Ela Austin

Ela Austin, PhD, MPH, CPH, is the Associate Dean for Public Health Programs within the Department of Population Health Sciences at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech. Her roles include academic leadership and public health program development. She holds a PhD in Sociology from the University of Virginia (2004), an MPH in Public Health Practice from the University of Florida (2015), and additional degrees from the University of Michigan and James Madison University. Her research focuses on health disparities, quantitative/qualitative methodologies, and improving public health education. She has held prestigious positions such as Professor of Biostatistics and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) prior to her current role at Virginia Tech.

Her professional experience spans academia and healthcare research, including roles at the Department of Veterans Affairs and the University of California, Los Angeles. She is certified in Public Health (CPH) and actively involved in the American Public Health Association. While no specific grants or advisees are listed, her career emphasizes bridging research, education, and policy to address population health challenges.