Lori Arguelles is the chief communications officer for the Union of Concerned Scientists. In her role, she oversees issue campaign communications and brand marketing, digital and web engagement strategies, earned and paid media, and publications and collateral development for the organization.
Prior to joining UCS, Ms. Arguelles was president and chief executive officer of Argue Well Communications, a strategic communications firm she founded. Before launching her firm, Ms. Arguelles served as director of strategic communications and partnerships at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), under the Biden administration. In this role, she led NOAA’s communication strategy, aligning messaging with key policy goals and elevating the agency’s visibility on national and global platforms.
Ms. Arguelles has also served as director of policy engagement at COMPASS Science Communications, where she advanced science-policy dialogue through executive communication strategies and scientist training programs. From 2011 to 2019, she was president and CEO of the Alice Ferguson Foundation. From 2009 to 2011, she served as vice president of media and policy at SeaWeb, directing global ocean conservation messaging and enhancing the organization’s policy presence.
Ms. Arguelles' extensive nonprofit leadership background also includes roles such as founding president and CEO of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and director of corporate communications for Girl Scouts of the USA. She began her career as a radio journalist and served as a press secretary on Capitol Hill.
Ms. Arguelles holds a BA in broadcast journalism and political science from Northern Arizona University and an MA in public communication from American University.