Sarah C. Risley
Wiscasset
Summary
Community scientist and science communicator focused on stakeholder collaboration and engagement in coastal Maine. Experienced in translating complex ecological and policy information for diverse audiences to support decision-making. Strong analytical background with expertise in quantitative and qualitative methods, and in developing participatory tools to guide coastal policy and management. Committed to integrating local knowledge with scientific research to advance sustainable, community-centered outcomes.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Teaching Assistant
University of Maine
Walpole
08.2025 - Current
- Assisted in the development and delivery of course materials and lectures in coastal marine ecology.
- Oversaw classroom and field activities, and managed logistics for events and field visits.
- Communicated regularly with students to address questions and provide academic guidance.
Graduate Research Assistant
University of Maine
Walpole
08.2019 - Current
- Led six years of transdisciplinary research in collaboration with municipal leaders, stakeholders, and students in coastal Maine, developing participatory tools, and applying local knowledge to support resilient, marine resource-dependent communities.
- Designed presentations and print communication materials to share research findings with partners and the broader public.
- Coordinated workshops and field learning experiences for high school and undergraduate students.
Research Associate
University of Maine
Orono
01.2019 - 08.2019
- Conducted a national analysis of U.S. small-scale fisheries in collaboration with state and federal managers, integrating diverse data sources to address gaps in fisheries reporting and monitoring.
- Contributed to an FAO-led initiative highlighting the economic and social importance of small-scale fisheries, informing policy and management efforts to better represent these sectors in federal and state decision-making.
Research Intern
Bigelow Laboratory of Ocean Sciences
Boothbay
06.2018 - 10.2018
- Developed and executed an independent research study on larval lobster feeding rates, including laboratory experiments, data analysis, and an international conference presentation.
Food Literacy & Access Americorps VISTA
Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger
Philadelphia
06.2016 - 06.2017
- Led community outreach and education efforts to improve access to SNAP and food resources, partnering with local organizations to assist 64+ clients, engage 250+ learners, coordinate events, and develop tools to strengthen food security and resource navigation.
- Coordinated cross-sectoral partnerships and community outreach initiatives to strengthen local food system resilience and equitable access to resources. Collaborated with municipal and nonprofit partners to implement outreach strategies, develop educational tools, and improve program delivery.
Assistant Director of Agriculture
Center for Refugees & Immigrants of Tennessee
Nashville
10.2014 - 01.2016
- Led diverse volunteer groups, developed educational materials for refugee gardeners, and secured funding through federal and local grants to support community agricultural initiatives.
Education
PhD Candidate - Ecology & Environmental Science
University of Maine
Orono, ME06-2026
Dual M.S. degrees - Marine Biology and Marine Policy
University of Maine
Orono, ME06-2022
B.A. - Environmental Studies, Minor Creative Writing
Skidmore College
Saratoga Springs, NY06-2013
Study Abroad Experience -
International Honors Program SIT
Turkey, Tanzania, India, New Zealand, Mexico06-2012
Skills
- The Art and Science of Virtual Facilitation, UNH, 2020
- Community-Based Learning Workshop, UMaine, 2020
- Community outreach
- Technical writing
- Quantitative and qualitative analysis
- Grant writing
- Stakeholder collaboration
- Technologies: ArcGIS, QGIS, R Programming, Slack, Zotero, Microsoft Office, Adobe Programs
FELLOWSHIPS & AWARDS
2024 Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions Sustainability Grant, $90,000 – River Stories: Voices of the Damariscotta River Estuary (Co-PI), 2022 NOAA Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Competition, $281,000 – Community Science to Support Sustainable and Local Seafood Production in Maine (Co-PI), 2022 UMaine Flagship Doctoral Research Fellowship, 2021 Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions Sustainability Grant, $25,000 – Building Knowledge & Capacity for Community-Led Coastal Stewardship (Co-PI), 2020 Darling Marine Center Education & Community Engagement Fellowship, 2019 University Graduate Fellowship, 2019 Diana Davis Spencer Scholar – Partnerships for a Sustainable Maine Project
PUBLICATIONS
- Risley, S.C., M. L. Britsch, J. S. Stoll, H. M. Leslie. (2025) Mapping local knowledge supports
science and stewardship. Ambio, 54(10), 1648–1665.
- Risley, S.C., H. M. Leslie, M. L. Britsch, M. M. White. (2023). Community Science in Support of Ecosystem-Based Management: A Case Study from the Damariscotta River Estuary, Maine, U.S. Maine Policy Review.
- Leslie, H. M., M. L. Britsch, M. Cucuzza, K. E. Pellowe, S. Risley, J. S. Stoll. (2024). Managing for resilience of estuarine & coastal marine environments to climate change. Ch. 30, Climate Change & Estuaries. M. Kennish, H. Paerl, J. Croswell (eds).
- Stoll, J. S., Risley, S. C., & Henriques, P. R. (2023). A review of small-scale marine fisheries in the United States: Definitions, scale, drivers of change, and policy gaps. Marine Policy.
- Risley, S. C., (2022). Linking Local Knowledge & Community Science in Support of Coastal Marine Stewardship. Electronic Theses and Dissertations.
- Britsch, M., S. Risley, J. Stoll, H. Leslie. (2021). 2021 State of the Damariscotta River Estuary Report: Local knowledge of trends in the shellfish resource and human activity in the Damariscotta River Estuary. Technical report prepared for the Town of Damariscotta, ME. November, 2021.
- Britsch, M., S. Risley, J. Stoll, H. Leslie. (2021). 2021 State of the Medomak River Estuary Report: Local knowledge of trends in the shellfish resource and human activity in the Medomak River Estuary. Technical report prepared for the Town of Bremen, ME. November, 2021.
- Stoll, J., H. Albano, A. Clement, S. Coleman, M. Flye, J. Isherwood, R. Jarrett, C. Leeman, K. Liberman, C. Ober, N. Orminski, S. Risley. (2020). 2020. Canada-US Lobster Town Meeting: Lobsters without borders: forging our futures together. Proceedings Report. Lobster Institute. University of Maine, Orono. pg. 1- 17.
PRESENTATIONS
- 2025 Risley, S., Leslie, H., Gribbon Joyce, J., Cleaver, C., A focus on the future: Participatory focus groups help envision coastal futures: CERF, Richmond, VA.
- 2024 Risley, S., Leslie, H., Local knowledge provides the foundation for social-ecological community science: PECS-III, Montreal, CA.
- 2024 Risley, S., Leslie, H., Oyster Aquaculture Larval Subsidy Drives Emerging Wild Oyster Populations in Maine, USA: NACE, Providence, RI.
- 2023 Risley, S., Leslie, H., Community Science in Support of Shellfish Management: A Case Study from the Damariscotta River Estuary, Maine, USA: ESA, Portland, OR.
- 2022 Risley, S., Leslie, H., Damariscotta Community Science Shellfish 2022 Update: Public Meeting, UMaine Darling Marine Center, Walpole, ME.
- 2021 Risley, S., Britsch, M., Swett, S., Stoll, J., Leslie, H., Integrating Local and Environmental Science Knowledge to Understand Complex Relationships in Two Maine Estuaries: Maine Sustainability & Water Conference, Orono, ME.
- 2021 Britsch, M., Risley, S., Stoll, J., Leslie, H. State of the Estuary Report: Damariscotta Board of Selectmen & Bremen Shellfish Committee Meetings, ME.
MENTORING
2024 Summer Research Advisor to undergraduates Cedar Gordon (Michigan Tech
University) Abigail Skena and (Boston University)
2023 Consultant Advisor to Dartmouth capstone student Rachel Freer
2022 Co-Advisor to UMaine School of Marine Science capstone students Annapurna
Leung, Will Spaller, and Matthew Yost
2022 Summer Research Advisor to high school student Audrey Hufnagel (Lincoln
Academy) and undergraduate student Jakob O’Neal (Southern Maine Community
College)
2021 Academic Advisor: Dartmouth University Domestic Study Program
2021 Summer Research Advisor to undergraduate Carolina Rolfe (University of
Denver) and baccalaureate Amelia Papi (WPI)
2020-2021 Co-Advisor to UMaine School of Marine Science capstone student Sara Swett
2020 Summer Research Advisor to undergraduate Madeline Williams (UMaine)
2019 Summer Research Advisor to undergraduate Faye Smith (UMaine)
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
- 2023-Present Member, Maine Shellfish Co-Management Initiative
- 2023-Present Member, Coastal Access Strategy Exchange (CASE)
- 2023-2024 Member, School of Marine Sciences Symposium Planning Committee
- 2023-2024 Member, Impacts of Sea Level Rise on Mudflats and Shellfish Initiative
- 2020 Member, Maine Fishermen’s Forum Shellfish Focus Day Planning Committee
Timeline
Teaching Assistant
University of Maine
08.2025 - Current
Graduate Research Assistant
University of Maine
08.2019 - Current
Research Associate
University of Maine
01.2019 - 08.2019
Research Intern
Bigelow Laboratory of Ocean Sciences
06.2018 - 10.2018
Food Literacy & Access Americorps VISTA
Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger
06.2016 - 06.2017
Assistant Director of Agriculture
Center for Refugees & Immigrants of Tennessee
10.2014 - 01.2016
PhD Candidate - Ecology & Environmental Science
University of Maine
Dual M.S. degrees - Marine Biology and Marine Policy
University of Maine
B.A. - Environmental Studies, Minor Creative Writing
Skidmore College
Study Abroad Experience -
International Honors Program SIT