Her research focuses on social media’s influence on strategic communication initiatives, namely health and crisis communication, and explores publics’ perspectives in organization-public relationship building. Her professional experience includes work for the Center of Risk Communication Research at the University of Maryland and for ICF International, a firm offering communication and health marketing support to federal government and nonprofit organizations. Austin has published in journals including Communication Research, Journal of Applied Communication Research, Journal of Health Communication, Journal of Public Relations Research, Public Relations Review, and Public Relations Journal. Austin has been a recipient of AEJMC Promising Professors Award, AEJMC Public Relations Division’s SuPRstar Award, the Arthur W. Page Center's Legacy Educator and Legacy Scholar Awards, and NCA's PRIDE Award.