General Information

Prof. Daniel Aaron Austin grew up in Chicago, Illinois, USA.  He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mandarin and Chinese languages at Brigham Young University.  He studied law at Columbia University School of Law, where he received his Juris Doctorate degree.  Dr. Austin earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Austin practiced commercial and bankruptcy law for 25 years, representing clients ranging from individuals to Fortune 100 companies in state and federal courts throughout the U.S.  He taught political science at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania for four years, and bankruptcy and commercial law at Northeastern University School of Law for six years, where he was an associate professor.  Dr. Austin has published five books, including, most recently, Business Bankruptcy Law in Focus (Wolters Kluwer, 2017).  He has published numerous articles on insolvency law, and presented at many national and international conferences.  His work has been cited extensively in the media, court opinions, blogs, and other commentary.

Dr. Austin’s research interests include the effects and implications of consumer student loan debt and consumer medical debt, in addition to various business bankruptcy law topics.  His current projects include insolvency practice in China and empirical studies of US consumer bankruptcy debtors.  Professor Austin is also an accomplished watercolor artist, and his work has been shown in juried shows and galleries.

Expertise&Research

The effects and implications of consumer student loan debt and consumer medical debt

Business bankruptcy law topics

Education

Ph.D. in Political Science of the University of Pennsylvania.

M.A .in Political Science of the University of Pennsylvania.

Bachelor of Arts degree in Mandarin and Chinese languages of Brigham Young University

Juris Doctorate degree of Columbia University School of Law

Teaching

Business Law II（Invite Lecture）