UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS HIRES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE PROGRAMS

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas Division for Student Affairs has hired Marie A. Austin as the executive director for First Year Experience Programs.

"I am very excited about my new position in First Year Experience Programs and am eager to work with my colleagues in this arena," Austin said. "I could sense the camaraderie from the first day I stepped on campus. I look forward to being a part of the UA team and helping students new to the University develop personal and academic goals that influence college success."

As executive director, Austin will be responsible for providing vision and leadership for a comprehensive approach to new student programs. She will be primarily responsible for all program and service components, including marketing and implementation of First Year Experience initiatives, program development, assessment of learning outcomes, budget management, supervision and evaluation of staff and development of annual publications.

"Marie brings a wealth of experience with her in the academic environment," said Brian Hemphill, associate vice chancellor for Student Affairs and dean of students. "Her knowledge of First Year Experience Programs will be greatly appreciated by members of the University of Arkansas community. We are very pleased to have Marie at the University of Arkansas."

Austin will also actively collaborate with faculty and staff throughout the University in the design, development, marketing and implementation of programs and services that enhance student success during their curricular and co-curricular undergraduate experience. Specific areas of concentration include first year experience programming; New Student and Parent Orientation; Welcome Week; Family Weekend; Academic Convocation; First Year Experience Newsletter and management of web pages.

Austin has more than 10 years of experience in the academic setting, and before arriving in Fayetteville, she served as University Experience coordinator at the University of South Florida and was the Freshman Forum coordinator at Syracuse University.

In addition to her position as Freshman Forum coordinator, Austin served as a senior administrator for the College of Arts & Sciences at Syracuse University. Among many of Austin's awards and honors include being selected to Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges and being appointed to University of South Florida president's Strategic Planning Process Task Force.

She also authored The Successful University Experience and was a featured speaker at the International Conference on the First Year Experience in England and Hawaii, as well as in Orlando at the Florida National Association of Student Affairs Personnel Association NASPA Region III Conference.

Austin received her bachelors in communications from State University of New York College at Oswego and a Master of Science degree in higher education from Syracuse University.