After teaching ninth-grade history for three years, Joseph Kicklighter said Auburn saved him.
He said becoming a history professor at Auburn proved he had "finally made it" to where he wanted to be in his career, physically and figuratively.
Kicklighter grew up in Hawkinsville, Ga., and said it was a "blessing when Auburn called" because the University was only a few hours away from home.
Kicklighter said the fun in teaching college comes from the intellectual challenges posed by students.
"They're free and learning to express themselves," Kicklighter said. "I can just enjoy being around people like that, regardless of age."
Lacy Knight, senior in history, said Kicklighter's style of teaching keeps him popular among students.
"The best thing about him is that he knows his students personally," Knight said. "He'll ask questions based on what he knows the students are interested in."
Knight added Kicklighter's combination of history and comedy has helped her succeed in four of his classes.
"We laugh in class," Knight said. "He makes sly remarks and picks out the interesting things from history for his lectures."
Knight said students should be sure to keep up with the assigned readings to avoid becoming the target of those jokes.
Kicklighter is also known for remembering students' names, a skill that poses problems for students who hope to blend in.
"Be talkative in class," Knight said. "He will not hesitate to call you out if you're not on the ball."
Kicklighter said these things are just part of his mission to mold well-rounded students who know a little bit about a whole lot of history.
"People get frightened and think they're going to have to learn every little thing," Kicklighter said. "That's not my goal."
One thing Kicklighter said he wishes he could drill students on is the importance of pedestrian safety.
"I walk to work every day," Kicklighter said. "Sometimes all I can think about is how I hope people pay attention and realize they are supposed to stop, not just yield."
When he's not traversing campus, Kicklighter can be found tuned in to a classic movie or caught up in British fiction.
"I think it's important to just read whenever you can," Kicklighter said. "Believe it or not, I learned the German spelling of my name from a Berlin phone book."
Kicklighter said he has enjoyed seeing Auburn grow even though he has had to say goodbye to hundreds of students.
"The crazy drivers are one thing," Kicklighter said. "But with great people in such a great place like Auburn, I have very little to complain about."
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