Lauren Sommer is a Bay Area native who recently returned from a stint in the Big Apple. Her background is in environmental policy and she is a graduate of Cornell University with a degree in political science and policy. Most recently, she worked as a Web writer and outreach coordinator for the non-profit group Environmental Defense.

Sommer has had brief previous lives as a ski instructor in Tahoe, California, and as a travel writer for Frommer's in France. Her work has appeared in National Geographic Adventure, Sierra magazine, and Boldtype.com. Sommer produces radio stories and Web content for QUEST.