PORT CLYDE – Herring Gut Coastal Science Center has announced the addition of three new members to its Board of Directors: Susan Lewis Baines, Catherine Bevier and Maureen Cragin. 

Herring Gut Coastal Science Center’s mission is to educate students and communities about the connections between the ocean, inland waters, and economy of Maine. They accomplish this with hands-on, place-based stewardship education in the classroom, virtually, and outdoors. While learning that upstream changes have downstream effects – and vice versa – in a watershed, participants gain knowledge, tools, and local connections to develop stronger scientific and leadership voices.

Herring Gut Coastal Science Center educates students from Pre-K through post high school and with adults. Flowing from Fresh to Salt is its overarching curriculum theme that illustrates the relationship between freshwater and saltwater ecosystems. The connection helps people to understand the impact our ecosystems have on the environment, and subsequently the economy of Maine, so that they will be prepared for a sustainable future. 

“Herring Gut is fortunate to have three new board members with such vast experience in business, science and leadership as our organization continues to broaden its constituency throughout the watersheds of Midcoast Maine,” said Philip Conkling, President and Board of Directors Co-Chair, in a news release.

Susan Lewis Baines

Susan was the owner of the Kelpie Gallery which was in the Weskeag Village of South Thomaston, representing over 30 artists. The Kelpie closed at the beginning of COVID, and since then, she has been working in her studio at 26 Split Rock Cove in South Thomaston. Her paintings have been shown at the Port Clyde Art Gallery, River Arts Gallery in Damariscotta, and the Craignair Inn Gallery. 

She has raised funds for many different nonprofits, including the Georges River Land Trust, Alzheimer's Research, the Eliza Steele Memorial Garden at McDougal Park in Rockland. She currently serves on the Endowment Committee for the Rockland District Nursing Association, and recently has raised money for the World Central Kitchen’s Ukrainian Relief selling merchandise with her Ukrainian Peace Dove design. 

She has been married  40-plus years to Bob Baines, a long-time Spruce Head lobsterman, scalloper, and now a kelp farmer of three years. 

Catherine Bevier

Catherine Bevier is Colby College’s Oak Professor of Biology. She has a B.S. in Biology from Indiana University and a Ph.D in ecology from the University of Connecticut. Her expertise is in animal behavior and behavioral ecology, reproductive behavior in vertebrate animals, physiological ecology-specifically behavioral energetics, herpetology and vertebrate biology.

Bevier’s current research focuses on the behavioral and physiological ecology of vertebrate animals and amphibian conservation.

Her students are studying the complex interactions among amphibian skin secretions and their antimicrobial properties, epibiotic bacteria, and how these regulate and potentially inhibit growth of microbial pathogens such as chytrid fungus. They also are studying behavior in amphibians using analysis of vocalizations and passive acoustic monitoring. Bevier has also been involved in research investigating resilience to development in the Belgrade Lakes Watershed.

Maureen Cragin

The Honorable Maureen P. Cragin is a 1985 graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy where she captained the women’s Navy swimming team and was designated an “All America” swimmer. After graduation she served as an Aviation Maintenance Officer in an anti-submarine patrol squadron and then Protocol Officer for the Commander in Chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Designated as a Public Affairs Officer, Maureen served aboard the aircraft carrier, USS Lexington, homeported in Pensacola, Florida.

Following seven years of active duty, she transferred to the Navy Reserve and began her civilian career as Director of Public Affairs at the Glass Ceiling Commission at the U.S. Department of Labor followed by public affairs assignments at the U.S. Department of Energy. In 1995 Maureen became the deputy press secretary and later communications director for the Armed Services Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives where she served until 2001 when she was nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as the Assistant Secretary of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. She was awarded the department’s Exceptional Service Award in 2002.

In 2002 Maureen joined The Boeing Company as Vice President of Communications at its Washington, D.C., Operations Office and subsequently as Vice President of Communications for Boeing’s Defense, Space; Security business. During her civilian career she continued to serve in the U.S. Navy Reserve retiring as a Captain in 2009 upon which she was awarded the Legion of Merit. In 2001 President Bush also appointed her to serve on the Board of Trustees of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. She also served on the boards of directors of organizations including Our Military Kids, Armed Services YMCA and the USO Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore where she served as Chairman of the Board. Maureen continues to support the Naval Academy Foundation as a member of the board of Trustees for the Athletic Scholarship Programs.

Maureen retired from the Boeing Company in 2018. She and her husband, Charlie Cragin, split their time between homes in St. George, and Santa Fe, New Mexico.