I lead an engaged research group and work with diverse undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, research associates and partners. Here is list of current and former group members and some photos of engaged field work and collaborations within Wabanaki homelands, Maine, and beyond.

Postdoctoral fellows

Dr. Kaitlyn Haynal, Postdoctoral Research Associate, 2020-2022

Graduate students

Ishani Jayamaha, Ph.D. student, Communication, 2022-present

Glendon Zernicke, M.A. student, Communication, 2021-present

Brennan “B” Lauer, M.A. student, Communication, 2021-present

Gabby Hillyer, Ph.D. candidate, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, 2019-present

Jennifer Smith-Mayo, Ph.D. student, Communication, 2019-present

Michael Clay, Ph.D. candidate, Communication, 2018-present

Mackenzie Peacock, M.A., Communication, 2019-2021

Tyler Quiring, Ph.D. in Communication, 2016-2020

Gabby Hillyer, M.S. in Oceanography and M.S. in Marine Policy, 2017-2019

Carter Hathaway, M.A. in Communication, 2017-2019

John Welton, M.A. in Communication, 2015-2017

Ben Wyman, M.A. in Communication, 2015-2017

Undergraduate students

Brawley Benson, Undergraduate honors thesis, Political Science, 2018-2019

James Robe, Undergraduate honors thesis, Communication,

Boots in the mud

David Dunton teaches students about clamming and shellfish species

Socially distanced team meeting at the Darling Marine Center

Fiona de Koning of Acadia Aquafarms teaches students about the sustainability of mussel farming

Graduate students visit the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve to learn about watershed-based collaborations and enjoy the ocean.

Learning how to clam

Learning about sustainable aquaculture from Hollander and De Koning mussel aquaculture

Checking out water quality issues and aquaculture in the Jordan River with Fiona de Koning

Dr. Sam Roy and I attending a resilience studies conference

Jennifer Smith-Mayo tests an underwater drone for her dissertation research.

James Robe presenting his engaged undergraduate research which helped to create Spire, a UMaine magazine focused on conservation and sustainability

Salamander migrations with Ben Wyman and Kevin Duffy

Sandaruwan Pradeep Kumara Subasinghe Mudiyanselage and Carter Hathaway, CMJ graduate students, attend the Maine Sustainabilty and Water Conference

Dr. Sean Smith and students present engaged research the water quality team in the Bureau of Public Health at the Maine Department of Marine Resources

Gabby Hillyer presents the Maine Shellfish Learning Network’s engaged shellfish research approach at the Shellfish Focus Day

Jennifer Smith-Mayo and Nichole Price discuss environmental-DNA science at Shellfish Focus Day

Gabby Hillyer teaches undergraduate students in an Environmental Communication course about ribbon worms.

Collaborators celebrating and supporting the launch of the Maine Shellfish Learning Network in 2019