Sonia Leone: Outstanding Student Contribution to Sustainability Research
In 2025, Sonia Leone will graduate from with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in anthropology with concentrations in human dimensions of climate change and sustainability. It鈥檚 this interdisciplinary approach to learning that drew her to apply for a research assistantship with Dr. Sharon Klein, an associate professor of economics and faculty fellow in the Mitchell Center, who has received multiple grants focused on developing community-based solutions to Maine鈥檚 climate and energy challenges.
After graduating from Fryeburg Academy, Leone was elected to serve as a trustee of the Fryeburg Water district. Privately-owned Poland Spring extracts millions of gallons of water each month from the town, and the Fryeburg Water District acts as an advocacy group for public ownership of its water.
“The four years that I spent as a trustee helped me develop a passion for increasing small town capacity and resilience,” Leone said.
Leone brings the same motivation and energy to her assistantship as she did to the water district. Leone has helped several Maine community-led Energy and Climate Action Network (MAINECAN) partners enroll their communities in the , a program led by the Governor鈥檚 Office of Policy Innovation and the Future (GOPIF) that offers community action grants to fund resilience and efficiency projects.
She also sends monthly individualized newsletters to two of MAINECAN鈥檚 partners: the Wabanaki Sustainable Energy Team (a collaboration of representatives from Maine鈥檚 five Wabanaki tribes) and the Community Sustainable Energy Team (a team that supports seven underserved Maine communities). The newsletters contain information about upcoming funding and learning opportunities.
One of Leone’s nominators, Cressica Brazier, a MAINECAN Fellow helping lead the development of the network said, 鈥淗er capacity and production is truly impressive. Sonia takes on an expansive set of researcher roles and coordination activities.鈥
Next fall, Leone begins her master鈥檚 degree in ecology and environmental science with Klein serving as her advisor. Leone is eager to continue researching and building the relationships that she believes are the central tenet of community-based climate advocacy.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 emphasize enough the importance of building trusting relationships on an individual level to create broader community resilience,鈥 Leone said.