Marc Austin, PhD
Dean and Associate Provost - Augusta University Online | Augusta University
Augusta, GA, UNITED STATES
Senior business leader in higher ed professional and workforce development.
Biography
Leading the development of Augusta University Online to provide high quality online access to students and professional learners. An academic leader specializing in online learning, workforce development, continuing and professional education. Focused on innovating degree and non-degree attainment through, technology-enabled, skills-based learning models.
With a background in management consulting, corporate strategy and operations, fosters highly collaborative, new products, organizations, and learning designs, with the intent of advancing social impact. A results-driven manager of startups and mature businesses in professional services and higher ed, committed to building organizations that connect learning innovation to the future of work.
Specialties as a business leader and professor of strategy, include: strategy development, planning, performance management, organizational design, business process improvement, financial analysis, strategic communications and change management.
Passion for working with faculty and practitioners to improve the learner experience and learning outcomes.
Areas of Expertise (6)
Online Education
Micro-Credential Development
Higher Education Strategy and Operations
Online Learning and Student Service Models
Professional and Executive Education
Academic Innovation
Accomplishments (5)
Awarded Strada Education Innovative Solutions in Education to Employment Grant (professional)
2019 Strada Education Network provided a $1M grant to help George Mason University launch the ADVANCE Career Accelerator Toolkit. ADVANCE is a seamless transfer pathways partnership between Mason and Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) that offers students defined roadmaps and integrated support services leading to successful completion of a bachelor’s degree. Article 1 - https://bit.ly/3zA0oOm Article 2 - https://bit.ly/3ttKD7p
Launched the ADVANCE NOVA/Mason Partnership (professional)
2018 ADVANCE is an exciting partnership between Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) and George Mason University (Mason) that gives NOVA students targeted, personalized support to complete their bachelor's degrees in a timely manner and save money. From HigherEdToday.org - https://bit.ly/3HiMcuM Learn more about NOVA - https://www.nvcc.edu/advance/
Launched the Online Virginia Network (OVN) (professional)
2016 Learn more about OVN - https://onlinevirginia.net/
CEB (Gartner) Force of Ideas Award (professional)
2015 Learn more - https://prn.to/3ObJeKR
Hermes Creative Award: Platinum and Communicator Award
2011
Education (4)
Columbia University: Ph.D., International Political Economy 2000
Columbia University: M.A., Political Science 1996
London School of Economics: M.Sc. (with distinction), International Relations 1992
University of Pennsylvania: B.A., History
Media Appearances (2)
AU dean believes trains are in Augusta’s future
Augusta Business Daily online
2024-07-09
Recent announcements from both of Georgia’s senators caught the interest of a dean at Augusta University. In a December news release, Senators Jon Ossoff (D) and Reverend Raphael Warnock (D) announced grants from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to study the feasibility of three new passenger rail corridors connecting Georgia with cities in North Carolina and Tennessee. The lines would connect Atlanta to Savannah, Charlotte, and Chattanooga. Dr. Marc Austin, Dean of Augusta University Online, told ABD he sees another opportunity. Developing passenger train service between Atlanta, Savannah, and Augusta. “If you look at the northeastern part of the country, it has trains that allow people to move much more freely and easily, and I think that same opportunity should be here in Georgia, where our economy is growing and the need for labor is high,” he said. “I think connecting the state with more modes of transportation, especially fast, efficient, effective transportation, ease a little bit of the burden on our infrastructure, which is taking a beating from the trucks and the cars.” Three grants of $500,000 each will fund studies to determine if passenger rail service connecting Georgia to other states is achievable. “Creating new transit options with routes connecting Atlanta to Savannah, Charlotte, Chattanooga, and cities in between would be a boon to our state and economy,” said Warnock in the news release. “I’m thrilled to announce new investments to explore three new passenger rail corridors in Georgia, and I’m glad to work with Senator Ossoff to get this done.”
Preparing to launch Augusta University Online
The Augusta Press online
2022-08-13
By fall classes in 2023, Augusta University expects to offer a completely new way to attract students, an avenue that could lead to enrollment doubling. Augusta University Online has a webpage with the nuts and bolts of what will be the first steps and long-range vision. “As Augusta’s new online college, we will create connected classrooms fostering active, experiential learning. We will make education more accessible for the working learner and create access to excellence for Georgians and beyond.”
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