Abby is a Community Development Officer woking on sea level rise issues with our Center for Climate and Community.

Having contributed her skills in project management and science communication to various community development endeavors, Abby understands the value of being an active participant in imagining, creating, and implementing solutions for resilient and sustainable communities. Prior to joining the Island Institute, she worked as Science Communication faculty at Mount Desert Biological Laboratory and as an Instructor of Record at the University of Maine, Orono. She also previously worked as the program coordinator for the Maine New Leadership Program at the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center and as a project manager at the Sensing Storm Surge Initiative through the University.

Currently a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Maine, Abby’s work is centered around partnering with community science efforts focused on environmental risks, such as sea level rise, to use science communication and facilitated conversations as a way to help groups organize participants and collectively move towards collaborative action. Before beginning her doctoral studies, Abby earned her master’s in communication studies with a focus in sustainability science from the University of Maine.

Abby currently lives in Harpswell, Maine, with her partner, Ben, and animal companions Annie and Maeby, and finds joy in taking their camper van on road trips, caring for her plants, learning the mandolin, listening to stories, and knitting warm clothes for loved ones.