Mariska van Aalst

Mariska van Aalst joined the staff of the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation in March 2025 as Program Officer, Community Impact & Policy. Her primary responsibilities include supporting and developing the Foundation’s expanded role in government relations and advocacy work as well as managing arts programming.

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.

Mariska is a member of the inaugural cohort of the CORE Fellowship, the Executive Team of Resilient Lehigh Valley, and Muhlenberg Board of Associates. She was a founding board member of Seven Generations Charter School in Emmaus. Originally from New Jersey, Mariska has lived in the Lehigh Valley since 1998. She received a BA in English from Schreyer Honors College at Penn State.