Austin Bates is an advocate for the American Dream. His upbringing as the son of an English second language teacher and small business owner exposed him to a revolving door of cultures and ideas. The wide range of people he grew up around influenced his decision to obtain a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Studies from Franklin & Marshall College. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Public Policy from Arizona State University. Austin works to combine cultural and policy analysis to bridge communities, improve governance, and equitably expand the American Dream. He has previously worked in voter turnout, social work, and as a constituent services liaison at the Arizona Governor’s office. Austin is currently working at the Arizona Auditor General.