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Biography:

As an aspiring architect and urban designer, Austen's goal is to contribute to the public good in the design of structures and urban centers that provide better access for disadvantaged populations. He will continue devoting energies to groups that represent and raise diverse voices. Overcoming adversity and fostering a sense of belonging translate into a kind of persistence that fuels success. Resilient design generates from wide participation of people from diverse backgrounds which allows for an expansive view of the needs of the community and as an architect envisioning the future of our cities, a process he wants to be involved in. Austen plans to attend UC Berkeley’s College of Environmental Design Ph.D. program.

Research: 

His research interests include Resilient Design, Urban Density, and Adaptive Re-use. His research explored the pandemic-implied transformation of newly emptied real estate into affordable vertical neighborhoods and the idea of a nonphysical bridge across history and culture that extended families can provide. This suggested an exciting interplay between housing futures and public spaces—intimate in character and scale, generous in diverse cross-section. 

Research Faculty Mentor:

, Department of Environmental Design

Austen's McNair Scholars mentor was Jasmine Garland.