Mariska van Aalst joined the staff of the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation in March 2025 as Program Officer, Community Impact & Policy. Prior to joining the foundation, Mariska served as Lehigh Valley Regional Manager for U.S. Senator Bob Casey, Jr. and Deputy District Director for U.S. Congresswoman Susan Wild. Before her roles in government, Mariska was a professional writer and editor. She spent 10 years as a magazine and book editor at Rodale, Inc., then became a nonfiction book collaborator and co-wrote eight New York Times and Washington Post bestsellers. Her work is published in over 30 languages.