Austin arrives from the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, where she served as Executive Director for Medical Development. During her tenure, she managed large-scale advancement programs and secured multiple seven-figure commitments for institutional research and endowment goals. Her background spans diverse sectors, including roles at the Cleveland Foodbank and the International Dyslexia Association of Northern Ohio.

Thomas Brunner, President and CEO of the foundation, noted that Austin’s background in medical philanthropy is essential as the organization enters a period of ambitious growth. Her primary objective involves expanding a national portfolio of partners to support the foundation’s mission, which has focused on sight-saving research since its founding in 1978. Austin holds a Master of Nonprofit Organizations from Case Western Reserve and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Ursuline College.