Autumn (A.J.) Hough is the Manager of Rural Events and Special Assistant to the CEO of Groundswell, Michelle Moore. Autumn assists in optimizing Moore’s schedule and is working with our team to create a roadshow based on Moore’s book Rural Renaissance: Revitalizing America’s Hometowns Through Clean Power. She looks forward to using the toolkit outlined in Rural Renaissance on the road and in rural communities to support community efforts toward clean energy futures by connecting individuals with the tools to cultivate local visions of their own clean energy future.
Autumn sought an education centered on environmental and social justice at Warren Wilson College (WWC) in Asheville, North Carolina, where she studied Anthropology and Sociology, with minors in both Peace and Justice Studies and the Spanish language. While at Warren Wilson, Autumn spent all four years working at the library in various capacities, and after graduation, she worked for the Knox County Public Library in her hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee. Autumn is passionate about the roles libraries play in building healthy communities and is excited to continue building resilient communities with Groundswell.
Autumn was also a founding member of Warren Wilson College’s Alma Shippy Coalition. The group was formed by WWC students in 2020 to support demands delivered to the school administration by BIPOC groups on campus. Autumn is passionate about advocating for change and the power of community organizing, and she was bolstered by seeing students make a firsthand impact on campus. Outside of work, Autumn enjoys playing tennis, traveling, and trying new foods alongside the people she loves.