Erica . Austin
U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights
Erica R. Austin, Esq., is currently the Chief Regional Attorney, for the Denver Office for Civil Rights within the United States Department of Education. The Denver regional office covers a five state area which includes Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Ms. Austin serves as the Office Director's primary adviser on civil rights in this region and is responsible for enforcing U.S. civil rights laws as they pertain to education-ensuring the region's schools, colleges and universities receiving federal funding do not engage in discriminatory conduct related to race, sex, disability or age. The Office for Civil Rights enforces five major civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The Office for Civil Rights also enforces provisions of the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act (Sec. 9525 of the No Child Left Behind Act). Prior to her current position with the Department of Education, Ms. Austin served on active duty with the United States Air Force as a member of the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps. During her nearly 10-year active career in the JAG Corps she worked on a large variety of legal issues to include criminal prosecution and defense, legal assistance, tort claims, international law, and labor law. Ms. Austin also served as an Assistant Professor at the United States Air Force Academy. Additionally, she served as the Legal Advisor to the Commandant and spearheaded the development of the Air Force Academy's policies, procedures, and training to better respond to allegations of sexual assault and sexual harassment. Ms. Austin continues to serve her country in the Air Force Reserve and is currently assigned to Headquarters, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Florida. She graduated from the University of Illinois in 1994 where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences and was awarded the degree of Juris Doctor from The John Marshall Law School in 1997.
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