Olivia Campbell

Clearing the Air

Since graduating from Gettysburg in 2002, Olivia Campbell has been playing political hardball to protect the environment.

It was late August 2005, and Olivia Campbell had important things to do.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had finalized a rule to let coal-burning power plants trade emissions that included mercury, a toxic substance that's a threat to humans and wildlife, and Olivia, as coordinator of the National Wildlife Federation's Clean the Rain Campaign to prevent mercury pollution, was on the phone, on the streets, and drafting papers to mobilize Senate support against it. 

In the end, 47 Senators voted to reject EPA's plan, a strong show of opposition.  Olivia was pleased. "It was an unbelievable showing of support," she says.

Olivia knew in high school that she wanted to work in an environmental field, but didn't know in what area.  Her eventual career path began to take shape her first year at Gettysburg when she saw a poster for the College's Young Democrats Club.  "I said, I think I'm a Democrat.  Let me go check this out."

That experience led her to get involved with the campaign of a Pennsylvania congressional candidate.  A class field trip to the EPA in Washington, D.C., exposed her to life working as an environment professional.  A summer internship with a consulting firm-arranged by a Gettysburg alumnus who worked there-gave her hands-on experience with environmental impact statements and other policy matters.  That work was pivotal when she applied for a job at the National Wildlife Federation.  "I knew about the issues," says Olivia, who, after graduating from Gettysburg, went on to earn a master's degree in environmental law at Vermont Law School.  "It put me above the other candidates." 

Another advantage, she says, is that the broad range of courses she took at Gettysburg has served her well in a profession full of specialists.  "I took classes on science, policy, energy, land use-even religion.  I can read scientific journals and I can understand law.  I know how to analyze and solve problems.  I'm working on mercury, but I can move to another issue because I've learned a little about everything."

At age 24, Olivia has helped get legislation passed that will prevent the release of four tons of mercury contained in older cars.  She has founded an organization to get young people involved in political campaigns and she has served on a citizens' advisory committee to protect the Chesapeake Bay.  She recently was campaign manager for the first woman ever elected as a State Delegate from Calvert County, in southern Maryland.  And she gives much of the credit for this diverse range of accomplishments to Gettysburg:  "When I think of Gettysburg, I think anything is possible."