In his role as Policy Associate, Austin helps Advance CTE build a community of learning by monitoring and analyzing state policies and elevating best practices through research publications, blog posts and other state resources. He also manages the Learning that Works Resource Center, a repository of high-quality reports, tools and policy profiles from the career readiness field.

Before coming to Advance CTE, Austin worked for the Flamboyan Foundation, a DC-based nonprofit working to improve educational outcomes for students through family engagement. There, he learned the importance of education as a catalyst for creating change and closing equity gaps.

Austin holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from American University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Florida Atlantic University. In his spare time, he teaches GED classes, plays drums in a local band and volunteers on the Executive Board for Young Education Professionals - DC.