As Island Institute’s new Senior Government Relations Officer, Lori brings a deep understanding of Maine’s legislative landscape and a lifelong commitment to social and environmental advocacy. Lori is currently serving her fourth term in the Maine House of Representatives where she serves as Assistant House Majority Leader.

She previously served six years on the Legislature’s Environment and Natural Resources Committee, where she was most recently House Chair. She was also co-chair of the 2022 Commission to Study Water as a Resource in the State of Maine and was a member of the Taxation Committee, State and Local Government Committee, Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee, and House Chair of Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee. Gramlich served on the Portland Public Schools Board of Education from 2005 to 2008, where she was chair of the Legislative Affairs and Policy Committees and also served on the Finance Committee. She is also State Lead for the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators.

Gramlich earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of New England and has nearly 40 years of experience in nonprofit prevention-based social work, advocacy and social justice initiatives. She has also worked at the Maine Department of Health and Human Services and served as communications director for Maine Senate President Beverly Daggett.

She is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Southern Maine School of Social Work and previously served as executive director of the National Association of Social Workers, Maine Chapter.