Ash Lauth '06
She/Her/Hers
Major: English; Political Science
Job Title: California Field Campaigner
Organization: Center for Biological Diversity
Host Date: Tuesday, January 9, 2018 and Thursday, January 11, 2018*
Time: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Location: Oakland, CA

*Ash will be hosting two separate groups of students on two days

What student groups/clubs/activities were you involved in when you were a student at Puget Sound?

  • Women’s Varsity Crew 2002-2006.
  • Women’s Crew representative for the NCAA Student Athlete Advisory Committee 2004-2006.
  • Dorians Choir 2003-2005.
  • Peer-to-Peer Student Advising 2004-2005.
  • Award of Merit for Distinction in Student Leadership, December 2005.
  • Leadership in university clubs including Students for a Sustainable Campus, Students for Fair Trade, Campus Greens, and Amnesty International; 2002-2006.
  • Volunteer for Puget Sound community service including Puget Creek Restoration, Working Waterfront, and Protect Zangle Cove; 2002-2006.
  • Traveled abroad to 27 countries in North America, Central and Northern Europe, Oceania, Southeast and Central Asia, and West Africa, 1997-2008.

How would you describe your role and organization?

As a community organizer, campaigner, and advocate, I work everyday to combat climate change at a statewide level. I work with communities across California, working to beat back the fossil fuel industry, building up their skills and grassroots power. I also work on strategy, envisioning a path to leverage resources towards climate victory. I finally work at a policy level, shaping statewide climate legislation and lobbying statewide elected officials.

How would the skills and competencies gained through a liberal arts education be beneficial in the type of work you do?

Much of my work is intersectional, building off the interdisciplinary nature of a liberal arts education. My work demands a high level of synthesis and analysis - seeing the story behind the issues, and it requires a high level of personal interaction. Both the intellectual and hands-on nature of a liberal arts education are well used here.

What can a student expect to experience by job shadowing you?

You can expect to see the behind-the-scenes of how a grassroots campaign mobilizes and organizes to win - from on the streets to in the Capital hallways. You'll get into the nitty gritty of making a campaign work, and you may even meet with allies, constituents, adversaries, and/or decision-makers. You'll also get insight into how we make tough strategic decisions and why.