Audrey Ross, Auburn University

Audrey Ross, a second year student at Auburn University, believes in the power of ordinary citizens to produce meaningful change in their communities. In the summer of 2012, Ross worked with Auburn University’s Living Democracy program in the town of Valley, Alabama. There she established a unique youth leadership program that allowed young people to voice their hopes for their community and discover the power they had to promote change. She plans to continue her work with the youth of rural communities in Hobson City, Alabama in the summer of 2013. Ross is also a cofounder of Auburn University’s Human Touch Program. Started in response to diversity issues on campus, Ross and her colleagues decided to use their experiences to improve the Auburn community. The Human Touch Program gives students and faculty the opportunity to voice their thoughts and opinions about diversity. Since its founding, the Human Touch Program has succeeded in making significant changes in Auburn’s diversity policies.