Undergrad: University of California- Los Angeles

Major: Psychobiology

Hometown: Upland, CA

Assistantship: Residential Life- Educational Initiatives

Bio: Hello! My name is Austin Gane, and I was born and raised in the suburbs of Los Angeles. I graduated from UCLA in 2017 with a major in Psychobiology and a minor in Anthropology. During my undergraduate career, I was involved in mental health advocacy, research about chimpanzee behavior, and a variety of roles in Residential Life.

I began my path in Student Affairs as a government representative for my building. My mentors and peers cultivated an environment of inclusion, care, and growth unlike any I had seen before, and I was instantly hooked. I spent the following three years as a Resident Assistant and learned to put an emphasize on self-care and self-improvement that I still carry with me today. After graduation, I began working as an Assistant Resident Director at UCLA. This position opened me up to the joys of supervision and confirmed Student Affairs was the career for me. After two years as an Assistant Resident Director, I decided to seek out a Master’s degree. When looking into programs, I prioritized two things: an emphasis on social justice and a new and different location that would offer a wealth of new and different opportunities. I know I have found that here in the UConn HESA program. Some of the passions I hope to bring into my work include mental health advocacy, civic engagement, and access to higher education. Outside of the professional realm, I am also massively into rock climbing and nature and can be found outside on almost any given weekend. I am incredibly excited and honored to be part of this cohort and cannot wait to see all that we can achieve. Go Huskies! ... read more