As a student living on the Hill in the late 1960s, Susie Gogue never imagined that years later she would end up living across the street in the President's Mansion.
"I'm not sure what our plans were at that point, but I know that this wasn't a part of it," Gogue said.
Gogue said she likes Auburn more now than the era when she and her husband, President Jay Gogue, were students.
The Gogue's Auburn was one without many franchise restaurants, no mall, no Tiger Town.
"There was almost nothing here when you think about it, really," Gogue said. "There was Toomer's Corner, a few shops right there, but that was it."
She said they would occasionally go to Opelika to eat at a family diner.
"I think it's much more exciting now," she said. "I think the campus is beautiful. It was lovely then, but now I think it's even more so."
During the years that the Gogue's didn't live in the city, Auburn grew and developed, but they returned to a place that was still familiar.
"It is still the warm, intimate feeling, but it has grown to a size that you can enjoy so many more things."
In September 1968, before their senior year, the couple married.
These days, Gogue's main responsibility is supporting the president with fundraising and working with elected officials.
The couple host 78 to 80 events a year at their home on Mell Street for the University and for the community.
Gogue does philanthropic work with the Women's Philanthropy Board through the College of Human Sciences, the AU Campus Club and the Auburn Women's Club.
All three philanthropies primarily raise money for scholarships, Gogue said.
As far as living in the historic mansion, Gogue describes it as "very busy."
She said the majority of the house is dedicated to entertaining guests and hosting events, and there isn't too much space or time devoted to lounging.
She said the biggest challenge about being the president's wife is deciding where and in what to invest time.
"There are so many wonderful causes, and now that we have the garden pavilion to do our entertaining, we get more requests than we can possibly do\0xAD--there aren't enough days in the year," Gogue said.
The garden pavilion, adjacent to the historic home, was completed in September 2009 as a multipurpose event facility.
Events at the home are limited to 200 guests, so that they have the opportunity to meet, greet and talk to everybody and make sure they have a warm experience.
"Mrs. Gogue is very open-minded to ideas," said Jan Thompson, director of special events. "She gives useful feedback on all areas of planning events. She is an open line of communication, which is great. She is very positive and direct."
Gogue works closely with the Office of Special Events to decide almost every detail of an event, from the guest list to the landscaping to the menu selection.
In addition to the help of the Office of Special Events, the official ambassadors of the University also help the Gogue's.
"The War Eagle Girls and Plainsmen are wonderful," Gogue said. "They help us all the time as hosts and hostesses here at the home."
During events at the home, the War Eagle Girls and Plainsmen often help guide guests through the house or with valet parking.
"I have seen that Mrs. Gogue is more involved and at more events than people would realize," said Ashlyn Seeley, senior in biomedical sciences and War Eagle Girl.
Seeley said last week she attended four different events for War Eagle Girls and Plainsmen. Gogue was at every one of those events.
"She holds herself with all the class and poise that is the epitome of a Southern woman," Seeley said.
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