Willow Grinnell
Contact Information
Email: willow.grinnell@maine.edu
Advisor: Joshua Stoll
Education
B.A. Environmental Policy, Colby College
Biography
Willow grew up along the coast of Maine where she has felt a deep connection with the changing rocky shores and working waterfronts, and is passionate about the integration of science, policy and communication in rural spaces. After graduating from Colby College with a B.A. in Environmental Policy in May 2020, Willow moved to Bozeman, MT where she worked as a qualitative research analyst for JG Research and Evaluation and conducted interviews and focus groups with ranchers in the Rocky Mountains to understand produer perceptions of soil health. This experience diversified the geography and industry of Willow’s research interests, but strengthened her excitement to do work that connects rural people with science and policy.
As a graduate student at UMaine, Willow works as a reserach assistant in Josh Stoll’s Social Oceans Lab and is a part of the 3D Ecosystem Science NRT cohort. Willow’s thesis research is focused on Maine’s Sea to School efforts where she is working alongside folks from GMRI and MCFA to better understand the barriers and successes of purchasing, distributing, and marketing local seafood in Maine. This thesis project is an exciting way for Willow to connect the dots between children’s nutrition, the power of changing consumer perception at a young age, and strengening Maine’s working waterfront by finding markets for underutilized species.
