William Ainsworth, a business executive and father of Alabama’s lieutenant governor, was named to the Auburn University Board of Trustees Wednesday.

The recommendation, following interviews with six candidates Wednesday morning, will be forwarded to the Senate for confirmation.

The candidates for District 5 on the board were interviewed by Gov. Kay Ivey; Wayne Smith, trustee at large; James Pratt, District 9 trustee; LuAnn Hart, president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors and Regenia Sanders, previous president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors.

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District 5 includes Chambers, Cherokee, Celburne, DeKalb, Etowah, Marshall, Randolph and Tallapoosa counties.

Candidates shared different priorities. Many talked about academic standards, and some said they could not have been admitted to Auburn if they applied today. Others praised the community or discussed the need for innovation or greater racial diversity.

Ainsworth emphasized his experience as a business executive to the panel and said Auburn’s culture was its greatest strength. Ainsworth also said that he’s concerned that Auburn will move away from its “creed.”

“In today’s world, while we got to change and be relevant to what’s going on, we need to stay true to our core principles,” Ainsworth said.

He told the board that he didn’t think that he would have been admitted into Auburn if he applied today. Other candidates also said they might struggle to get into the university.

“I do think there’s a challenge to make sure that we serve some of the students in Alabama who may not have the 29 on the ACT or have the 4.15 or the 4.0,” said board candidate Bob Broadway, the CEO and founder of the Huntsville-based development firm The Broadway Group.

The middle 50% of students admitted to Auburn in 2021 had grade point averages of 3.8 to 4.3, according to the university. Alabama residents in that percentile had ACT scores ranging from 23 to 30.

Broadway also said that he likes “bold hires,” referencing the hiring of Hugh Freeze among others in a list. Freeze, who has coached football since 1992, has a history of problematic behavior, including alleged calls to an escort service using a university phone and alleged inappropriate behavior with high school students. Freeze has denied inappropriate behavior with students and said the phone calls were misdials.

Board candidate Nick Davis, the president of the company that franchises Momma Goldberg’s Delis, praised the Auburn culture but said the school is lacking in racial diversity. Auburn’s most recent admitted class was around 84% white. Like other candidates Davis suggested that higher academic requirements might mean that he would not be admitted today.

He said that these high scores might be preventing legacy students from gaining admittance into the university. Auburn’s website says alumnae relations are “not considered” in admittance.

Board candidate Mike Moody, a consultant and the former CEO of Dynetics, Inc., a defense and aerospace contractor, had concerns about the future affordability of the university, referencing rising costs of tuition across the country. Auburn’s in-state tuition and fees are $6,628 per semester, according to the university. Tuition for out-of-state students is $16,972.

“I think our biggest challenge is to figure out how to make it affordable for so many and, then, while not losing that student experience,” he said.

Board candidate Paul Pinyan, the executive director of the Alabama Farmers Federation, said that the school should try to attract more first-generation students, and be innovative in technology.

“So, Auburn’s got to step up,” he said. “That’s the land grant mission.”

John McCartney, former co-owner of McCartney Construction Company and chair of Ivey’s Alabama’s Workforce Council, told the board that Auburn’s people are its greatest asset. Like other candidates, Davis said he would have a hard time being admitted to Auburn today, due to academics.

“I would just like to continue the improvement process and keep our reputation intact, if not better,” he said.

Trustees Jimmy Rane and Bob Dumas will also go to confirmation before the Alabama Senate after being renominated for their seats.