Gail M. Augustine

Gail M. Augustine, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Behavioral Sciences at Purdue University Northwest. Her academic journey includes roles as Program Director of the Master’s in Social Work Program at Florida A&M University, and prior positions at Florida A&M University and Anderson University. She holds multiple advanced degrees: a Ph.D. in Biology from Illinois State University, a Ph.D. in Social Work from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership (minor) from IUPUI. She also earned an MSc (Honors) and BSc (Honors) in Social Work from Eastern Michigan University.

Her research focuses on marginalized student experiences in higher education, program evaluation, distance learning, and retention strategies. Key areas of expertise include individual/family/group social work practices and student-centered pedagogy. Her work emphasizes equity and inclusion, particularly for first-generation students and marginalized populations.

Recent publications explore epistemological frameworks in social work research, comparative pedagogy across disciplines, and systemic barriers in higher education. Her work bridges social work practice with educational policy, advocating for inclusive academic environments.

Dr. Augustine’s professional contributions span teaching, research, and administrative leadership in social work education. She currently teaches at Purdue Northwest while actively publishing in interdisciplinary education and social work journals.