Erika Austin, Ph.D., associate professor in the School of Public Health Department of BiostatisticsOne of Erika Austin’s main goals as an educator is to engage students in hands-on public health research and advocacy on campus. As an associate professor in the School of Public Health Department of Biostatistics, her role allows her to do just that. For example, she recrafted her undergraduate biostatistics course into a new research-experience course during which students collect, analyze and present public health data to community partners.
Austin also strives to use rigorous scientific research to promote equity and social justice and desires for each of her students, regardless of what profession they choose, to be passionate about making a positive impact in their communities. Her dedication to helping students develop into well-rounded professionals and community members earned her the 2019 President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.
“Her teaching record displays a steadfast dedication to diversity, inclusivity, acceptance and mutual understanding,” wrote one student. “At the start of each semester, Dr. Austin makes it clear that she is not only interested in facilitating the academic progress of students, but truly getting to know them on a personal level without judgment according to preconceived notions.”
As an instructor for online courses, Austin uses the flipped-classroom approach, where she assigns brief readings, short videos and software demonstrations for students to view prior to attending class. This way, she says, they have a baseline understanding of the content of each module and are allowed more time to form complex connections and work through applications in class.
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“Dr. Austin is an excellent professor because she cares about her students and takes the extra time to get to know them.” |
“Teaching online courses has pushed me to be more deliberate in ensuring the organization and alignment of course materials, activities and assessments is as clear as possible,” Austin said.
Austin also is the faculty adviser for student internships in the coordinated MPH degree programs, in which she helps students identify internships that meet the needs of both academic programs and encourages them to engage public health-specific activities outside of clinical care.
“Dr. Austin is an excellent professor because she cares about her students and takes the extra time to get to know them,” a student wrote. “She is one of the mentors I’ve had in my time here that made me proud to be a UAB student and gave me experience and skills I wouldn’t have received at another institution.”
In addition to her research and work as an educator, Austin has been published in the journals Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Psychological Services and the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, among others, and has work forthcoming in PLOS One.
