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

Christian Brodbeck is the director of engineering research operations. He’s also the faculty advisor for Auburn University’s Engineers Without Borders (EWB) student chapter. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Auburn in biosystems engineering and a master’s degree in civil engineering. He’s smart. He knows things. But if you want to stump him, ask him to pick a line of the Auburn Creed that best describes his role.

He’ll smile, then he’ll shrug. He can’t do it — not just because he embodies pretty much all of them, which he does. It’s because Brodbeck doesn’t like talking about himself. His actions, however, are as loud as they come.

“In 2017, when I realized that EWB’s mission was to build a better world through engineering projects that empower communities to meet their basic needs, I felt like it was an organization I wanted to fully embrace,” Brodbeck said.

Fully indeed. In six years, Brodbeck has helped Auburn engineering students design and install four water systems — three in Rwanda and one in Guatemala. He’s loved every second.

“It’s incredibly rewarding,” he said. “Getting to watch people crying tears of joy because they finally have access to clean water is so inspiring that it drives you to put in the extra effort and hours to ensure that we can continue to do this kind of work.”

Hard work. That’s the one.