Alvin O. Austin

Dr. Alvin O. "Bud" Austin (born 1942) was the fifth president of LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas from 1986 to 2007. Since July 2007 he has held the role of University Chancellor, in accordance with the wishes of the Board of Trustees.

Austin is known for guiding LeTourneau University over two decades in its transition from a small regional technical college to one of the leading Christian universities in the nation. During his tenure, LeTourneau grew dramatically in enrollment, endowment, campus facilities, programs, and scope. Austin's career focused on providing a high quality and personal educational environment with an uncompromising dedication to committed Christian faith. A skilled administrator, Austin took over when LeTourneau was in the midst of falling enrollment and on the brink of financial collapse. His ability to balance faculty, student and budgetary needs were well recognized. Throughout his Presidency, Austin was recognized as having an uncommon desire to connect with students in a face-to-face personal manner.

Students come to LeTourneau from around the nation and world to receive accredited education in liberal arts, science and engineering. Adult education programs were developed at LeTourneau years before they were common elsewhere. LeTourneau continues to maintain adult education campuses in Dallas, Bedford, Austin, Houston, Tyler and Longview, TX. LeTourneau is recognized annually by U.S. News and World Report as one of "America's Best Colleges".

Austin was born January 6, 1942 in Tampa, Florida. He was raised in Florida and Utah before attending Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California, graduating in 1964. He was named Alumnus of the year in 1986 by this institution. He married Samantha Jane Bates in 1965 and has three children, Mike, Claire and Melissa, and 7 grandchildren.

Austin's career has been primarily in the administration of institutions of higher learning, having spent over thirty years working at a variety of schools including North Park College and Theological Seminary in Chicago, Seattle Pacific University in Washington, and Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. Austin has a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from University of Mississippi and a master's degree from California State University in Los Angeles. His early career was grounded in student affairs administration.

During his 21 years at LeTourneau, Austin was a nationally recognized administrator and chaired or participated in numerous academic and administrative committees and organizations.

He is the acting president of the American Southwest Conference Executive Committee: a conference of sixteen colleges and universities located in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas which are members of the NCAA Division III athletic conference. Austin is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas (ICUT).

He continues to provide consulting services for small and medium sized colleges and universities. He travels widely and maintains his primary residence in the Longview area near his children and grandchildren.