I believe that this a practical world and that I can count only on what I earn. Therefore, I believe in work, hard work.

On the first day of Tammy Walker’s first job when she was 16 years old, something happened that sticks with her to this day.

“I walked in and the manager looked at me and said, ‘You’ve got one hand? You can’t have this job. You have to leave.’ I was stunned,” said Walker, who was born without the bottom half of her right arm from her elbow.

“I had never had someone tell me that I couldn’t do a job because of my arm,” she added.

Walker, who serves as the college’s human resources senior manager, spends her time ensuring that same experience never happens to employees at Auburn University.

“My father never treated me any differently. If there was something I wanted to do, he never asked how I was going to do it, he just told me to go do it,” Walker said.

“I think that’s why I’ve been successful because I see everyone equally and fairly. I want to be treated equally and fairly. Everyone should be given a chance to perform without judging prematurely,” she added.

It’s that mindset that has allowed Walker to help the College of Engineering build a deep talent pool of faculty and staff, and create a culture where everyone feels welcomed, valued, respected and engaged.

“I love the College of Engineering. I love working with managers to strategically plan their needs, strengthen their department, develop their talent and make a positive difference in employees’ lives,” Walker said. “HR is a resource to the college and that’s my job, to be a resource and contribute a value to each and every unit.”