A native of

Clayton County (she was named Star Student for Clayton County in 1964)

and a current resident of Fayetteville, Aust is a prime example of a Southern

Crescent student who stayed local and contributed to the success of innumerable

students throughout the years. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science

in Mathematics (Magna cum Laude) from the University of Georgia in 1968,

Aust earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics from Emory University

in 1973. She served as an instructor of Mathematics at Georgia Tech from

1972 to 1974, and as an assistant professor of Mathematics at Georgia

Tech from 1974 to 1975 before taking the same position at Clayton Junior

College.

In 1977, Aust

was named coordinator of Mathematics and was subsequently promoted to

associate professor (1980) and full professor (1985). In Sept. 1994 she

was named acting head of the Department of Mathematics, becoming head

of her department in 1996.

Clayton State's

College of Information and Mathematical Sciences was created as the New

College for Economic and Community Development in 1998. The college's

name was changed to better reflect its current mission in the fall of

2002.

"Combining

the Departments of Information Technology and Mathematics to create a

new academic unit offers many opportunities for collaboration between

the two areas and sets the stage for the development of new baccalaureate

and Masters degree programs in Mathematical and Computing Sciences,"

said Aust. "I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to lead

the faculty from the two departments as we create a shared vision for

our new unit and its place in the University. I also look forward to working

with the Provost and my fellow deans, both current and yet to be appointed,

as we create new academic programming within and across academic units.

"We are

in a time of unprecedented growth for Clayton State, and it is a privilege

to part of the leadership team to guide this growth."

In addition

to administering her department for more than 25 years and teaching dozens

of sections of Mathematics courses on every level over the years, Aust

has served both the University and the University System of Georgia on

more than 20 committees and task forces while making more than a dozen

professional presentations. A member of the American Mathematical Society,

the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, the Mathematical Association

of America (where she has served as chair of the Southeastern Section),

the Association of Women in Mathematics, the American Association of University

Women, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the Georgia

Council of Teachers of Mathematics (a Life Member), Aust was named an

Outstanding Young Woman of America three times and was included in the

10th Edition of Who's Who of American Women.

Aust is married

to Tomie R. Aust, who retired in 1993 after more than 30 years of teaching

at Lee Street Elementary School in Jonesboro. The driveway in front of

Lee Street Elementary was named "Aust Drive" as a retirement

gift to Tomie Aust. The Austs have one daughter, Jennifer. A National

Merit Scholar and Star Student of Fayette County for 2002, Jennifer Aust

is a freshman at Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C., where, in addition

to double majoring in mathematics and German, she sings in the Women's

Chorus and is a member of the rifle team.