Eileen Austria

Eileen Austria has served as the state advocate for the University of Dayton since 2008.  Eileen grew up in the Dayton area, where she graduated from Alter High School and the University of Dayton.  Upon graduating from UD cum laude, she was selected for the highly competitive Ohio Legislative Fellowship Program in Columbus.  After completion of the fellowship, Eileen pursued her career in politics as a Legislative Aide for State Senator Dave Hobson of Springfield, Ohio. 

Eileen then returned to Dayton where she worked in event management and marketing with the private motivational company, The Carlson Marketing Group.  In 1991, Mrs. Austria returned to the public sector as the District Director for U.S. Congressman Dave Hobson, serving in this capacity for 17 years, one of the longest serving district directors for a Congressional office in the nation.  Upon Congressman Hobson's retirement, she founded EFA Solutions, LLC. Through EFA Solutions, she helps clients with their marketing, business strategies, educational, and workforce development needs.  

Eileen's passion for encouraging the next generation of outstanding public servants and her commitment to her alma mater led to the development of the University of Dayton Statehouse Civic Scholars Program  in 2011. This program takes place every summer in Columbus, Ohio and is modeled after the highly regarded bipartisan Legislative Service Commission Fellowship.  The goal of the program is to build awareness about professional opportunities in state government among the best and brightest University of Dayton students.  The students participate in a live/work/community, eight-week fellowship in highly prominent offices in and around the statehouse.  University of Dayton alumni and friends of the university complete the experience for the students through their mentoring and networking sessions.