Meet the CVM’s ‘Mr. Fix-It’
Affectionately called “Mr. Vern,” Vernon Beitzel came to Auburn to retire after spending more than 40 years in higher education. Now serving as the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine’s accommodation specialist, he spends even more of his time helping students.
Originally from Pennsylvania, Beitzel attended the Virginia Military Institute before starting his career there in admissions work. After nearly a decade, he relocated to Mobile, Ala. It was there that he connected with his wife, an Auburn native.
“She grew up in Auburn, and her father was a longtime professor … and her mother ran the War Eagle Cafeteria here,” he said. “And brother, sister, cousins, nieces, everybody went to Auburn.”
Shortly after exchanging their vows, they moved back to Virginia where Beitzel worked for Radford University before becoming the director of admissions back at VMI. In 2021, after 27 years in his position, he decided it was time to retire and together they moved back to her home of Auburn.
Because Beitzel likes to stay busy, he knew that filling his days in retirement with pickleball and rounds of golf wouldn’t be enough. Given his background in higher education, he applied for a position with Auburn’s Temporary Employment Services. And if one part time gig wasn’t enough, he also serves as a marshal with Pines Crossing Golf Course.
As the CVM’s accommodation specialist, Beitzel says that he has gained firsthand appreciation for the program and its students.
“They are put through a very rigorous program,” he said. “It’s very well respected, and it did confirm something that I felt all the way along. It’s a real student-centered environment, much more so, I think, than a lot of colleges and universities, no matter what size they are.
“I’ve certainly gained an appreciation for the quality of the program, and it reaffirmed my belief that Auburn does really believe in the Auburn Creed and lives it.”
While a normal day may be filled with tests in the mornings and golf in the afternoons, the summers look different. To avoid boredom when classes aren’t in session, he has picked up another affectionate name — Mr. Fix-It.
“I’ve done some other odd jobs for college,” he said, counting curriculum evaluation, testing electrical outlets, and fixing chairs among them. “I told [Associate Dean for Academic Affairs] Dr. [Melinda] Camus I wanted to know if they had some jobs that I could help with, make a contribution and stay busy. I’m happy to do it.
“My job has evolved. I was hired into things more related to the college exclusive of accommodations. They asked me to serve a couple years ago on the admissions committee, so for two years, I’ve been on the admissions committee.”
The expansion of his role has allowed Beitzel the opportunity to further connect with students outside of accommodations. While reviewing a group of applicants, he noticed a familiar name on a few letters of recommendation, a former student.
“I read that, and I said, ‘Well, this is great. Here she was, and now she’s out there as a professional, writing letters of recommendation for others,’” he said. “And that sort of struck me. I sent her an email and told her how excited I was to get that from her. That was special, seeing some of the kids you’ve worked with go on to success in different areas.”
Since becoming an Auburn resident, he said that his favorite traditions are the eagle circling the stadium and rolling Toomer’s Corner. But his favorite thing about Auburn is the collegiality found among students.
“I really, have been impressed with the way students provide support, and it’s not cutthroat,” Beitzel said. “They’re not in competition with one another. They want to succeed, but they want their neighbors to succeed as well.”