Meet the 2025 Fellows
Ellie Hughes
Chebeague Resilience and Mitigation Fellow (Town of Chebeague Island)
Ellie is serving the Town of Chebeague Island. Much of her work has focused on developing a comprehensive energy program to reduce the high energy cost burden of island living. To date, that has included coordinating municipal building electrification, supporting town decision-making on local energy generation, and organizing community engagement opportunities to expand participation in beneficial electrification projects and energy planning. Wildfire mitigation has been another area of concentration. She is helping organize a weekend of in-the-field wildfire mitigation work in collaboration with the Forest Service and is managing a technical assistance project with national lab scientists to explore alternative biomass management strategies for wildfire risk reduction, energy resilience, and cost savings.
“Entering the real world and starting a career in such an uncertain moment is overwhelming, to put it concisely. To me, this work has been a deeply rewarding experiment in finding agency and hope in community building and local-level action, and I intend to carry it with me in whatever role I take on next.”
Ellie is a Kansas City native who spent the last several years at Middlebury College in Vermont, where she received a bachelor’s degree in environmental policy and cultivated a deep interest in all things environmental justice. She wrote her thesis on the two-way interactions between American national security logic and climate change, with a focus on militarized responses to climate migration taking shape at the southern border. Most recently, her work beyond the classroom has included policy research on topics ranging from a just green transition in Argentina to the intersection of climate change and U.S. defense spending. Ellie is thrilled to take on her new role as a Resilience Corps Fellow because, in the face of overlapping global crises, she finds the greatest hope in community-level action. She is excited to learn the ins and outs of local government, community engagement, and climate policy implementation in order to support resilience and just transition efforts. In her free time, Ellie enjoys hiking, sailing, skiing, and knitting, and she looks forward to exploring all that Maine has to offer.
Ellie's Bio:
As a fellow with the City of Portland, Brenda works to support community resilience. She runs the Electrify Bikes! program, which increases reliable transportation for Portland residents who meet income requirements by offering a discount on an electric bike. Additionally, she creates signs explaining resilient infrastructure to raise awareness about resources and the importance of preparing for extreme weather.
“I dreamed of working in this field beginning as an undergraduate student. Contributing to pragmatic and effective programs that improve quality of life for everyone is what I desire to do. Judiciously spending resources where they are best used and most needed- especially by people who have been left out- is a hope that has been fulfilled with this position.”
Brenda Kirlin
Portland Resilience Fellow (City of Portland)
Brenda is from San Antonio, Texas. Her passions for resiliency, verdancy, justice, and support for communities led her to major in Environmental Studies and Spanish and minor in Public Health and Urban Poverty Studies at Saint Louis University. Following graduation, she worked as a COVID-19 contact tracer for the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, then in ecological restoration in the Salish Sea area. Then, she returned to Texas and worked in environmental compliance for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Most recently, she built and maintained trails with the New Hampshire Conservation Corps. She is excited to contribute to mitigating climate change, as well as learn more about urban planning and the wide variety of sustainable endeavors the City of Portland partners with communities to undertake. Brenda hopes to work in sustainable energy, ecological restoration, or in increasing organization-wide sustainability. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, camping, exploring new cities, and baking.
Brenda's Bio:
Robyn Landes
South Portland Resilience Fellow (City of South Portland)
As a Resilience Fellow, Robyn is serving with the City of South Portland and is focused on communications, community engagement, and outreach for a wide range of sustainability programs and initiatives, building both social and community resilience. In her role, she works on programs that bring South Portland community members together, from planning South Portland's inaugural Earth Day Resource Fair to recruiting volunteers for community programs like the Swap Shop and the Resilient Yards coaching program, which connects neighbors to transform lawns into resilient landscapes.
"Focusing on positive and uplifting narratives, I am helping to connect the community with sustainability initiatives by writing monthly articles in the South Portland Sentry, contributing to our department's newsletter, using social media to promote our programs and events, and creating communications materials, like information about switching to electric tools, to ensure our work is equitably reaching all residents. Through my role, I have found joy in contributing to programs that spark ripple effects as inspiration for other communities, expanding my knowledge of local government and urban planning through hands-on experiences, and building community with other fellows.
As a recent college graduate, I was drawn to the Resilience Corps fellowship as a way to jumpstart my career in a meaningful way. As I transition away from college, the fellowship has grounded me in both community and connection, as I’ve been able to build relationships in the Portland area and be part of a larger network of people passionate about resilience work. The fellowship provides me with support along with an opportunity to build skills in my desired future field of work, which are invaluable sources of guidance as I figure out my goals and path to pursuing a community-focused career.”
Robyn's Bio:
Robyn is from New York City and recently graduated from Colgate University with a major in Chinese and minor in Peace and Conflict Studies. As an intern in the Colgate Office of Sustainability, Robyn became passionate about community engagement and climate resilience, especially through her involvement at the Colgate Community Garden. While at Colgate, Robyn fostered an interest in sustainability in local government through a community-based research project about the New York State Climate Smart Communities Program, where she learned about municipal climate action planning and policy. In her free time, Robyn enjoys climbing, gardening, fermenting kombucha, running, and reading. As a Resilience Corps Fellow, she is excited to be involved with the City of South Portland’s sustainability projects, build connections in Maine, and contribute to creating a more equitable and resilient community!
Kali Loughlin
Clean Energy Fellow (GPCOG)
Kali serves with the Greater Portland Council of Governments’ sustainability department, helping facilitate workshops and discussions around sustainability. She also helps to develop toolkits and educational resources for the public and supports research for communities interested in alternative fuels and renewable energy.
“As a new resident of Maine, I love that this position has me working closely with my community and learning more about sustainability through my neighbors. This program has allowed me to explore a new field that I feel passionate about and has affirmed my interest in sustainability and regional planning. I am confident that the skills and experience I have gained through this opportunity will help me stay in this field and continue to do work that I am proud of.”
Kali is from Syracuse, NY and has a degree in Wildlife Science from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Her love for conservation has led her to many places including Shenandoah National Park monitoring Peregrine falcons, and the White Mountains researching Swainson’s thrush for UMass Amherst. This fieldwork inspired her to further study GIS for climate action and spatial analysis and grow even more passionate about environmental and urban planning. As a Resilience Fellow, Kali is excited to blend her interests in conservation and planning to support clean transportation, coastal resilience, and planning for the Greater Portland area.
Kali's Bio:
Owen Miller
Energy Navigator Fellow (Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission)
Owen is serving with the Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission, a regional planning agency that serves Southern Cumberland and York Counties. He is serving as an Energy Navigator and provides education and outreach to communities around energy efficiency and available incentives for homeowners in the region to save money on energy costs. He is supporting the launch of a pilot program, the Southern Maine Energy Navigator Program, which provides instant rebates to low-to-moderate income homeowners to help them get energy efficiency upgrades (like heat pumps and insulation).
“This opportunity allows me to give back to the community while doing work that I am passionate about.”
Owen grew up in Londonderry, New Hampshire. Every summer he and his family travelled to Maine to visit Acadia National Park, one of his favorite places on Earth. He attended college at the University of New Hampshire where he got involved with the university’s Sustainability Institute. While at UNH, he conducted research into LMI solar programming as a Summer Sustainability Fellow at the New Hampshire Department of Energy. After his time as a Fellow, he learned carbon accounting with UNH's software SIMAP. In 2024, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics: Sustainability and Public Policy and a BA in Philosophy. Owen loves spending time outdoors and has been a hiker since he could walk. Some of his other hobbies include cooking, reading, and music. As a Resilience Fellow, Owen is excited to learn more about environmental and sustainable policy while having new experiences assisting the community of Southern Maine.
Mary-Kate Murphy
Resilience and Education Fellow (GPCOG & Gateway Community Services Maine)
Mary-Kate is contributing to various community-oriented projects with two different organizations. Through Gateway Community Services of Maine, a community-based organization, she helps facilitate a weekly program that supports high school students develop leadership skills, civically engage in their communities, and promote personal growth through outdoor experiences. Through her time with GPCOG, Mary-Kate assists with the research, development, and public engagement of projects that aim to boost economic, infrastructural, and community resilience.
“Before AmeriCorps, I was feeling lost and overwhelmed with how to begin a career in public service. I had a broad idea that I wanted to help create healthier communities, but unsure of what that could look like. AmeriCorps has afforded me the opportunity to explore various ways of tangibly helping communities and further pursue what impassions me. It has provided me with skills to excel in the workplace through mentorship and professional development trainings. I have already taken huge strides in workplace confidence and knowledge-building – but believe the rest of my term to be essential in cultivating the best version of myself for my next career step.”
Mary-Kate is from Covington, Louisiana. She graduated from Washington and Lee in May 2023 with a major in Sociology and minor in Poverty and Human Capability. Through her studies, she deepened her understanding of how communities are shaped by historic, social, cultural, and environmental contexts, and developed a passion for promoting community resilience and environmental justice. Wanting to explore each corner of the country while devoting herself to environmental stewardship, Mary-Kate has worked as an Outdoor Education Program Instructor in California, Recreation Ranger in Colorado, and organic farm hand in New York. She is elated to join the Resilience Corps to learn more about community-led approaches to environmental planning and advocacy, all while exploring Maine. In her free time, she enjoys doing any outdoor activity, listening to comedy podcasts, reading, cooking, and exploring new places.
Mary-Kate's Bio:
.jpg)
Evan Paris
Community Science Fellow (Gulf of Maine Research Institute)
Evan is serving with the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) this year, where he's leveraged cutting-edge science that comes out of an institution like GMRI, educating communities about the state of the Gulf of Maine and leading workshops on resilience planning. This work serves as a vital bridge between science and the everyday lives of Mainers. Evan is also leading a community science project to understand the water level and weather conditions that lead to local community flooding. This work goes beyond collecting and mapping data points—it builds long-term coastal resilience and helps people stay safe.
"AmeriCorps has given me a chance to build out skills for a new career pathway and get me on my feet professionally—giving me the opportunity to gain critical experience and skills during a time when the job market is brutal to crack into. The other most fulfilling part of my service with the Resilience Corps so far has been building community with my fellow Corps Members. We are all passionate about building strong, resilient communities and helping people lead safer, better lives. Feeding off of each other's energy—our shared drive, ideas, and support—gives me hope for a brighter future."
Evan is a first-generation Dominican who grew up in Brookline, Massachusetts. At the start of his career, Evan aimed to transform his eco-anxiety into action through science, graduating from Vassar College with a degree in biochemistry, then working as a post-baccalaureate researcher in a plant microbiology lab at Stanford University. While passionate about science, Evan found that lab work lacked the direct community impact he sought, leading him to pursue a career in conservation. With experience teaching science lessons at museums and spearheading sustainability projects with the National Parks of Boston, he now aims to integrate art, science, and education to empower communities in mitigating and adapting to increasingly extreme weather patterns, and is thrilled to be doing so this year with the Resilience Corps. Outside of work, you can find Evan climbing trees, hugging trees, making art, or obsessing over the TV show Survivor.
Evan's Bio:
Audrey Pyper
Municipal Resilience Fellow (GPCOG & Town of Gray)
At the Town of Gray, Audrey creates educational videos to inform and inspire Gray residents toward action for healthier lakes and a more resilient community. She builds capacity for the Town of Gray to make vital progress on implementing a $50k Community Action Grant awarded by the State of Maine. In her work with the GPCOG Sustainability team, Audrey has supported a variety of municipal resiliency efforts through writing, research, graphic and web design.
“The work I do through the Resilience Corps is incredibly important—on a personal level and for the communities that I serve. Through my work, I build capacity for municipal governments that strive to serve their communities as best they can with limited staff time and resources. The Resilience Corps has given me access to new professional opportunities and a drive to serve Maine’s communities and invest in their critical futures.”
Audrey grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She recently graduated from Bowdoin College with a degree in Environmental Studies & History. She has worked a variety of jobs in the agricultural and environmental field. From living and working at a small organic farm in Michigan to interning for various land trusts across Maine, Audrey has cultivated a deep interest in sustainability and environmental protection. Most recently, Audrey lived in Bar Harbor working as a seasonal land steward. As a Resilience Corps Fellow, Audrey looks forward to dedicating her energy toward work that prioritizes environmental policy solutions. In her free time, you might find her ice skating, going on contemplative walks throughout the city, or reading a good book.
Audrey's Bio:
Zoe Sreden
Data and Planning Fellow (GPCOG & Midcoast COG)
This year, Zoe is serving on the data team at the Greater Portland Council of Governments, supporting several projects with GIS mapping, data analysis, graphic design, and other technical support. They are also serving at the Midcoast Council of Governments, helping towns in Sagadahoc County plan and implement their sustainability projects and coordinating a regional cohort to engage in county-wide resilience building in the Southern Midcoast.
"This opportunity is very important to me, not only because it is my first job out of undergrad, but also because it allows me to serve the community I grew up in with the skills I have gained in my undergraduate education. I was having a hard time breaking into the job market in my home state when I graduated college, and this program has allowed me to start working in the field that I hope to stay in for the rest of my career. This program has also been incredibly helpful in building my experience and technical skills that will help me in my future career."
Zoe grew up in Bath, Maine. They recently graduated from the University of Vermont with a bachelor’s in geography and minors in global studies, community and international development, and green building and community design. While in school Zoe served as the president of the timbersports team and team lead for the Vermont Zoning Atlas project. It was through their internships with the Vermont Zoning Atlas and the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission that they found their interest in planning, focusing specifically on issues such as sustainable transportation, walkable community design, and affordable housing. Their work with the Vermont Zoning Atlas also sparked an interest in open research and data communities with the goal in increasing accessibility to these resources. Post graduation Zoe worked at the Bath Area Food Bank and is hoping to use that experience to inform how structural support through planning can increase the availability and accessibility of needs-based resources to communities in coastal Maine. In their free time Zoe enjoys woodworking, sailing, fishing, and sea glass hunting.
Zoe's Bio:
Lily Sternberg
Energy and Outreach Fellow (WindowDressers)
This year, Lily is serving with the local non-profit WindowDressers. She is working on expanding outreach to participants who qualify for their special rate program, which allows low-income individuals to receive insulating window inserts free of cost or for whatever amount they can afford. To support this outreach, Lily has extensively researched the social vulnerability levels and language barriers of different communities WindowDressers serves to see how they can better serve those areas. She has also worked closely with the Community Build teams in and around Portland to help recruit volunteers and expand participation.
"This work is important to me because I get to work with so many dedicated volunteers and help so many Mainers keep themselves warm over the winter. This opportunity is also my first time working and living outside of my home state and my first job out of college."
Lily grew up in Crystal Lake, a town outside of Chicago, IL. She attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she studied Earth Sustainability and Political Science. While in college, she interned for a local conservation district and learned about natural areas restoration, and she served as a paddleboard instructor at a nearby lake. These experiences illuminated Lily's passion for the environment, ecosystem conservation, and the importance of sustainable outdoor recreation. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, playing rugby, and crocheting. Lily is very excited to learn more about the role of volunteers and community engagement in her new position as a Resilience Corps Fellow.
Lily's Bio:
Sydney Ranalletti
Yarmouth Resilience Fellow (Town of Yarmouth)
As the Town of Yarmouth Fellow, Sydney is working with Town Department Heads to encourage a vibrant and comprehensive community that will benefit future residents, businesses, and local organizations. Through implementing townwide plans and community actions, Sydney incorporates the public's values and input into tangible recommendations and policies for the town. Some of her main objectives have been to update an emissions inventory and increase community awareness and education by creating distributable toolkits and a monthly newsletter.
"This position has given me a chance to live out my passion fully and become involved with the important work that needs to happen in our world. I hope to be able to continue this work and make a difference."
Sydney Ranalletti is originally from Freeport, Maine, and earned a bachelor's degree in environmental studies from Salve Regina University. After graduating, she returned to Maine to contribute to sustainable initiatives in her home state. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Sustainability and Planning at the University of Southern Maine. Sydney’s passion for nature and biodiversity began at a young age and has only deepened over time. She is thrilled about the opportunities with Resilience Corps to help Maine become more sustainable while connecting with like-minded individuals who share her enthusiasm for environmental stewardship. In her free time, Sydney enjoys skiing, going to the beach, and exploring new places.
Sydney's Bio:
Bryan Wilcenski
Long Island Resilience Fellow (Town of Long Island)
Bryan has supported the Town of Long Island with their groundwater sustainability study, database management efforts, and waterfront infrastructure repairs. He provides added capacity to the small but highly capable group of town employees and community volunteers on projects ranging from dune restoration to the development of year-round workforce housing.
“The fellowship has provided opportunities to engage in positive impact work and develop new technical skills.”
Bryan grew up just south of the Adirondack Park in upstate New York and his interest in natural resource conservation developed as he volunteered and recreated throughout New York’s northern forests. He received a BS from Cornell University with a concentration on Natural Resource Management and Policy. Water resources—as an avenue to ecological and economic resilience—were a throughline across his undergraduate positions in ESG consulting and regenerative agriculture. After graduation, he worked with an environmental advocacy organization conducting research on best management practices for water quality in forestry. Bryan is excited to support the Town of Long Island in his role as a Resilience Corps Fellow and continue its groundwater sustainability study, watershed mapping project, database management efforts, and waterfront infrastructure improvements. Bryan is an avid fisherman, canoe camper, and backpacker, and looks forward to exploring Maine’s unique outdoor spaces.
Bryan's Bio: