As I continued to grow as a skier and a student, climate change remained at the peak of my focus. After high school, I attended the University of Colorado, Boulder, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs with a concentration in Global Environmental Affairs. I knew that solutions to the climate emergency and environmental protection meant more than just me bringing reusable bags to the grocery store, and that if we want to be effective in combating it, we would need global, policy-based solutions. 

Immediately following my college graduation in 2020, our country was facing arguably the most important election of our lifetimes. I moved back to the Tahoe basin and joined Brynne Kennedy’s congressional campaign, who was running against avid climate denier Rep. Tom McClintock. My time as the North Lake Tahoe and Truckee field organizer on Brynne’s campaign was incredibly rewarding. I truly learned how much passion I had for protecting the Sierra Nevada region. Although Brynne did not win, the skills, lessons and local connections I gathered from her campaign will last a lifetime. 

I left the campaign feeling more determined than ever to continue the fight in preserving and protecting the places I love most. When the opportunity arose to join the team at Sierra Business Council, I knew it was a perfect fit. I couldn’t imagine an organization that aligns so seamlessly with my ideals, values, and passion that I hold for the place I call home.