Stand Up And Be Counted: Using Data To Build Island Resiliency

As Chief Community Development Officer, Suzanne oversees strategy development for the 37-year-old Island Institute’s programs, with a focus on network development and sharing solutions along and beyond the coast of Maine. She has been a catalyst and leader of several national and global networks focused on island sustainability and is responsible for key Island Institute programs including the Waypoints: Community Indicators publication, the Island Fellows program, and the What Works Solutions Library.
For nine years, Suzanne directed the Institute's Community Energy Program, partnering with island communities in Maine, New England, and beyond to develop and implement practical strategies to lower their high energy costs. She remains active on climate and clean energy issues, currently serving as the Vice-Chair of the Efficiency Maine Trust Board of Trustees and on the Maine Climate Council. In 2015, Suzanne gave a TEDx Talk entitled “What Islands Can Teach Maine About Energy.”
Suzanne holds an M.A. in urban and environmental policy and planning from Tufts University and a B.A. in international development and political science from McGill University. She and her family live in Rockland, Maine and enjoy a close connection to the Monhegan Island community.

In the role of Community Development Officer, Meghan is responsible for data analysis and translation across the organization, collaborating with internal teams and community members on a variety of projects. As a Project Lead, she is responsible for the project management of the Community Data Team's portfolio of work, including the Waypoints: Community Indicators series. Her other roles include engaging communities in discussion, preparation, and adaptation around sea level rise and supporting the island and coastal schools with data resources and management.

Before joining the Island Institute, Meghan was a Research Fellow at the Cincinnati Area Geographic Information System working with constituents and governmental departments to collaboratively share data. During this time, she focused on using spatial econometric analysis to predict housing abandonment in the numerous neighborhoods of the city.

Meghan earned a Ph.D. in Regional Development Planning from the University of Cincinnati, an M.S. in Geography from Northern Illinois University, and a B.A. in Geography and History from Aquinas College. Originally from Michigan, her family currently lives on a farm in Nobleboro, Maine.

Andrew Dorr has served as Town Manager of Vinalhaven since 2015. Prior to that he served in multiple roles supporting island communities and working on Vinalhaven as a Community Planning and Development Fellow. Andrew graduated from SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry with a B.S. in Environmental Studies.
As the Vinalhaven Town Manager, Andrew works closely with the Vinalhaven Selectboard to implement the changes and improvements they seek in the community. The board’s current strategic planning process has identified sea-level rise, economic development, and resiliency as some of the opportunities to focus on over the next few years.