Catherine H. Augustine

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Senior Policy Researcher
Pittsburgh Office

Education

Ph.D. and M.A. in education, University of Michigan; B.A. in political philosophy, Michigan State University

Overview

Biography

Catherine Augustine is a senior policy researcher at the RAND Corporation. Her research focuses on human capital management. She recently directed an evaluation for The Wallace Foundation on their theory that cohesive leadership systems lead to improved school leadership. She is currently helping the U.S. Army on two projects. One focuses on contracting and the other on retaining company-grade officers in the Army National Guard and Army Reserve. She has also studied human resource development for the U.S. Department of Defense, school district governance, leadership in arts education, and the particular challenges facing middle schools. From 2001 to 2004, Augustine co-led the creation and establishment of a new K–12 school system for the State of Qatar. She led efforts to build and further develop leadership and other personnel resources. Augustine has expertise in both evaluations and in direct implementation of reforms. Sponsors of Augustine's research have included The Wallace Foundation, the Heinz Endowments, the Grable Foundation, the Kimberly Clark Foundation, the Los Angeles City Council, the Los Angeles School Board, the Department of Defense, and the State of Qatar. Augustine received her Ph.D. in education from the University of Michigan.

Research Focus

Recent Projects

  • Evaluating summer learning programs in six school districts throughout the United States
  • Assessing the impact of reforms intended to improve teaching
  • Evaluating efforts to improve school leadership
  • Supporting a commission established to recommend changes to the Los Angeles Unified School District's governance system
  • Assessing arts education partnerships

Selected Publications

Catherine H. Augustine et al., Improving School Leadership: The Promise of Cohesive Leadership Systems, RAND Corporation (MG-885-WF), 2009

Susan J. Bodilly and Catherine H. Augustine, Revitalizing Arts Education Through Community-Wide Coordination, RAND Corporation (MG-702-WF), 2008

Dominic J. Brewer et al., Education for a New Era: Design and Implementation of K-12 Education Reform in Qatar, RAND Corporation (MG-548-QATAR), 2007

Dina G. Levy et al., Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) and Organizational Restructuring in the DoD: Implications for Education and Training Infrastructure, RAND Corporation (MG-153-OSD), 2006

Catherine H. Augustine, Diana Epstein, and Mirka Vuollo, Governing Urban School Districts: Efforts in Los Angeles to Effect Change, RAND Corporation (TR-428-LA), 2006

Edward Keating et al., The Effects of A-76 Cost Comparisons on DoD Civilian Education and Training, RAND Corporation (DB-442-OSD), 2006

Susan M. Gates et al., Ensuring the Quality and Productivity of Education and Professional Development Activities: A Review of Approaches and Lessons for DoD, RAND Corporation (MR-1257-OSD), 2004

Jaana Juvonen et al., Focus on the Wonder Years: Challenges Facing the American Middle School, RAND Corporation (MG-139-EDU), 2004

Recent Media Appearances

Interviews: City News Service, Los Angeles; Los Angeles Daily News; Santa Monica Star

Publications

Analysis and Recommendations on the Company-Grade Officer Shortfall in the Reserve Components of the U.S. Army - 2011

Making Summer Count: How Summer Programs Can Boost Children's Learning - 2011

Summer Counts: Making Summer Programs Part of the Learning Equation - 2011

Promoting Quality and Variety Through the Public Financing of Privately Operated Schools in Qatar - 2010

State of the States: The Search for Ways to Improve Instructional Leadership Zeroes in on 6 Policy Areas - 2010

Building Cohesive Leadership Systems to Improve School Leadership - 2009

Improving School Leadership: The Promise of Cohesive Leadership Systems - 2009

Aligning Post-Secondary Educational Choices to Societal Needs: A New Scholarship System for Qatar - 2008

Extending the Reach of Arts Education - 2008

Redesigning Qatar's Post-Secondary Scholarship System - 2008

Redesigning Qatar's Post-Secondary Scholarship System (Arabic version) - 2008

Revitalizing Arts Education Through Community-Wide Coordination - 2008

A New System for K-12 Education in Qatar - 2007

A New System for K-12 Education in Qatar (Arabic version) - 2007

Education for a New Era: Design and Implementation of K-12 Education Reform in Qatar - 2007

Education for a New Era, Executive Summary: Design and Implementation of K-12 Education Reform in Qatar - 2007

An Introduction to Qatar’s Primary and Secondary Education Reform - 2006

Governing Urban School Districts: Efforts in Los Angeles to Effect Change - 2006

The Effects of A-76 Cost Comparisons on DoD Civilian Education and Training - 2006

Options for Changing the Governance System of the Los Angeles Unified School District: Presented to the Presidents’ Joint Commission on LAUSD Governance - 2005

Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) and Organizational Restructuring in the DoD: Implications for Education and Training Infrastructure - 2004

Base Realignment and Closure: An Opportunity to Reassess DoD's Civilian Education and Training Infrastructure - 2004

Focus on the Wonder Years: Challenges Facing the American Middle School - 2004

Problems and Promise of the American Middle School - 2004

A Strategic Governance Review for Multi-organizational Systems of Education, Training, and Professional Development - 2003

Strategic Assessment and Development of Interorganizational Influence in the Absence of Hierarchical Authority - 2003

Civilian Education and Training in the Department of Defense: How Can We Gauge Its Value? - 2001

Ensuring the Quality and Productivity of Education and Professional Development Activities: A Review of Approaches and Lessons for DoD - 2001