In their Community Development Officer role with the Island Institute, Alex serves in the Center for Sustainable Communities providing a key role in island community support and business resilience.

Prior to joining  Island Institute, Alex worked for private, nonprofit, and government organizations at the local, state, and national levels, and brings a wide range of experience to their role. Among other things, they started a community garden in Connecticut, developed a unique program for young business entrepreneurs at the University of Vermont Extension, managed the State of Vermont Farm to School Program, worked on and managed several political campaigns, and served as the communications manager at a cooperative grocery store in Damariscotta, Maine. Alex also volunteered as an advisor for the Old North End Arts and Business Network in Burlington, Vermont, and served on the city’s Development Review Board. Alex has a B.A. from Smith College, where they were an Ada Comstock Scholar, majoring in environmental science and policy. They also hold a Master of Public Administration from the University of Vermont.

After growing up in Connecticut and spending a decade in Vermont, Alex is thrilled to live in Maine, a place that has always felt like home. They are excited to join an incredible team at the Island Institute and continue to feed their passion for supporting local businesses and communities through the organization’s mission. When they aren’t working, Alex enjoys hiking and biking around the Midcoast, cooking local food for friends and neighbors, and spending as much time as possible by the ocean. Alex lives with their tuxedo cat, Moxie, in South Newcastle, up the hill from the Sheepscot River.