Island Institute
Samuel Belknap III is an accomplished professional with extensive experience in community development and environmental policy. Currently serving as the Senior Community Development Officer at the Island Institute since November 2018, Samuel has also held significant roles at the University of Maine, including as a Doctoral Candidate in the Adaptation to Abrupt Climate Change NSF IGERT fellowship program and as the prestigious Janet Waldron Doctoral Research Fellow. Prior experience includes serving as Executive Director at the Herring Gut Learning Center and Marine Programs Consultant at the Island Institute. Samuel's academic background includes a PhD in Anthropology and Environmental Policy, along with an M.S. in Quaternary and Climate Studies from the University of Maine. Throughout the career, Samuel has demonstrated a commitment to marine education, research, and community engagement in the face of climate change.
Island Institute
The Island Institute works alongside Maine’s island and coastal leaders to build community sustainability in island and coastal communities and share solutions for addressing our coast’s most critical issues. While our work remains rooted in Maine, it has also expanded beyond our state through partnerships with coastal communities across the country and the world. With more than 150,000 year-round islanders in the U.S. alone, we see an opportunity to build a vast network through which we can exchange ideas and solutions to help address the challenges we all share. The critical needs of our coast are priorities that require coordinated resources and leadership over the coming decade and beyond. The Island Institute is well prepared to influence the greatest needs of our communities as we help propel the coast’s toughest conversations forward around economic, climate, and social resilience.