About Dr. Audrieanna Burgin

Dr. Audrieanna Burgin is a Jacksonville native and one of the few economists leading change in Northeast Florida. Her research and work explore the intersections of education, labor, and wealth, with a focus on building stronger and more inclusive economic systems.

Over her career, Dr. Burgin has helped secure more than $10 million in grants and endowments for higher education institutions and education nonprofits, serving as both a principal investigator and strategist on research and funding initiatives. From 2021 to 2024, she served as the founding director of the University of North Florida’s Diversity in Business Program, a community of support for students of color within the Coggin College of Business — a program launched with a $700,000 investment from CSX.

Dr. Burgin later served as Chief Executive Officer of 904WARD, where she guided the organization’s mission to strengthen community relationships through dialogue, data, and collective action.

A recognized civic leader, Dr. Burgin is a Hightower Fellow (Class of 2023) and was appointed to the Hightower Fellowship Board of Directors in 2025. In 2024, she was named a Top 40 Under 40 honoree by the Jacksonville Business Journal and a Florida Black Fest Top 20 Under 40 recipient. That same year, she was appointed to Mayor Donna Deegan’s African American Advisory Council.

A former Visiting Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of North Florida, Dr. Burgin earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Economics from Florida State University, where her dissertation focused on Educational Attainment and Labor Outcomes. Known for her engaging and accessible teaching style, she’s passionate about translating complex data and economic insights into strategies that drive real community impact.

Dr. Burgin currently serves on the boards of Ascension St. Vincent’s Foundation, the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida, and Becoming Collegiate Academy. Her research interests include Labor Economics, Economic Development, Urban and Regional Economics, and the Economics of Education.

Dr. Burgin holds dual Bachelor of Business Administration degrees in Economics and Management, a Master of Science in Economics, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Economics.