Chairman Augustine brings same drive that rebuilt New Orleans transit to Xavier board 

By Keziah-Yvonne Smith  

When riding the Canal Street rail line in the heart of New Orleans, one may not realize that just 20 years prior, the entire transit system had been destroyed. There is one man to thank for the system seen today: Justin Augustine.  

Augustine is the chairman of the Xavier University of Louisiana Board of Trustees, but he was a proud Xavier graduate long before that. 

Augustine attended Xavier from 1976 to 1980, studying accounting. According to Augustine, Xavier played a pivotal role in how he developed. 

“Xavier was the focal point in my career in terms of what I ultimately became as a professional. But more importantly, it instilled in me an understanding that no matter what your endeavors are, you have the ability tosucceed and be at the very top level,” he said. 

While studying at Xavier, Augustine balanced both school and work despite the challenge of doing so. 

“I was the eldest of four kids. My mom was a single mother, and I had to work to help support my mother, my brother and siblings,” he said. “It was tough. But it was a commitment I made to myself that there would be nothing I would allow to get in my way of success. So, I did what I had to do and I persevered. It was hard; I was tired. But I had a goal I set for myself.” 

Augustine started working in finance and later in transportation, serving as vice president at Transdev Services, Inc., the largest transportation company in the world. Through his experience in transportation, Augustine would embark on one of his biggest projects yet: rebuilding New Orleans’ transportation services after Hurricane Katrina. 

“When Katrina hit New Orleans, everything was destroyed, including the transportation network. As I watched from afar and listened to all of my family members talk about the destruction of the city, the question became, ‘How can I help the city?'” Augustine said. “I remember my grandmother, who is now deceased and was 89 at the time, saying, ‘Justin, I want you to take that big old company you work for and come help put our city back together.’ I had to figure out a way I could help the city rebuild itself.” 

With the help of partners, Augustine was able to restore infrastructure, build new streetcars, buy new buses, build three rail lines and more, all within 10 years. Augustine was recognized by former President Barack Obama with the Champion of Change Award in 2014 and was knighted by the country of France, a moment he will never forget. 

“I remember looking out into the crowd of probably 400 or 500 people at my event. I just looked at my kids, my son and my daughter, to see their dad standing there, one year receiving the presidential award, the next year being honored by the country of France,” he said. “It was a wonderful feeling. In the sense of accomplishment my kids could see, there’s nothing in the world you can’t do. When I was a kid at Xavier, I did not think I would be doing that kind of stuff. Who thinks about becoming a knight?” 

In 2019, Augustine became the chairman of the Xavier Board of Trustees. Under his leadership, the board set numerous goals for the university, including expanding infrastructure, building a new dormitory, renovating a nearly 100-year-old administration building and launching a capital campaign with the goal of raising $500 million for the university. 

“For the first time ever, we put up a capital campaign, which I set out to raise half a billion dollars. That was unheard of at Xavier. It had never attempted to do something like that,” Augustine said. “For me, it was simple. If Mother Katherine Drexel could spend every nickel she had from a trust fund 100 years ago, we can raise an equal amount of money.” 

Augustine hopes the campaign will cover financial assistance for students, student well-being services such as mental health support, campus innovation and faculty. For Augustine, the greatest value is the impact the board has on the student body. 

“My favorite part of being board chair is just seeing the happiness on the faces of the students at Xavier University, knowing we play a vital role in providing resources, academic programs and a university that will give our student body everything they need,” he said. “More importantly, just seeing the impact our student body has on our nation as they graduate and become the professionals that they ultimately are.” 

With all his accomplishments, colleagues say Augustine remains steadfast and inspiring. 

“When you see Justin Augustine, or you are sitting on his back porch at a barbecue, you do not think he is a knight, but he is. He can sit with you, very simple and humble, but the range of his accomplishments means he has done great things and has chosen to give such a significant piece of his time to Xavier,” said University President Reynold Verret.