Elsie Flemings '07

Maine State Legislator

Where did you grow up?
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Where do you live now?
Bar Harbor, Maine

What was your senior project?
It was a study of the role of the economy in US elections entitled "Ohio is Blue and Economics are Back".

What's your current job?
The list is long. I'm a Maine State Legislator, representing House District 35 (Bar Harbor, Cranberry Isles, Southwest Harbor, and part of Mount Desert); Coordinator for Union River Watershed Coalition; and Community Health Organizer for Healthy Acadia.

What do you want to make sure people know about your time at COA?
I found my voice at COA; where I was fortunate to have wonderful mentors and opportunities. I had the flexibility to create my own education and pursue subjects and projects that inspired me, from creating a group study to build a timber frame with a local timber frame expert, to participating in U.N. Climate Change negotiations. I also created an independent study that laid the groundwork of a legislative campaign to require an economic impact assessment of large-scale retail stores be undertaken before the store is approved by a town. A year and a half later, the Informed Growth Act was signed into law. It was amazing to be able to get that experience at COA - and to be encouraged to take on those challenges. I now use many of the skills and knowledge I gained at COA in my work as a State Representative, as well as in my community work with local organizations."