Austin began his PhD in Higher Education Administration in Spring 2026. Austin arrived at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2025 as the inaugural Program Director for Student Threat Assessment where he orchestrates a multidisciplinary team focused on effective, student-centered violence prevention and wholistic student support and advocacy. 

Prior to arriving on Rocky Top, Austin served in housing & residential life at both the University of Iowa and Texas State University. Austin holds professional membership in the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals, the Higher Education Threat Assessment Alliance, and the Association of College and University Housing Officers – International.

Austin’s approach to student affairs administration is grounded in the belief that student success is largely shaped by the policies, systems, and leadership structures that govern the institution. While individual support is critical, sustainable impact occurs when administrators design clear processes, equitable policies, and strategic frameworks that anticipate student needs rather than react to them.

Austin earned a Masters in Public Health in Occupational & Environmental Health and his Bachelor of Arts in Public Health from the University of Iowa. Austin’s research interests include institutional responses to student death, housing & residential life experiences, and university crisis and brand management strategies.