Lois Wolk was a Democratic member of the California State Assembly and Senate. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1946, Wolk was raised in the suburbs of North Philadelphia, where she attended Lincoln High School before earning a bachelor's degree from Antioch College and a master's degree from the Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies. She taught history and French in Massachusetts and Washington, DC before moving to Davis, California in 1978. An active member of the Davis community for many years, Wolk entered local politics in 1990, successfully running for the Davis City Council. During her eight-year tenure, she would serve two terms as mayor. In 1998, Wolk was elected to the Yolo County Board of Supervisors, where she served two terms before successfully running for the California State Assembly in 2002. Representing the 8th District, Wolk would serve the maximum three terms and advance a slate of significant bills on flood control, hazing in school, and environmental protection. In 2008, Wolk was elected to the California State Senate, representing the 3rd district (2008–2012) and later the 5th district (2012–2016). In the senate, Wolk furthered her reputation as a moderate Democrat who promoted bipartisan solutions. Her advocacy on behalf of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta region also earned her the nickname "Queen of the Delta." Among her legislative achievements were: The Delta Reform Act; bills on urban forestry and performance-based budgeting; creation of the Firearm Violence Research Center at UC Davis; and the End of Life Option Act. In her interview, Wolk discusses growing up in Philadelphia; her studies at Antioch College and Johns Hopkins University; her experience as a teacher; her decision to run for Davis City Council and the many initiatives she undertook; her experience on the Yolo County Board of Supervisors; her election to the state assembly in 2002 and the legislation she undertook during her six-year tenure; her decision to run for the state senate and adapting to the upper house; the legislation she sponsored in the senate, from the Delta Reform Act to the End of Life Option Act; and reflections on her observations and service in California politics.