FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 25, 2024

Stonington, CT - New England Science & Sailing Foundation (NESS) is pleased to welcome Marcy Herlihy as Managing Director of Advancement, effective April 29, 2024. In this role, Marcy will lead NESS’s Advancement efforts, driving strategic growth initiatives, and building key partnerships and relationships to further NESS’s mission of empowering students through experiential learning. 

Marcy brings over twenty years of experience in nonprofits, philanthropy, and advancement. She built her career on a foundation of engagement, relationship-building, and collaboration to serve her communities and deliver results. Before joining the team, Marcy served in various senior roles, where she successfully led fundraising campaigns, built strong donor relationships, and implemented innovative strategies to advance organizational goals. 

“We’re thrilled to have Marcy step into the role with her wealth of fundraising experience and great enthusiasm to propel NESS forward and expand our impact,” said NESS CEO Eric Isselhardt, PhD. “Her proven leadership and passion for making a difference align seamlessly with our mission.” 

As Managing Director of Advancement, Marcy will play a key leadership role at NESS, involved in framing and implementing the strategic and tactical directions of the organization. The achievements of this position directly contribute to NESS achieving its long-term strategic goals of creating significant student impact and ensuring financial sustainability through high-quality and mission-driven programming.  

“Not only is this role interesting, exciting, and challenging – it uniquely marries my career experience with my childhood career aspirations, my passion for education and the sciences, and my love for boating and the Connecticut shore,” said Marcy.  

Marcy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Plant & Soil Science from the University of Vermont and personal aspirations for philanthropy-focused endeavors.  


ABOUT NEW ENGLAND SCIENCE & SAILING 
New England Science & Sailing is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization that uses sailing, marine science, powerboating, and ocean adventure sports as experiential learning platforms to increase K-12 academic outcomes. NESS educators teach in classrooms and on the water, using over 100 proprietary lesson plans tied to school standards, including the Next Generation Science Standards, Ocean Literacy Principles, and Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning standards. NESS is the only school partner program accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. To learn more about NESS, visit NESSF.org. 

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