Austin Thomas

Mr. Austin Thomas serves as an Associate Faculty member in the Department of Music at The Ohio State University at Lima, where he teaches a diverse portfolio of courses across music and general education. Within the Department of Music, he offers a variety of general education and special topics courses that explore music from multiple cultural, historical, and interdisciplinary perspectives. These include History of Rock 'n' Roll, Video Game Music, The World of Classical Music, and Music Citizenship—a course that examines music’s role in civic engagement, cultural identity, and community formation.

Mr. Thomas also leads the Capstone Project – Drumming for Wellness program, a course designed to introduce students to the therapeutic, psychological, and social benefits of rhythm-based practices. Through hands-on ensemble drumming and scholarly research, students explore how music can be used as a tool for wellness, stress reduction, and community engagement, partnered with the Mercy Health - St. Rita’s, Parkinson’s disease cohort.

In addition to his music teaching, Mr. Thomas contributes to the broader academic mission of Ohio State Lima by teaching general education courses such as EXP 1100 (Survey of College Learning) and GENED 1201 (The Ohio State Experience). These first-year success seminars support students in developing academic skills, building campus community, and reflecting on their educational and career goals.

He has also served as an administrator for the Youth Summer Music Program at The Ohio State University’s Columbus campus. Mr. Thomas holds degrees in music education from both The Ohio State University (Columbus) and Florida State University (Tallahassee).

Previously, he developed and implemented a multi-tiered curriculum in music technology and sound engineering that has shaped modern music instruction across Central Florida. His research focuses on contemporary music education at the secondary level, drawing from his background as a high school band director and music technology educator. His research and community outreach in music have also been featured in major music journals and news outlets across the United States.

Mr. Thomas has received several honors for his teaching and program development, including the Award for Excellent Teaching, the Virginia A. Bridges Music Education Teaching Award, and the Joseph A. Leeder Memorial Fund. Over the course of his career, he has secured more than $100,000 in grant funding to support innovative and inclusive music education programming.

Areas of Expertise

• Music Education 

Education

• The Ohio State University, MA in Music Education
• Florida State University, BME in Music Education