Educational Research Center.”
Being honored on a national platform is an honor and motivator for the chapter.
“It reaffirms our commitment to inducing positive change in our community by leveraging the principles of human factors and ergonomics,” Ballard said. “We're enthusiastic about sustaining this momentum and are eager to see how this recognition will amplify our chapter's impact.”
Media Contact: , carla@auburn.edu, 334-844-1404
Pictured left to right on top row: Suhas Sudhir Bharadwaj, Nathan Pool, Bob Sesek. Pictured on bottom row: Savannah Maples, Chapter President Victoria Ballard, Chapter Advisor Yadrianna Acosta-Sojo, and Kristian Shumaker.
