CONTACT INFORMATION:

For state-level issues and state trends:

Kimberly Larson

Deputy Political Director
State PIRGs
(206) 357-1788
(213) 251-3680 x323

For federal issues:
Elizabeth Hitchcock

Communications Director
U.S. PIRG
(202) 546-9707

Luke Swarthout
Higher Education Associate, U.S. PIRG
(202) 546-9707 ·

Expertise: higher education, student aid, student organizing, textbooks, youth voting/young voters

Background: Mr. Swarthout works in Washington, D.C., on higher education access and affordability issues on behalf of college students across the country.  He develops policy, lobbies and writes on federal student aid issues, student loan policy and federal higher education policy.  Mr. Swarthout has been widely quoted as an advocate for students and an expert on student aid policy in newspapers across the country including the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times and the USA Today.

Before coming onto staff with the PIRGs, Mr. Swarthout spent four years working with MASSPIRG as a student at Amherst College.  He worked on state and federal energy policy, wilderness issues and youth voting.  In addition, Mr. Swarthout served for two years as the chair of the MASSPIRG student board of directors, one year as the chair of the National Student Forum, vice-chair of the U.S. PIRG Board of Directors, and as a member of the advisory board to the New Voters Project.

Education: B.A., Amherst College, 2004

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