Cathleen Erwin

Dr. Cathleen Erwin serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science at Auburn University, where she has been faculty since 2010. Previously directing Auburn's undergraduate Health Services Administration Program, she bridges political science and healthcare administration through her academic leadership and professional background in nonprofit management.

Her research examines strategic management frameworks within healthcare and nonprofit sectors, with concentrated focus on fundraising efficacy, organizational performance metrics, and governance structures. This work integrates 25 years of pre-academic experience in healthcare, higher education, and arts nonprofit management, creating practitioner-relevant insights for organizational leadership.

Dr. Erwin actively shapes health administration education through the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA), where she chairs the Board of Directors after serving on certification review teams, the Undergraduate Program Committee, and multiple task forces since her doctoral student membership.