Austin Council

In the true fashion of a courageous leader, Austin Council asks us to reframe our understanding of what it means to lead with courage.

While it is easy to associate courageous leadership with frontline action and large-scale acts of bravery, Austin defines it as “the willingness to use your voice to advocate for yourself or on behalf of others against some perceived opposition” in any capacity. Sometimes that means asking for help when you’re embarrassed to do so, or having the courage to take a much-needed mental health day in a world that tells us to prioritize productivity.

Austin said, “courageous leadership is not something on a pedestal to be attained, but a skill that anyone can practice.”

Austin Council is a collegiate assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education. He is also the director of the department’s leadership and social change minor, which collaborates with the Leadership and Social Change Residential College.

The minor “introduces students to the academic study of leadership and provides them with interdisciplinary skills to solve complex societal issues at the local, national, and international levels.”

Beyond teaching practical leadership skills, the minor encourages students to reflect on the relationship between their individual values and the values of the communities they serve, to align leadership and purpose. Students are given opportunities to put their lessons into practice through hands-on community service.

Austin's nominator said, “He has created an amazing course in which students work reciprocally and ethically in our local community in order to make positive change.”

When it comes to community service, Austin teaches his students the importance of intentionality — another pillar of courageous leadership. He makes sure that all service-learning opportunities are mutually beneficial and not extractive or burdensome to community partners.

The leadership and social change minor and learning living community have had meaningful, lasting impacts on students and their communities.

Austin has also formed a chapter of the Heterodox Academy at Virginia Tech to promote civic dialogue and intellectual curiosity among faculty, staff, and students across campus.

His nominator said Austin exemplifies why humility in leadership is so extraordinary, noting, “He's an excellent scholar, teacher, and leader, but he is always looking for ways to grow as a person and as an educator.”

Outside of his work on campus, Austin is a leader in his church. He is also working with faculty members from Virginia Tech, New River Community College, and Radford University on a project to collaborate on local service-learning opportunities.

For modeling what it means to lead with intentionality, humility, and care to the next generation of courageous leaders, Student Affairs is proud to present the Aspire! Award for Prepare for a Life of COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP to Austin Council.