Staff Directory
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Laura Armstrong
Executive Director
Laura is a social and environmental justice advocate and community convener. She is driven by collaboration and justice. A systems-thinker with a passion for organizational development, Laura began as WSLB’s Executive Director in October of 2025.
Laura’s own life-changing experiences as a young person mirror the programs at the WSLB: mentorship, international immersion, service-learning, and leadership development through team-based sports. This personal connection to the mission, fuels Laura to lead the WSLB as a sustainable and efficient agency, expanding program access to communities with the highest barriers.
Based in central Washington, Laura started her career as a community organizer at a nonprofit affordable housing developer. There, she partnered with a small rural farmworker community to co-design, fundraise and ultimately build a community park. Originally from the northeast, she returned and spent a few years in New York City and Washington, D.C. where she pursued domestic microlending and community and public health, focused on eliminating access barriers among rural communities.
All the while missing the Yakima Valley, Laura returned in 2015 to serve as the executive director of La Casa Hogar, an education and immigrant-serving nonprofit, for over 6 ½ years. Passionate about the nexus of community and environmental health, she led the environmental justice team at the WA Dept. of Commerce and implemented the HEAL Act for two years prior to joining WSLB.
Laura has a B.A. in Political Science with minors in Latin American studies and poverty studies, a M.A. in Environmental Justice, business certificates from the University of Washington, and has lived and worked in various parts of Mexico throughout her career. In her personal time, you can find her backpacking, volunteering, water coloring, finding ways to use her Spanish, and growing food and flowers.
Phone: +1(360) 250-0553
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Amy Ubungen
Director of Programming
Amy is a professional educator with 25+ years of experience teaching Spanish and leading study abroad programs. Amy began her teaching career in Florida, where she taught both middle and high school in diverse subjects including Spanish, mathematics, bilingual classes for English language learners, dropout prevention classes, international baccalaureate, and advanced classes for gifted learners.
Prior to her work with the Washington World Fellows program, Amy worked as a Spanish teacher and AVID instructor at Anacortes High School, where she served as Chair of the Spanish Department. She is fluent in Spanish and has an extensive knowledge of Spain, which has contributed to the success of the Washington World Fellows program since 2019. As the Director of Programming at the Washington State Leadership Board, Amy now leads the design and delivery of all WSLB programming.
Amy’s education includes a Masters degree in Teaching from Nova Southeastern University and a Bachelor’s degree in K-12 Education and Spanish.
Phone: +1(564) 999-7425
Email: Amy.Ubungen@wslb.wa.gov
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Grace Ramos-Cartagena
Operations Manager
Grace is a diversity advocate dedicated to eliminating access barriers. Grace began her professional career in higher education, where she had the privilege of developing initiatives that analyzed and improved the retention rates for historically marginalized students. Through her work with students, Grace discovered her passion for equity, inclusion and belonging.
Grace views education as a catalyst for change – ‘when you know better, you do better.’ Grace completed her AA at South Puget Sound Community College, after graduating she enrolled at The Evergreen State College where she completed her BA in Organizational Leadership and her MPA in Public Administration.
In her role as Operations Manager, Grace is a liaison to the Department of Enterprise Services, WaTech, the Office of Financial Mangement, and other agencies that provide operational services to our agency. She also takes the lead on any special projects WSLB gets involved in. In her spare time, Grace can be found weight training, listening to audiobooks, and hanging out with her family.
Phone: +1(564) 201-8264
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Claire Muehleisen
Programs Manager
Claire is an artist, writer, photographer, and design expert. She graduated from The Evergreen State College with a Bachelor of Arts in 2018 and subsequently worked as the Artist in Residence at Arbutus Folk School in Olympia, Washington.
Prior to her work at the Washington State Leadership Board, Claire worked as the Social Media Marketing Manager for a local music production company, where she honed her administrative and media skillsets. Claire brings a deep passion and commitment to equitable development and anti-oppression work.
In her role as Programs Manager, Claire leads the WSLB’s advocacy training initiatives and partners with the Director of Programming to plan, develop, and coordinate the organization’s diverse leadership programs. Claire also mentors students directly, supporting them in strengthening their communication skills and personal development. Alongside managing these efforts, she continues her artistic career by designing much of the WSLB’s outward-facing content.
When she’s not working, Claire enjoys playing music in several local bands and continuing her personal artistic practices of ceramics, oil painting, and dance. It is rare to see her without her dogs, Pepper and Whimsy, by her side.
Phone: +1(360) 815-1342