Austin Spence

Environmental & Climate Justice Agent

Austin joins the Ormond Center in his final year of graduate studies at Duke. Originally from Severna Park, Maryland, Austin made his way south for undergrad, then east for life in North Carolina. Following a strong relationship with outdoor spaces and the communities involved with them, Austin joined Duke Divinity School to pursue training in environmental stewardship and theological community-building. During the first year of his M.Div. program, Austin discerned a further call to public service by studying policy and joined Sanford with a small but mighty cohort of dual-degree students. Since then, he has navigated the intersection of ethical policymaking rooted in faith-based altruism and creation care.

Living in Raleigh, Austin worships with the Southeast Raleigh Table UMC, where his faith community is devoted to showing up inside and outside of the church grounds for a life of flourishing for all. As a ONE Wake member, Southeast Raleigh Table organizes for equity and capacity building in Wake County.

All of this converged to bring Austin to the Ormond Center to serve as a Church & Community Student Agent of Thriving for his last academic year. What excites him the most about the role is the opportunity to convene with communities adversely affected by climate change in the Carolinas, a time for collaboration alongside science and faith experts, and the chance to create strategies towards renewal in the face of a threatening climate.

After graduation, Austin plans to continue his commitment to serving the triangle and the state through environmental/ energy policy, as well as offering his theological training to his church and ONE Wake when needed. When he is not studying on campus, Austin enjoys running or biking around the triangle area, walking with his partner, Emily, and their dog, Frankie, and adding to his workload by tackling sci-fi/ fantasy books.