Born on the Central Coast of California, Catherine learned from a young age how vital it is to protect the environment. One could typically find her frequenting the nearby Carmel Beach, hiking the Big Sur mountains, or exploring the trails at Pinnacles National Park with friends. Some of her fondest and earliest memories include learning to care for our planet during school trips to nearby nature reserves such as the Elkhorn Slough, a beautiful ecological habitat for thousands of native species, as well as the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Her passion for public policy and bettering her community began in high school, through her membership with the local CAL YMCA Youth & Government (Y&G) program. After drafting bills and engaging in debates with her peers, she became fascinated with the power of the youth voice as well as the legislative process. It drove her to be one of the youngest attendees at her Congressman’s Town Hall meetings, work with her Y&G peers to organize a voter pre-registration drive at her high school, as well as offer student input during a teachers’ symposium about gun control and school safety protocols following the horrific 2018 Parkland massacre, and much more. After grasping the tremendous impact the youth can make, she knew she had to continue this path by studying Political Science at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB).

Her initial desire to promote civic engagement in her high school evolved into a lifestyle led by policy and action. She had heard that Earth Day was partly influenced by the 1969 oil spills in Santa Barbara, and she noticed how great of an effort her university makes to be green. From coordinating a local thrifting event to promote sustainable fashion to lobbying in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., and studying Net Zero and renewable energy sources, she found joy in improving her community and contributing to a better world. On the night after UCSB graduation, she flew to Washington, D.C. to intern for Santa Barbara’s Congressman Salud Carbajal, and support his office and constituents. She then interned with the Adam Frisch Congressional campaign, where she assisted with grassroots outreach efforts and learned about campaign strategy as well as how to truly connect with one’s voter base. In her leisure, Catherine continues to celebrate the outdoors, whether it be going for a morning stroll around her neighborhood or finding a nearby trail to explore. She is thrilled to join and support Third Way as the Executive Coordinator for the Climate and Energy Program.