Home > News > A Faithful Community Servant – Ashton G. Cumberbatch
Ashton Cumberbatch

photo courtesy: Andrew Chan

What position(s) do you hold, besides being a HousingWorks Austin board member?

I serve as an Executive Director, Foundations, with the Seton Healthcare Family; and as a volunteer policy advisor for Austin Mayor Steve Adler. Previously, I was police monitor for the City of Austin; a partner in the law firm of McGinnis, Lochridge & Kilgore, L.L.P.; and chief of the Trial Division at the Travis County District Attorney’s Office.

I also function as the executive pastor at Agape Christian Ministries, and I am on the Executive Board of Directors for Austin Bridge Builders Alliance (ABBA), a faith-based intermediary that builds bridges within the Christian Church and connects resources in the Church to needs in the Austin region.

Other current board service includes: Immediate-Past President of the Austin Area Research Organization (AARO); Immediate-Past Chair of the Board for the Greater Austin Black Chamber of Commerce; Executive Board, The 100 Black Men of Austin; I Live Here, I Give Here; and the Greater Austin Crime Commission.

Why-is-AshtonI am married to my bride of 36 years, Co-Pastor Jennifer R. Cumberbatch. We were blessed with four children: Graham, Virginia, Benjamin and Elizabeth.

Where did you grow up and attend school?

I grew up in New York City and attended undergrad at Brown University in Providence, RI. I earned my law degree from the University of Texas at Austin.


ashton-quote-1What are your major career accomplishments?

I have received many awards and honors including

  • American Diabetes Association, Father of the Year;
  • Austin Area Interreligious Ministries (now IACT) Hope Award;
  • American Heart Association Power Award;
  • The Central Texas African American Family Support Conference’s Garnet F. Coleman Eternal Flame Award;
  • University of Texas School of Law’s Thurgood Marshall Legal Society’s Distinguished Alumni Award;
  • Austin NAACP Outstanding Service Award;
  • City of Austin Distinguished Service Award; and
  • Austin Metropolitan YMCA Will W. Miller Volunteer Leadership Award.


What are some interests of  yours not related to your work or HousingWorks?

I enjoy road cycling, music, automobile racing and photography.

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