
Ascher was born in Oregon and raised on the lands of the Yonkalla nation, now known as the Willamette Valley. Growing up, they would spend school breaks visiting their grandma in rural southern Oregon. This is where they learned to love being outside. Swimming in the rivers, hiking in the nearby Redwoods, catching crawdads—they loved it all. They believe that the relationship between self and the world cannot be one-sided; that they have an obligation to help the planet. In B.C., they believe this means advocating for land back and the resumption of traditional management of our forests by the nations whose territories they walk on. They believe this means remembering the intertwined existence of ourselves and the “natural world”. They believe this means educating, empowering and supporting youth as they lead us towards a more sustainable future.
Ascher moved to B.C. in 2015 to study Forestry at UBC and earned an honours B.Sc. in Forest Sciences with a concentration in Forest Pathology and Genetics. At UBC, they worked as a research assistant in diverse fields from the human dimensions of conservation to studies on plant pathogens. Ascher has also held many jobs in education, from leading youth backpacking trips to teaching cycling in schools. Throughout this, they realized that their main passion is helping students feel empowered and giving them support in finding their voice.
Ascher is so excited to be a part of the Sierra Club of BC Team! They deeply believe in the mission of the Sierra Club. Ascher is very excited to be working in the lower mainland talking about climate change and how we can make the world better for everyone! When not teaching, you can find them running in all weather and eating incredible amounts of quesadillas.