2023-24 Sustainability Graduate Fellow Mikayla Reynolds

Mikayla Reynolds

Academic Programs: Master’s of Business Administration, concentrations in Sustainability & Public and Non-Profit Management
Project Advisors:

Stephanie Welcomer: Adapting Small-Scale Natural Fiber Production to the 21st Century: Maine’s Evolving Resilience
Billy Obenauer: Exploring the Influence of Work From Home and On-Site Benefits on Perceptions of Organizational Attractiveness

Community Organization: Black Bear Mutual Aid Fund

What problem/s are you working to solve?

I am working on and researching needs, challenges, and solutions related to three academic and community projects. My Honors Thesis studied organizational attractiveness in a post-pandemic environment and evaluated whether an organization was perceived as more/less desirable to work for given employee benefits: the flexibility of working remotely and at-work perks like on-site gyms or cafeterias. This research was motivated by an interest in understanding how organizations should structure their benefits packages to best recruit employees in the context of returning to work after the COVID-19 lockdown. My advisor, Billy Obenauer, and I have conducted a related second study to better understand the nuances in perceptions of organizational attractiveness based on these variables.

I am partnering with Dr. Stephanie Welcomer on researching the trends, challenges, needs, and opportunities of the natural animal fiber sector in Maine. This past summer, we spent time speaking with Maine fiber producers who raise sheep, alpaca, goats, and rabbits and use their fiber to create and sell beautiful, sustainable goods ranging from apparel to rugs to stuffed animals. We are analyzing our findings and working towards a paper publication, hosting workshops, and making policy recommendations to better support this sector. We hope to illuminate the qualities, environmental value, and exciting potential natural fiber has to combat fast fashion and move Maine and the world back to natural fiberwear and fiber goods.

The third initiative I am working on is as a core organizer of Black Bear Mutual Aid Fund where I am part of the force to educate the community on mutual aid and build a culture of community care both at UMaine and beyond. BBMAF is working to challenge systems that create resource gaps and economic hardship and is focused on collecting and redistributing funding within the UMaine community to foster resiliency.

What progress are you making toward solutions?

Through my organizational attractiveness research, we are beginning to better understand perceptions and shifts in employee preferences and the nuances that influence how compensation benefits can be structured to attract the talent employers want in today’s work environment. For the Maine natural fiber sector, progress is and will continue to be communicating our findings to producers, practitioners, policymakers, and other organizations to help address challenges and uplift this underrecognized and undervalued component in Maine’s agriculture industry. For Black Bear Mutual Aid Fund and our mission to redistribute resources from areas of abundance to positions of need within the community, progress is that we have raised over $8,000, we opened our Funding Request Form on November 15th, we’re collecting data to better understand community needs, and we are currently redistributing funds to help our community members!

How could your findings contribute to a sustainable future in Maine and beyond?

My findings could contribute to a more sustainable future by providing insights and recommendations to organizations and individuals who have the power to make decisions and implement productive change at work, in our communities, and for the natural environment. I hope my work informs decision-making and encourages leaders in Maine and beyond to implement practices that best serve people and areas most impacted to make progress and alleviate harm. In the fiber sector research, I hope our contributions lead to more financial support and a larger consumer market that understands the value of natural fiber and small Maine fiber farms. For BBMAF, we plan to share insights regarding our community’s needs and the resource gaps that exist in order to partner with and make recommendations to UMaine administrators and other agents. Maine needs more young professionals to join the workforce here, and if Maine organizations can utilize our organizational attractiveness findings to help interest potential employees, recruitment officers can be more successful in their efforts and bolster Maine’s working population, too.

Why did you get involved with the Mitchell Center Sustainability Graduate Fellowship Program?

I was eager to be involved with the Mitchell Center Sustainability Graduate Fellowship Program because I strongly believe in the values and purpose of this program and its focus on sustainability, community collaboration, and research. I deeply appreciate the investment made to design a learning environment founded in engaged scholarship and interdisciplinary connections and partnerships with a solutions mindset. As a student who constantly gravitates to opportunities for self-growth, collaboration, and shared learning, SGF provides a unique opportunity to strategically intersect my passions for sustainability, outreach, research, collaboration, and creating change in an inclusive, diverse space.

What sustains you?

I am sustained by optimism, creativity, positive energy shared by others, the feeling of making progress or doing good work, and supporting others. I am also sustained by the support I have received from the generosity and care of others, my community, and friendship.

Where do you hope to be in five years?

In five years, I hope to be in a place where I have found a healthy mix of leading and collaborating in interdisciplinary teams, supporting my community, and being a part of sustainable progress that promotes equity and balance across social, environmental, and economic spheres. I envision myself living and working here in Maine, contributing to, advocating for, and organizing efforts I believe in, and enjoying my early career in management and marketing at a Maine business.

What’s your ultimate Maine experience?

My ultimate, favorite Maine experience is being able to spend time up north, in the woods or on the water, camping and exploring with friends. This means enjoying nature accompanied by outdoorsy, resourceful, and friendly Mainers and maybe seeing a moose or two. 🙂