TNC NL Winter25-final - Flipbook - Page 10
Nature’s Heroes
Honoring a Career in Conservation
Susan Caldwell
In September 2025, Susan Caldwell, The Nature Conservancy in
Maine’s Conservation Manager, retired after 34 years of tireless
work to care for our planet and the people around her who depend
on it for life.
After graduating from the University of Vermont with a degree in
Psychology and Environmental Studies, Caldwell explored around
the country before joining TNC’s Oregon chapter in 1991. There she
served as a land steward and 昀椀eld trip coordinator before heading
back to New England and joining the Maine team in 1996. Since
then, she has been supporting our land protection and
conservation work, including the administration of grants and
contracts in support of the Maine Natural Resource Conservation
Program on TNC’s behalf.
In more recent years, Caldwell has helped to lead our engagement
with Wabanaki communities and was instrumental in bringing her
learnings and relationship building skills to the entire Maine
staff—an effort that has led directly to signi昀椀cant conservation
outcomes in collaboration with Indigenous partners.
Susan enjoys a day in the
Debsconeag Lakes Wilderness
Area © Susan Caldwell/TNC
10 | The Nature Conservancy in Maine
“As one of my personal role-models, I can tell you that Susan’s
contributions extend well beyond her steadfast support of TNC land
and conservation projects,” says Molly Payne Wynne, TNC in Maine’s
Freshwater Program Director and Caldwell’s partner in our initial
work around Indigenous Right Relations. “Through her deep
commitment to practicing ‘humble curiosity’ and leading with a
heart-centered approach, Susan helped shaped TNC in Maine’s
commitment to working in right relations with Wabanaki
communities and partnerships. We all consider her leadership as
foundational to our chapter’s commitment to returning land,
returning access, returning 昀椀nancial power, returning to a new way
of working together with Wabanaki People. I can only hope that
Susan’s care for nature and for people will leave a lasting
impression on TNC in Maine and beyond for generations to come.”
All of those who have worked with Caldwell know it will.
