anne lewenberg
President
As an undergraduate, Anne (she/they) spent four semesters “on the bus” traveling with the Audubon Expedition Institute. She earned a Master of Science in Ecological Teaching and Learning and went on to pursue doctoral coursework in interdisciplinary education. She is a seasoned educator and nonprofit/school administrator who has worked with all age groups. Currently, Anne serves as both the co-director of teaching and learning and the director of the middle school program at Touchstone Community School in Grafton, Massachusetts. She is the mom of an awesome four-year-old. She has lived intentionally in a living collective focused on social justice for the past 20 years. Anne has a deep commitment to ecological and social justice, and she has the motivation and ability to make projects that embody these values come to life.
coleen o’connell
Vice President
Coleen (she, her, hers) loves all things nature – nourished by her years with the Audubon Expedition Institute where she was a student, faculty, then Education Director. She went on to design, direct and teach the Master of Science in Ecological Teaching and Learning at Lesley University for teachers from around the country. She has started two other non-profit organizations and has experience as a facilitator, director, and board member. She was on the Leadership Team in developing Belfast Cohousing & Ecovillage where she resides in Belfast, ME. She also serves on the New England Environmental Education Board and was Maine Environmental Educator of the Year in 2013 and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the New England Environmental Education Association in 2018.
Virginia Clark Treasurer
Virginia (she/her) holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Colorado College and brings a rich and varied background in service, science, and small business leadership. For over 25 years, she has served as a dedicated EMT with her local volunteer fire department, embodying a deep commitment to community health and safety. As an enrolled agent and owner of a thriving tax business, Virginia enjoys helping clients navigate the complexities of the tax code. When she’s not working or volunteering, she and her husband love traveling the country in their camper van, discovering new places and connecting with people along the way.
Virginia is thrilled to bring her experience and energy to the board of CETL, where she’s passionate about supporting community-driven initiatives and making a meaningful impact.
Martha Harney
Secretary
Martha (she, her, hers) has worked as an elementary science specialist in diverse settings, developing and implementing curricula focused on ecology and systems thinking. She has created and curated teaching materials and professional development for the National Science Teaching Association, including publishing a book and curriculum guide on engineering for early grades. Martha provided workshops for elementary teachers through the teacher-in-residence program at the Museum of Science, Boston, and taught STEM to preservice teachers at Merrimack College. Her work has been inspired by her studies on the shores of Cobscook Bay during her master’s program in Ecological Teaching & Learning at Lesley University. In her free time she enjoys learning Spanish, being on the beach in any weather, and watching ants.
Francine Rodman
As a semi-feral child, Francine (she, her) explored the white pine forests of the Blue Hills Reservation and the shores of Onset Bay in Massachusetts. Later, she chose to attend Suffolk University based on the description of the university's Friedman Field Station. When she first visited the property in 1992, the magic of what is now the Center for Ecological Teaching and Learning captured her heart and soul. Later, as an educational program coordinator, she realized that instead of being a biologist engaged in education, she was an educator who knew a bit about biology. The Downeast region has been her home for more than two decades. She currently shares her days with Calais third graders and loves to share her love of the region with them.
Kathleen Kennedy
Kathleen Kennedy (she, her, hers) fell in love with the natural world as a child exploring the tide pools of Northern California. After becoming land-locked in Montana, she continued to explore terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems with the same enthusiasm as she made Missoula her home. To share that enthusiasm, Kathleen has been teaching science at Big Sky High School for 19 years. Her role as an educator has allowed her to visit schools in Japan and Thailand in cross-cultural exchanges. A trained facilitator in Joanna Macy’s Work That Reconnects, Kathleen incorporates systems thinking and mindfulness into her classroom at every opportunity. Her other passions are live music (don’t ask how many times she has seen the Dave Matthews Band), stand up paddle boarding, Bikram yoga and being a mom to MacKayla. In her rare free time, Kathleen can be found hiking Missoula’s extensive conservation lands with her dog Joe Joe pausing often to take in the sights and sounds along the way.
carl merrill
For over 30 years, Carl (he, him, his) was the director of Suffolk University’s Friedman Field Station, the land that is now The Center for Ecological Teaching and Learning. He brings a depth of knowledge of marine and terrestrial ecology of the Cobscook Bay bioregion as well as institutional history of the site. Research interests include intertidal ecology and protecting and restoring diadromous fish runs in Maine.
Ayala Galton Bassett
Ayala (she, her, hers) developed community organizing skills as a participant in the AmeriCorps program Massachusetts Community Water Watch before attending Hampshire College where she researched ways to support public elementary school teachers who wanted to bring more environmental education lessons into their classrooms. She was a public school teacher for twenty years, teaching science and health to 7th and 8th graders in Brookline, MA. Currently, Ayala is a licensed massage therapist practicing in Boston, specializing in myofascial release, deep tissue, and grief and bereavement massage. She lives in Roslindale, Massachusetts with her husband and their two boys, who all lend a hand tending their memorial pollinator garden grown in honor of her daughter. Ayala loves to read, play games, swim across lakes, spend time immersed in community and nature, and of course root for the Red Sox.
Laura Sebastianelli
A seasoned naturalist, educator, and wildlife technician, Laura empowers others to understand, connect with, and serve the natural world. She holds a Master of Science in Ecological Teaching and Learning.
Laura created and ran natural and cultural history programs for adults and families through the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, the National Park Service, and other organizations. An experienced outdoorswoman, she has often combined science and education with adventure. In Maine’s North Woods, she has conducted track surveys of Canada lynx via snowmobile, howling surveys in search of gray wolves, and guided seniors to Katahdin and other peaks.
Recently retired, she spends most of her time exploring the natural world and especially enjoys listening to and recording natural sounds. Her primary focus since 2017 has been on the citizen science project she founded and leads, “Schoodic Notes: Bird Sounds of Acadia,” a collaboration with Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park.
nick neises
As a teenager, Nick (he, him) discovered his passion for environmental education and found his destiny with the Audubon Expedition Institute (AEI). He finally realized his dream by getting on the bus to study environmental education with an emphasis on renewable energy through AEI and Lesley University. He is enthusiastic about the dual promise of CETL as a location for education and research with direct access to Cobscook Bay. Nick and his wife enjoy exploring the wonders of the Maine coast and reveling in winter and its sports.