Maureen Cunningham

Maureen is Executive Director of the Adirondack Watershed Institute at Paul Smith’s College, where she leads a team of 19+ staff protecting watersheds across the region. A seasoned nonprofit leader, she brings extensive experience building teams, supporting community-based initiatives, and advancing environmental policy at the local, state, national, and international levels.

Previously, she served as Chief Strategy Officer and Director of Water at the Environmental Policy Innovation Center, advancing stronger federal protections to replace toxic lead pipes and eliminate disparities in water access and infrastructure. She also held senior leadership roles at Environmental Advocates NY and the Hudson River Watershed Alliance, helping pass statewide PFAS legislation and support community water protection efforts.

Maureen is a third-term elected Town Councilmember in Bethlehem, NY, where she lives with her husband and two teenage boys. She aligns deeply with the Sanctuary’s work at the intersection of community activism, media and the arts, and social and environmental justice.