Austin Hickle graduated Summa Cum Laude in May 2022 from Southern Methodist University (SMU), in Dallas, Texas with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Public Policy, together with a Minor in International Affairs. During the pandemic Austin created and led the College Health Alliance of Texas, a coalition of student governments across the state. Partnered with the Meadows Institute (MMHPI), the alliance was able to launch a Mental Health Hotline, directing students to 100+ resources. As Student Body President, Austin authored and passed legislation to establish the Rotunda Scholarship Fund, allocating $100,000 a year to support Rotunda Scholars who typically comprise of SMU’s low-income and historically marginalized students. As part of the Leadership Team of the West Dallas STEM School, together with support from community leaders and the SMU State Senate, Austin created a scholarship programme with over half a million dollars over the next ten years, which created a pathway to college for youth in high-need communities. While working in Dallas City Hall, he wrote and proposed legislation to create a commission with a student representative from each college in the city. In June 2023, the legislation unanimously passed, providing an avenue for increased youth engagement in Dallas.
He was awarded the Truman Scholarship, Phi Beta Kappa and the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship. It is through the latter award programme that Austin is currently teaching English at a rural middle school in Ochang-eup, South Korea, where he is instructing over 650 2nd and 3rd grade students.
As a Marshall Scholar, Austin will study for 2 years, initially pursuing a Master of Science Degree in Evidence-Based Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation, followed by a Master of Science Degree in Education (Comparative and International), both at the University of Oxford.