Ara Austin
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283 Armstrong Hall Tempe, AZ 85287-2501
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Mail code: 2501Campus: Tempe
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Dr. Ara Austin received her B.S. in Biochemistry and Minors in Psychology and Communication Studies in 2011 and Ph.D. in Chemistry Education in 2018, all from Arizona State University. As the Director of Online Engagement & Strategic Initiatives, Dr. Austin focuses on efforts that increase experiential learning opportunities for online students across The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. Prior to this role, Dr. Austin served as the Managing Director of Online Programs for the School of Molecular Sciences, successfully launching online degree programs in biochemistry and chemistry which include accelerated in-person laboratory courses that provide crucial hands-on experiences to online students pursuing STEM degrees.
In terms of research, Dr. Austin's work has been dedicated to analyzing the effects of socio-cognitive (motivation and self-regulation) and socio-cultural (instructor gender effects, stereotype threat, and cultural/social capital) factors on student performance in organic chemistry courses at ASU and also at University of Rochester. She has also studied these factors with the ASU Online population in recent years.
Dr. Austin primarily teaches large organic chemistry lecture courses online and is a firm believer of utilizing technology as a tool to provide quality educational opportunities to students who are excluded from the traditional college model. One of her greatest joys in life comes from helping online students achieve their academic and professional goals and serving as their advocate.
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Arizona State University: B.S. in Biochemistry; Minors in Psychology & Communication Studies
Arizona State University: Ph.D. in Chemistry - Chemical Education
Austin, A. C., Ben-Daat, H., Zhu, M., Atkinson, R., Barrows, N., & Gould, I. R. (2015). Measuring student performance in general organic chemistry. Chemistry Education Research and Practice, 16(1), 168-178.
Koseler, R., Ben-Daat, H., Austin, A. C., Gould, I. R. (2016). A web-based teaching tool for multi-step synthesis on organic chemistry: Student perspectives and motivations. EDULEARN16 Proceedings: Valencia, Spain. 6559-6565.
Austin, A. C., Hammond, N. B., Barrows, N., Gould, D. L., & Gould, I. R. (2017). Relating motivation and student outcomes in organic chemistry using the Organic Chemistry Motivation Survey. Chemistry Education Research and Practice. doi: 10.1039/C7RP00182G
Austin, A. C., Hammond, N. B., Barrows, N., Gould, D. L., Gould, I. R. (2018) Relating motivation and student outcomes in general organic chemistry. Chemistry Education Research and Practice.
Austin, A. C., Hammond, N. B., Barrow, N., Gould, D. L., & Gould, I. R. Cultural and social capital in a college-level science course. (In preparation.)
Austin, A. C., Hammond, N. B., Barrow, N., & Gould, I. R. Organic chemistry may be a roadblock for females. (In preparation.)
Courses
2025 Spring
Course Number | Course Title |
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BCH 392 | Intro to Research Techniques |
BCH 492 | Honors Directed Study |
BCH 493 | Honors Thesis |
CHM 392 | Intro to Research Techniques |
CHM 492 | Honors Directed Study |
CHM 493 | Honors Thesis |
CHM 233 | General Organic Chemistry I |
CHM 392 | Intro to Research Techniques |
BCH 392 | Intro to Research Techniques |
BCH 392 | Intro to Research Techniques |
CHM 394 | Special Topics |
CHM 394 | Special Topics |
2024 Fall
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
BCH 392 | Intro to Research Techniques |
BCH 492 | Honors Directed Study |
BCH 493 | Honors Thesis |
CHM 392 | Intro to Research Techniques |
CHM 492 | Honors Directed Study |
CHM 233 | General Organic Chemistry I |
CHM 493 | Honors Thesis |
BCH 392 | Intro to Research Techniques |
CHM 392 | Intro to Research Techniques |
2023 Fall
Course Number | Course Title |
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CHM 231 | Elementary Organic Chemistry |
2023 Spring
Course Number | Course Title |
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CHM 394 | Special Topics |
2022 Fall
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
CHM 233 | General Organic Chemistry I |
2022 Spring
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
PHY 194 | Special Topics |
CHM 194 | Special Topics |
SES 194 | Special Topics |
BIO 194 | Special Topics |
2021 Fall
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
CHM 233 | General Organic Chemistry I |
2020 Fall
Course Number | Course Title |
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CHM 233 | General Organic Chemistry I |
CHM 234 | General Organic Chemistry II |
2020 Summer
2020 Spring
Course Number | Course Title |
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CHM 394 | Special Topics |
CHM 394 | Special Topics |
CHM 294 | Special Topics |
CHM 294 | Special Topics |
2019 Fall
Course Number | Course Title |
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CHM 233 | General Organic Chemistry I |
CHM 234 | General Organic Chemistry II |