John Austin
Professional affiliation
Full Biography
John Austin is the former President of the Michigan State Board of Education. Austin directs the , a center for ideas and network-building to advance Michigan鈥檚 economic transformation. Austin also serves as a nonresident senior fellow with the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and the Upjohn Institute, where he leads these organizations efforts to support economic transformation in the American Midwest. Austin also Lectures on the Economy at the University of Michigan.
础耻蝉迟颈苍鈥檚 on The Avenue since the 2016 Presidential election on the politics and economy in the Midwest swing states have informed the national and international understanding of this important economic and political region. Austin has been quoted and his Brookings work reported on by the New York Times, Washington Post, The Economist, Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, the BBC, Voice of America, Financial Times, Nikkei News, Politico, and the Hill--among dozens of local, national, and international media.
In 2020, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs released 础耻蝉迟颈苍鈥檚 report 鈥,鈥 which provides an updated analysis of the Great Lakes/Midwest Economy from the seminal Brookings 2006 publication 鈥,鈥 also authored by Austin. The report provides a refreshed blueprint for spreading economic growth and opportunity to more people and places in this important swing-state region.
At the Michigan Economic Center, Austin has spurred work to transform Michigan鈥檚 economy, and make the state a leader in the coming 鈥淕reen and Blue鈥 sustainable economy of the future. The Center鈥檚 2017 report 鈥,鈥 provides a roadmap for how Michigan can create new jobs and businesses in New Agriculture, Clean Energy, Smart Water, New Mobility, Health Care and IT solutions鈥攁ll fast growing, globally pressing areas of work and market opportunity. Also in 2017, the Michigan Economic Center鈥檚 report detailed the outsize contributions of legal immigrants to Michigan鈥檚 economic and population growth, and the damage done to Michigan鈥檚 economy by the current Administration鈥檚 anti-immigrant policies.
In 2015, working with the Michigan College Access Network (MCAN), Austin created the 鈥淢ichigan Higher Education Attainment Roundtable (MIHEART),鈥 which brings together the state鈥檚 business, education, higher education State Administration in strategies to increase residents' attainment of post-secondary credentials and reduce higher education cost. MiHEART鈥檚 has been largely implemented and an updated agenda was released in September 2018.
Austin spearheaded the initiative to develop citizen-informed strategies for better supporting investment in Michigan鈥檚 foundational assets that drive Michigan鈥檚 economy: strong education and higher education institutions, improved transportation and communications infrastructure, vital and attractive cities and communities; protection of our lakes, waters and outdoor recreation assets. He also coined the term 鈥淏lue Economy鈥 to describe the way our waters, and water innovation, contribute to economic growth. Austin created the initiative to support stakeholders in leveraging Michigan鈥檚 natural water and water research, education and innovation assets for economic development and new business and job growth.
In 2006, Austin created and directed the 鈥淕reat Lakes Economic Initiative鈥 for Brookings , where he authored key reports that directly shaped the region鈥檚 economic development agenda: 鈥淭he Vital Center: A Federal-State Compact to Renew the Great Lakes Region;鈥 鈥淭he Vital Connection: Reclaiming Great Lakes Economic Leadership in the Bi-National Great Lakes Region;鈥 and 鈥淗ealthy Waters, Strong Economy,鈥 which led to federal support for Great Lakes clean-up and restoration, and regional understanding and actions to build on our Great Lakes and water resources as an economic asset. 础耻蝉迟颈苍鈥檚 series published for Brookings鈥 The Avenue updates the economic opportunities and challenges facing the politically important swing states of the Upper Midwest.
Austin also served in 2004 as Policy Director for Michigan鈥檚 Governor-appointed Commission on Higher Education and Economic Growth, and was principal author of the Commission鈥檚 influential report. In addition, Austin was the chief architect of Governor Granholm鈥檚 urban strategy and helped stand-up her newly created Department of Labor, Energy and Economic Growth and a state workforce development strategy.
Austin was the founding Director of the 鈥淣ew Economy Initiative for Southeast Michigan鈥濃攁 $100 million effort by the region鈥檚 philanthropies to aid in the area鈥檚 economic transformation, and initiated the Global Detroit program to welcome immigrants as a source of economic strength and renewal.
Austin received his Master鈥檚 in Public Administration from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, and a Bachelors from Swarthmore College in Economics & Political Science, with High Honors and Phi Beta Kappa.
