Philip E. Austin

Philip E. Austin became the thirteenth President of the University of Connecticut (UConn) on October 1, 1996. The University of Connecticut has campuses in Storrs, Farmington, Groton, Hartford, West Hartford, Stamford, Torrington, and Waterbury enrolling over 28,000 students, with a total operating budget of approximately $1.4 billion.

During President Austin’s ten years at UConn, the University has undergone a major physical transformation, aided by the State of Connecticut’s $2.3 billion investment in infrastructure enhancement. Concurrently, UConn has experienced significant growth in the size and academic strength of its student body, enhancement of research, and expansion of public service. U.S. News and World Report has consistently ranked the University of Connecticut as the top public university in New England. Dr. Austin currently serves as President of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and as chairman of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Board of Directors. During Dr. Austin's tenure, the University completed a capital campaign, with more than $425 million raised.

Prior to his appointment at UConn, Dr. Austin served for seven years as Chancellor of The University of Alabama System. The System included campuses based in Tuscaloosa (UA), Birmingham (UAB), and Huntsville (UAH). The three-campus System, each headed by a president, had a student enrollment of over 43,000 students with a budget of $1.3 billion.

Before assuming the Alabama position, Dr. Austin was President of Colorado State University. He was concurrently Chancellor of the Colorado State University System that included the University of Southern Colorado in Pueblo (now known as Colorado State University-Pueblo), and Fort Lewis College in Durango. He held the academic rank of Professor in the Department of Economics and the Department of Finance.

From 1978 to 1984, Dr. Austin served as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Professor of Economics and Finance at Bernard Baruch College in New York City. He was previously Director of the Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program in Public Policy at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

From 1974 to 1977, Dr. Austin was HEW Deputy Assistant Secretary for Education in Washington, D.C. During the latter part of this assignment, he also served as Acting Assistant Secretary for Education. He served as an Economist in the Director’s Office of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget from 1971 to 1974.

He was the U.S. delegate to several international conferences on education and economic policy (e.g., Iran, Romania, France, Saudi Arabia) and was a member of a three-person team invited by the Government of Denmark to evaluate that country’s educational programs and policies.

Dr. Austin’s service in the United States Army extended from 1969-1971. He was an Economist with the rank of Army Captain in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Economic Affairs at U. S. Military Headquarters in Saigon, Vietnam. He was awarded the Bronze Star, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal during his military duty. After attending grammar and high school in Fargo, North Dakota, he entered North Dakota State University where he earned a B. S. degree in 1964, and became a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. He earned an M. S. Degree in Agricultural Economics there in 1966. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Michigan State University.

He is active in several national professional associations. He is chairman of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Board of Directors, and immediate Past President of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). He serves on the Board of Directors of Connecticut United for Research Excellence, Inc. (CURE), the Governor’s Council on Economic Competitiveness and Technology, and the MetroHartford Regional Economic Alliance. He has served on the Boards of Directors of several private-sector enterprises, including the First Interstate Bank of Fort Collins, Colorado, the Alabama Power Company, the American Cast Iron Pipe Company, and Fleet Bank.

Dr. Austin announced in December 2006 that he will be stepping down as President of the University of Connecticut effective in September 2007.