Austin Surber

Austin grew up in Newcastle, Washington and is a current senior at the University of Washington studying International Political Economy. In spring of 2019 his studies led him to León, Spain where he studied Spanish and taught English to children in a local primary school. Through this experience he was able to pursue his passion of learning about other cultures while giving back to the community. After returning to Seattle, he interned with Alex Pedersen’s successful campaign for Seattle City Council in District 4. This opportunity gave him the chance to work with community members and provide a platform for their concerns at a critical time for local politics. Currently, he is completing his capstone project at the Jackson School on energy interventions in Ghana. Austin will be graduating this spring, but is unsure where his next adventure will take him.

Austin was drawn to the World Affairs Council because of its important role in connecting Seattle with the world. He is looking forward to welcoming international visitors to Seattle and working in a non-profit environment.