A Bowdoin College polar bear, Kate Chin was born and raised in Boston, MA. She earned her MBA from Northeastern University, while working at Procter and Gamble (P&G). Currently, Kate is the P&G East Team Leader, which is responsible for delivering strategic growth for the second largest grocer in the U.S. Kate joined Speak About It, Inc.'s board of directors in 2015 and is eager to help SAI continue to grow strategically to deliver positive education about consent, boundaries and sexual expression. She currently serves as the organization's Board Chair.
Laura Cyr is a Maine native with a traveling spirit. She has lived in South Carolina, California, and Nevada but is thrilled to be back home. She is trained as a whitewater guide, is an amateur potter, and hopes to finally complete her first marathon this year. Laura has studied Public Policy and Financial resource Management and holds a Master’s degree from the Muskie School of Public Service. She is a recent graduate of Lift360's Emerging Leaders Program and Emerge Maine. Laura stays busy working as a project manager for the University of Maine System and still manages to find time to manage political candidates and serve on the board of the Portland Chamber Music Festival.
Ben Farrell was first connected to Speak About It during his time as the Associate Director of Residential Education at Bowdoin College in 2009. A graduate of Colby College and Teacher’s College of Columbia University, Ben brings to the table a passion for educating and empowering students through open dialogue, leadership development, and unpacking cultural intersectionality. Originally from Massachusetts, Ben is currently the Dean of Students at Webb School of California in Claremont, where he can be found wearing flip-flops and enjoying the perpetual sunlight with his wife and daughter.
Fiona Gordon joined the board of Speak About It, Inc. in 2015 after participating in Lift 360's Emerging Leaders program. She is a graduate of Boston University and currently works in fundraising for Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in East Boothbay, Maine. Fiona also serves on the board of Portland Ballet, and when she isn't working of volunteering for her community you can usually find her at sea following her other passion, sailing.
Colin Hay is a 2010 graduate of Bowdoin College, where he spent four years actively involved with Bowdoin Men Against Sexual Violence (BMASV) engaging peers in a dialogue about masculinity and violence prevention. In addition to BMASV, Colin was a member of the men's soccer and track teams, and preferred Throne over Moulton. Colin went on to study law at Boston University, where he graduated in 2013 and now practices at Verrill Dana in Portland, ME.
Ashley McCurry fell in love with fundraising in 2011 on a successful statewide political campaign for the Maine Democratic Party and a well funded statewide gubernatorial campaign for Congressman Mike Michaud in 2014. She spent three years fundraising for the League of Young Voters and Emerge Maine, both progressive political non-profits with community outreach and education components to their work, where she served on the Executive Board in both organizations (Vice Chair and Treasurer.) After 2014, Ashley spent a year running a student calling program and teaching fundraising to undergraduate students at the University of New England until she was promoted to an Annual Fund Gift Officer in December of 2015. She’s excited to join Speak About It and bring her fundraising skills to the table, but mostly to help support an organization that is doing such fantastic work. When not working, Ashley skis in the winter, runs in the summer, and cooks for friends in a house that is so welcoming everyone who comes over stays far too long. Ashley lives in a very full and tiny home with her wife, two dogs, a cat, and a 20 year old cousin named Kyle in Portland.
Kim Pacelli joined the Board of Directors for Speak About It, Inc. in 2014. She works at Bowdoin College as Senior Associate Dean of Student Affairs, overseeing the Dean's Office, Health, Counseling, and Residential Life. In her role, Kim thinks a lot about student support and policy issues, including Title IX response and prevention work, alcohol policy, and student health issues. Kim is also a licensed attorney having graduated from Maine Law and practiced for a short time working with many K-12 schools in Maine. She lives in Brunswick with her family.
Krista Williamson grew up in mid-coast Maine and is currently working as an International Recruitment Coordinator for a J1 visa sponsor in the Portland area. The program places college students from around the world with US employers for a season. Krista interviews students and works closely with employers to ensure a positive cultural experience for all parties. She has a degree in International Relations and Russian Studies from Wheaton College in Massachusetts. Krista joined Speak About It because she feels that it is past time we bring the conversation about consent and healthy relationships to the forefront on college campuses.