Robert Agne did not aspire to become a college professor, nor was communication his first area of study.
"I originally wanted to major in theatre," said Agne, professor of communication, "but I did not think I could find a steady job if I pursued that."
Instead, Agne earned his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering at the University of Dayton, even though he didn't necessarily want to pursue a career as an engineer.
"There were too many people telling me how good I was at math and science and said that I should become an engineer," Agne said. "They were all people who I trusted, so I did it."
When he graduated, Agne told himself he would work as an engineer for three years and then go back to school to study what he was passionate about.
"After college I got a job and began working for the Department of Defense as a manufacturing auditor, and that three years turned into about seven," he said.
While he said the money he made as an engineer was great, the job was not fulfilling.
"I didn't have a passion for it, and I was not happy," he said.
Agne said he discovered his real passion was in the field of communication.
"I would be in meetings talking about things that I didn't care about, but I would observe how people talked to each other," he said. "I watched to see how relationships worked and how people interacted with others."
When he left his job at the Department of Defense, Agne returned to the University of Dayton to earn his master's degree in communication.
"For the first time in my life I found myself running to the library," Agne said. "I was determined to work hard at it because it was something that I enjoyed."
When he finished his master's, he went to the University of Colorado at Boulder to pursue his doctorate.
"I didn't get my Ph.D. because I wanted to become a teacher," Agne said. "Being a teacher is just a bonus. I got it because I really am passionate about communication."
He was a visiting professor at the University of Missouri for a year and then came to teach at Auburn in 2004.
Agne said he enjoys the atmosphere of a college campus.
"I like conversing with my students on campus and in the office," Agne said. "I also like teaching and researching."
Taylor Sims, junior in information systems management, had Agne as a professor and said he was pleased with his availability to students.
"He is a very fair teacher," Sims said. "He will be there to help you whenever you need it."
Agne said he values the conversations he has with his students, and since he is a professor of communication, those conversations are educational.
"My favorite part about teaching is talking about classroom material outside the classroom with my students," Agne said. "It is cool to see the things we have discussed in class become real examples to them."
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