The Warren County community College president will be honored for by the American Association of University Administrators.
Will Austin, Warren County Community College president was named the recipient of the American Association of University Administrator's McInnis/Ryan Award for his achievement in mid-career higher education leadership.
Dr. Will Austin, president of Warren County Community College. (Courtesy Photo) Austin has been the president of WCCC for the past 11 years. Scott Newman, of Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology, is a co-recipient.
Austin will receive the award at the 2016 AAUA Leadership Seminar in June in San Antonio, Texas.
Recently, Austin assumed the role as chairman of the American Association of Community College's President's Academy, the national organization for established and new community college presidents.
As president and CEO of WCCC, Austin has changed the landscape of the college and its relationship to the community by doubling the credit and non-credit enrollment, and by increasing the physical footprint and space of the college by over 130 percent.
With Austin's guidance, WCCC has: initiated partnerships with senior institutions allowing for completion of bachelor's and master's degrees on campus from multiple providers; partnered with Fire Academy to become sole provider of educational services to participants; initiated a Police Academy (satellite branch) on the campus; initiated an EMS/EMT training program (both non-credit and degreed); and led the development and approval process of an associate's nursing program, first approved in N.J. in over 20 years, which received initial NLNAC accreditation prior to outcomes of first graduating class.
One of his most significant accomplishments at WCCC is the VIPER program. Veterans in Pursuit of Educational Readiness has gained national attention for its ability to let veterans seamlessly gain their associates degrees.