Liz Augustin is the Director of Leadership and Professional Development at Breakthrough Miami where she provides coaching and support to the middle school program site directors, manages the Teaching Fellow and volunteer programs and is the liaison to the Breakthrough Miami Alumni Network. Liz focuses on supporting and enhancing the Teaching Fellow and Volunteer experiences. She leads the recruitment, selection and on-boarding processes, including training and development sessions, and evaluation. She also focuses on creating meaningful engagements and support for Fellows and Volunteers.
Liz joined Breakthrough Miami in 2018 following her 13 year tenure at Florida International University in the Athletics department where she was instrumental in the conceptualization, execution, analysis and evolution of academic and enrichment programs for student athletes to enhance personal, professional and leadership skills. In her role as Assistant Athletic Director for Student Athlete Development and Community Relations, Liz created and managed a holistic life-skills development program for over 400 student athletes annually in 18 Division 1 sports. Liz provided career development workshops with support from corporate and university partnerships, designed community service opportunities, served as advisor for the Athlete Leadership Council and ensured NCAA compliance. In her prior role as Assistant Director of the Student-Athlete Academic Center, Liz led academic advising and staff development and supported recruitment, admission, advising, academic support and retention efforts. Beyond her role in the Athletic Department Liz served on the United Way Campaign, Women Who Lead, Student Leadership Conference, Service Excellence and Diversity Initiative Committees at the university.
In addition to her work with Breakthrough Miami, Liz also runs a small nonprofit with her colleague Lucy Prosper, called It’s My Birthday. The mission of the nonprofit is to celebrate the birthdays of under-resourced and sick children. The organization’s mantra is “every child deserves to celebrate their birthday.” The nonprofit works with local nonprofits and children’s hospitals to make birthday wishes come true. As the mother of three little girls, she finds fulfillment is seeing the joy on the parents’ faces when they celebrate their children’s birthday.
Born in New Orleans, La., and raised in Miami, Fla., Liz has a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and bachelor’s degree in social work from FIU, where she competed as a member of the women’s track and field program and still holds the indoor and outdoor 800m school record. She resides in Miramar, FL with her husband and three young daughters.