Philip E. Austin - Early Life

Early Life

Austin was born in Fargo, North Dakota. After attending grammar and high school in Casselton, North Dakota, he graduated from North Dakota State University with 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.