Steve Swann: The Meme of Auburn

How does one define Dr. Steve Swann?

Here lies one of Auburn University’s most vital questions. However, before we investigate this fantastic inquiry, there is something you must understand:

Like a diamond that exhibits different shades of beauty depending on your vantage point, the definition of Steve Swann differs based on who you ask.

So, if you’re emotionally prepared, it’s time to dive in and discover the varying brilliances of Steve, Auburn’s own personal diamond of excellent teaching, for the sake of the Auburn Spirit, the discipline of chemistry, and the world at large.

If you ask Steve Swann for the definition of Steve Swann, you will hear of a man passionate about directing over 60 chemistry labs at Auburn University, and how he reached his 20th anniversary with Auburn in March 2016. So according to Steve, Steve is a science man.

However, if you ask the search engine Google “who is Steve Swann”, the first site to appear is a page on Reddit, an online bulletin board, where you will find hundreds of Steve-Swann-inspired pieces of modern art, known by most as “memes.” So not only is Steve Swann a scientist – he is a muse for the digital artistic pursuits of the Auburn chemistry student.

Lastly, when asking Steve Swann’s students for the definition of Steve Swann, the answers vary widely in their content and admiration.

Here is a creative essay constructed from 13 years of positive posts on the infamous site RateMyProfessor.com [comments about CD-roms were excluded for cultural relevance purposes]:

The man, the myth, the legend, the SWANN – he’s the hero Auburn needs, not the one Auburn deserves. This glorious man is a true legend of higher education chemistry lab.

The third most important man to Auburn behind Bo and Cam, Swanasaurus Rex is a beautiful creature. He is peaceful, but feeds on students who wear open-toed shoes to class.

It’s so uplifting how he walks through lab bellowing for young chemists to wear their "goggles and aprons for the duration." He is the type of man I would like to set my lonely, divorced aunt up with.

The Swannster is the mascot of COSAM, the meme of Auburn, and responds to emails faster than lightning. You haven't experienced college until you have taken Steve Swann. Having him is part of the Auburn experience.

I honestly think he believes Chemistry is the best thing that ever happened to this world. He truly loves his job. There is no man like Swann.

Now I hope it is obvious to the reader why Steve Swann was chosen for the Glomerata’s teaching excellence page.

But here’s a recap anyway—the answer to the prolific question (according to Steve Swann, Google, and RateMyProfessor.com):

Steve Swann (n): stēv/ /swän/

1. scientist, reigning at Auburn for twenty years and counting (1996-2016); 2. muse of modern digital art; 3. the legend of Auburn – or in other words, if we are feeling dramatic:

Steve Swann is Auburn.

This is Auburn. (meme)