Amy Wold, a former environmental reporter with The Advocate, who later worked with statewide natural resources organizations, died on May 29. 

Wold, a native of the Pacific Northwest, joined The Advocate in 2000 as environmental reporter and spent the next 16 years reporting on Louisiana and Baton Rouge area environmental issues.

“Amy was passionate about the environment and had a deep understanding of all the issues that went along with covering it,” said Fred Kalmbach, The Advocate’s managing editor. “She always reported her stories in an even-handed way. More than that, she was a kind person and a great colleague.”

In the summer of 2016, she helped cover the Baton Rouge area’s devastating floods. 

Wold went on to join The Water Institute in Baton Rouge, a nonprofit research institution, in 2017 as director of communications. 

“Amy was an inspiring woman,” said Alyssa Dausman, the Water Institute’s senior vice-president and chief scientist. “She taught me and so many how to communicate well and work with journalists to support coastal restoration grounded in science.”  

In 2021, while at the Institute, Wold received the Coastal Stewardship Award from the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana for her work as a champion of the coast.

In 2024, Wold joined the Louisiana Wildlife Federation, based in Baton Rouge, as policy director.

The nonprofit works to preserve the state’s natural resources.

“So many people in the coastal restoration, environmental and research communities knew Amy and appreciated her intellect, kindness and professionalism,” the Federation said in a statement. “She made a lasting impact on addressing and understanding the challenges of natural resources management in Louisiana.”

Advocate Reporter David Mitchell contributed to this article.