Satia Austin, PhD, MEd, MAT
Satia Austin, PhD, M.Ed., MAT (History) is an accomplished educator, instructional leader, and community advocate based in Oceanside, California. Her journey in education began with an initial aspiration to become a physician; however, a transformative experience with a dedicated and inspiring teacher redirected her path toward education. That pivotal moment shaped a lifelong commitment to helping others through teaching, mentorship, and service.
With more than 16 years of total teaching experience, Dr. Austin has taught across multiple levels, including kindergarten, first grade, K–12 settings, and higher education. She has served as a college professor of history for seven years, teaching students across California and Hawaii, and has worked for over 12 years as an education consultant supporting instructional improvement and student success. Her background also includes extensive leadership experience as President of the NAACP North San Diego County branch and service on five different boards, where she continues to champion equity, access, and student advocacy. She is deeply committed to ensuring that underserved and disenfranchised students receive the guidance and opportunities they need to succeed academically and beyond.
Dr. Austin’s work is rooted in addressing systemic barriers in education and serving as a liaison between students, families, and institutions. She has witnessed firsthand the consequences of gaps in academic advising and the financial burdens families face when graduation requirements are not clearly communicated or supported. In response, she has dedicated her career to bridging those gaps through advocacy, counseling support, and hands-on guidance for students navigating academic and personal challenges. Her daily work often includes mentoring youth and college organizations, supporting students with essay preparation and senior projects, and contributing expertise to discussions on education and health disparities. For Dr. Austin, the most meaningful measure of success is the impact she has on others—especially when students and families express that her support has made a lasting difference in their lives.
• Educational Leadership Training
• Curriculum Development and Instructional Leadership Experience
• Grand Canyon University - MEd, History Teacher Education
• Liberty University - MAT, Elementary Education and Teaching
• Ashford University - MA, Education -Teaching and Learning with Technology
• Liberty University - BS, in Elementary Education and Teaching
• 50 Under 50 Award from San Diego Black Journal (received twice)
• Dr. Martin Luther King Community Service Award from the City of Oceanside
• Multiple NAACP Awards
• Operation Hope North County
• Alliance for Regional Solutions
• North County Promise
• MiraCosta College Service Learning
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Committee
• City of Oceanside
• President - NAACP
• Volunteer Essay Preparation for High School Seniors
• Student Mentorship and Academic Advising
• Support for Foster Care Youth
• Community Education Advocacy
• Homeless Shelter Support through Operation Hope North County
What do you attribute your success to?
I have to say, my mother. She was an amazing, very strong woman. She's from the Bronx, New York. She served in the military - she was one of the last of the Women's Army Corps - and she was a single mother raising me. She even was a Black Panther in New York for a while. She didn't let me get away with anything, and she made sure that whatever I want in education, I need to go do it. If she had to sit there and help me study one night, she'd do it all. I started having kids early, so she had to watch the kids, or whatever it looked like, she was my biggest cheerleader. She made sure that I knew that I had a structure, even if I didn't. Everything that I've been through is a testimony for somebody else - it wasn't for me. I think that education is my forte because I get to now help other people make a direct line for what they want to do, and I've been able to give guidance to students so they didn't have to go through all the stuff that I went through.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
To never stop learning and to use your knowledge to open doors for others. Satia believes leadership is most meaningful when it is used to create opportunities and inspire growth in future generations.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I tell everybody two things. Number one is, you read that mission statement, and if you find yourself in that mission statement, then you're meant to be here. You're meant to do that work. Do not let anyone take you off that, because that may not be their journey, but that's yours. But if you cannot find yourself out there, then find something else that is a part of you. And then I also say, there's 168 hours in a week. All you need is one. Give some things done. You can make a difference with just one hour of your time.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in education is ensuring equitable access to resources and opportunities for all students while addressing the diverse needs of today's learners. At the same time, there are tremendous opportunities to create innovative learning environments, strengthen community partnerships, and increase representation and inclusion across educational systems. Satia sees mentorship, leadership development, and student advocacy as critical areas for future growth.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Showing up and being accountable but that has several meanings. The most important thing I can do right now is being a resource. Whether I've had to experience something, you know, hardship or whatever, I can be there for others. Faith has absolutely been a huge portion of making sure I'm still sane, especially after losing my mother last year. So many other people I know have had that same recent loss, whether it was their husband or their parent, and it's like, just checking up on each other, saying how are you doing today, I thought about you. I think the personal touches mean the most to me. It's like, because we don't know what each other's going through, and we see so many just nasty things going on right now, and it's like, just being there for somebody else to say I got you - it's so important. When people come up to me and say I made a difference in their life, that's what matters. Those are the real rewards, not the awards on the wall.
Locations
Central Texas College
Oceanside, CA 92056