Kayle Lauck

Kayle is a rising senior at the University of Notre Dame where she studies Political Science with minors in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (PPE) and Education, Schooling, and Society (ESS). Growing up in a rural community in South Dakota, Kayle developed a passion for improving rural life. She is passionate about improving rural mental healthcare access and worked with South Dakota State University Extension to distribute mental healthcare vouchers and coordinate suicide prevention training. She also co-founded South Dakota College Connections, a non-profit dedicated to aiding South Dakota high school students navigate the college admissions process. Kayle's commitment to rural development brought her to Washington for the National Farmers Union Legislative Fly-In, where she advocated for small farmers and sustainable agricultural policies. She continued that work during a four-month internship with the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, where she worked at the intersection of agriculture and nutrition policies. Kayle has also studied and volunteered in Poland, Israel, and Ireland, to further understand histories of oppression, environmental peace-building, and agricultural sustainability. While on campus, Kayle has served as a sustainability co-chair in her student government and co-founded the Agricultural Student Association. This summer, Kayle will work with FoodRecovery.org, a non-profit that diverts food waste from landfills to those in need. Kayle is excited to learn more about non-profit management while building knowledge about food systems in the United States.

Policy placement: Foodrecovery.org

Washington, D.C.