Staff

Carissa grew up on MDI and is happy to have settled back home after some time living away. After receiving a bachelor's degree in Burlington, VT, she decided to stay in the Green Mountain State to study for a master's degree in Intercultural, Service, Leadership, and Management. Carissa returned to Maine to work as a grassroots organizer and then traveled overseas in order to gain more experience working internationally. She worked as a divemaster in Malaysia, sold solar panels Perth, and painted murals in Mexico. As exciting as those adventures were, she is enjoying staying put. She loves to spend time with her cats, practice graphic design, and watch her garden grow.

Stephanie is a relative newcomer to Mount Desert Island, having relocated here from Denver Colorado in 2020. Yearning to trade the hectic demands of city life for the quiet charms of small town living, Stephanie was drawn to the area by its warm sense of community, unique culture and history, and stunning yet accessible natural beauty. With a deep background in sales, marketing and logistics Stephanie is pleased to apply skills honed in commerce in new ways with Island Connections, making a direct difference in the lives of others. Stephanie lives in Bar Harbor with her husband and daughter. In her free time she enjoys cooking, long distance walking, amateur photography and exploring the wilds of Acadia. An avid gardener with a true green thumb, on sunny summer days Stephanie can be found in her garden, tending the flowers and helping things grow.

Cora grew up in Brazil but has chosen Mount Desert Island as her home for the past five years. A College of the Atlantic graduate, she has a bachelor's degree in Human Ecology focusing on environmental law and policy, philosophy, and postcolonial theory. Cora has always been fascinated by the work of nonprofits and had the opportunity to work and engage with local and nationwide nonprofits during and after her college years, gaining valuable experience with philanthropy initiatives. Cora lives in Bar Harbor with her husband and her little black cat, Sunshine, and loves to dance, hike, and swim around the local lakes on MDI. She is also interested in photography, literature, cooking, interior design, crochet, and many other things. A genuinely curious being at heart, she is always looking for a new hobby to engage with.