Our Team

Zbigniew, or Z for short, was the first staff member of the Alliance and now serves as our Executive Director, leading the development of our programs, bioregional regeneration strategy, and quickly growing teams. Having grown up in the headwaters of the Pequot river, he has a deep familiarity with our region’s past, people, ecosystems, rivers, and infrastructure. He brings over a decade of experience in applied scholarship and project management on restoring right relationships between people and ecosystems at a variety of scales. Prior to joining the Alliance, he worked as UConn’s statewide Associate Extension Educator in Water Quality and Research Faculty in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, through the Center for Land Use Education and Research. Before UConn, he worked for the Technical University of Munich’s Research Training Group on Urban Green Infrastructure, The Urban Systems Lab at The New School, and for Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. He has previous professional experience in the ecosystems of the Mystic River and bioregion as research assistant in David Post’s (Yale) lab supporting a number of Alewife (Seeqanahmasak) related projects, and on Denise Burchsted (UConn) doctoral work examining the hydro-geo-morphological impacts of beavers. While at UConn he also led the university's Green House Gas Inventory effort. After his work at Yale and UConn, Z worked on a Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) research project in the Comarca Ngobe Bugle (Panama), led the development of a model ‘beautiful, bountiful, and biodiverse’ garden within the Building Research Establishment’s Architecture Innovation Park for the Prince’s Foundation for Building Community in London, England, and worked as a Breakthrough Generation Fellow on the sustainability of global agricultural production scenarios at the Breakthrough Institute. At the Alliance he is building on these experiences to develop our strategies for linking cultural resurgence, social and economic needs, agro-ecological restoration, technological innovation, and enterprise development to support human and ecological flourishing. ‘Dr. Z’ earned his PhD in Environmental Science and Resources through Portland State University’s ‘Ecosystem Services for Urbanizing Regions’ program, in addition to a MSc in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, and BSc in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of CT. When not weaving together collaborative efforts at the Alliance and its regional partners, Z enjoys adventures with his daughter Oona, partner Gretchen, and their fluffy companion Zosia. He can be reached at z@alliancemrw.org. linkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zbigniew-grabowski-00062423/ Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=gWVMnjMAAAAJ&hl=en

Greetings from Long Pond, nestled in the serene Lantern Hill Valley! My name is Betsy Graham, and I have been a Ledyard resident for over forty years. As companion animal veterinarian and former RN, I am deeply committed to the well-being of human and animal life and the environment we call home. It is my pleasure to be associated with the Alliance for the Mystic River Watershed, with its mission to protect and preserve our precious natural resources. I am grateful for the opportunity to have lived in Lantern Hill Valley, with its picturesque lakes of Long Pond, Bush Pond, and Lantern Hill Pond. Watching the seasonal changes in and around these lakes has made me appreciate the resilience of nature even more. The Mystic River relies heavily on the water supply from the Lantern Hill Valley, which includes lakes, streams, and wetlands that are vital water sources. This diverse ecosystem is a critical ecological resource for all living beings in the watershed, including humans, plants, and animals that call it home. Advocating for the preservation of the waters of Mystic River Watershed has been a passion of mine, to ensure healthy waters for future generations to come. With our climate emergency posing environmental threats, all SE Connecticut residents need to think ahead and take action to help our region adapt to these challenges. As a member of the Alliance for the Mystic River Watershed, the Lantern Hill Valley Association, and the Ledyard Conservation Commission, I am confident we can work together to safeguard and maintain our environment so that we leave behind a healthy watershed for future generations to cherish.

Lynne is a rower and has lived in the Mystic River Watershed (in Noank) for 25 years and in Connecticut for 39 years. She walks around Noank and sculls in the Mystic River nearly every day, weather permitting. Lynne followed undergraduate studies in French horn (Manhattan School of Music, NYC; Carnegie- Mellon University, Pittsburgh) with advanced degrees in speech and hearing science (U. of Kansas) and post-doctoral training at Upstate Medical Center (Syracuse) and Boys Town National Research Hospital (Omaha). Her training as a scientist eventually segued into a career focus in the Navy that included critical analysis and synthesis of data to inform practical solutions, with an emphasis on advocacy through improved training, screening, diagnostics, modeling, and programmatic tools to prevent military hearing damage. Her professional commitment to scientific rigor paired with advocacy led to her volunteering as a community advocate, which continued after her retirement from the Navy (civil service). Being on the Noank Zoning Commission for many years taught Lynne how poorly-thought-out plans could quickly result in permanent, detrimental changes to a community. She is a member of Groton Open Space Association (because Groton’s development historically has focused on concrete and strip malls, which is not comfortable, inviting, or restorative for people); Groton Conservation Advocates (because she believes that smart development can only occur if it is not injurious to people and the environment – most recently she advocated for strict noise controls for Data Centers, a good example of how important public input is to highlight areas of potential harm to a community); and is a founding member of the Alliance for the Mystic River Watershed (because she deeply cares about the fate of the Mystic River and its watershed). She gratefully serves on the Board of Directors of the Alliance for the MRW as her appreciation of what makes up the Watershed and how to protect it grows, and as she realizes that there is a large community in this area who care about it just as much as she does. Her favorite saying is one recently introduced to her by Maggie Favretti. “Nothing is more powerful than a community that knows what it wants,” (Meg Wheatley). The river and its watershed need a community of strong advocates, and that is what this Alliance, with its partners, is creating.

Derrick is a member of the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation working with the Alliance to create strong relationships within the community.

Albany is a freelance Digital Marketer with a passion for small businesses and nonprofits, also serving on the Board of Directors for Wings of Freedom Animal Rescue, a local non-profit dog rescue. Her love for animals fuels her commitment to preserving the environment and advocating for those affected by climate change who can't do so for themselves. Her marketing approach is both creative and strategic. She loves learning about the passions and goals of businesses and helping them share their stories authentically. Albany has called Groton, CT, home for ten years and originally pursued a career as a Paralegal. She considers the community that has come from her work with nonprofits and small businesses a cherry on top of her career change.

Greetings, I’m Watson Njoku. I am a member of the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation and a recent graduate from the MESM (Masters of Environmental Science and Management) program at the University of Rhode Island. I’m a former pre-med student who has found a new interest in both environmental science and landscape architecture, as well as how I can use these things to help rebuild fractured communities. After a long academic career in the biological sciences I felt that I had lost touch with myself and I felt that I wanted to do something that had more of a tangible benefit to people than just working in a lab. I felt like I wanted to make a difference in people's lives. After several years of searching I have found renewed passion in helping people reconnect, not only to one another, but also to the environment around them. Watson serves the Alliance and EPTN as Living Atlas Coordinator, developing a shared knowledge platform, community based process, and visualization space in support of our Watershed Resilience Action Plan.

Co-founder Maggie Favretti grew up in the woods in Storrs (her parents are Rudy and Joy), and fell in love with the Mystic River as a child visiting her Nonna in the house her grandfather built on Bruggeman Place.  Now she thinks the best way to start the day is with a row on the river. There is no more beautiful sound than the wetland peepers heralding spring, but Maggie still enjoys a good startle at the drawbridge warning.   Maggie is a lifelong learner and educator, with specialties in holistic wellbeing through nature-aligned pedagogy, in food systems, in cultural history, and in whole community resilience and disaster readiness & recovery. She has recently published Learning in the Age of Climate Disasters : Empowering Teachers and Students Beyond Futurephobia.

I am a member of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, with additional Mohegan, Narragansett, & Shinnecock ancestry. I have lived in southeastern Connecticut my entire life and feel a deep connection to the land, animals, plants, and, of course, water. My work revolves around improving environmental health (from individual species to overall ecosystems), informing and educating the public, and improving human-environment interaction. I have a relatively brief professional background in environmental sciences (roughly 5 years), however, I have always been a nature lover and am raising the next generation to be the same. Whether it is to go for a hike, rock climb, swim, kayak, or just sit, my wife and I will go outside every chance we get, bringing our excited two- and four-legged babies with us.

I’m the Vice-Chairwoman for the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation. This position I have held for 9 years. I have held a position on our Tribal Council for the past 33 years. In this position, I assist the Chairperson, write correspondence, serve as Liaison to several tribal committees, record minutes, attend meetings & events, network, and assist in writing policies & procedures. I also serve as Chairperson of NAHAC (Native American Heritage Advisory Council), a position I have held for the past 10+ years. This is a state-appointed Agency where all 5 Tribes are represented. We work closely with the CT SHPO office (State Historical Preservation Office) & NAGPRA (Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act) Office of Archeology at UCONN. We also work with the State’s Archeologist and many other Agencies. We are responsible for ensuring that Native artifacts, Native bones and the like are taken care of in a culturally respectful way. We are tasked with determining which Tribe the above-mentioned belong to and reaching out to the appropriate Tribe to make the necessary arrangements to transfer the artifacts so that Native American ancestors and belongings can be returned to their communities. In 2014 I was appointed by the Tribal Council to be the Tribes Historical Preservation Officer, a position I still hold today.

Zoe Wu is a Connecticut resident who found interest in environmental and social justice and actions. No longer being able to stand on the sidelines, she jumped into action to try and make a change. Co-founding her high school's Environmental Club was only the start. Together the group quickly realized that they wanted to do bigger things that would have a greater impact on their community. This led Zoe to be one of the co-founders of the Southeastern CT Youth Climate Summit. The importance of bringing together our community towards action is one of the many goals which brought her to join the Board of Directors for the Alliance for Mystic River Watershed. Within this organization she focuses on youth action and soon launched the Alliances Youth Council. This is only the start of her career path. Zoe truly understands that there is so much more work to be done and by recruiting others who share her passion they together will make a difference .

Jelani is an Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation citizen and serves as a Tribal Council Member and on our Board of Directors.

Gretchen holds a degree in Earth & Oceanographic Science from Bowdoin College and has dedicated her career to fostering intentional, place-based communities. As a designer and creative communicator, she brings a deep passion for visual storytelling, community-building, and honoring the sacred interconnectedness of life on Earth. Her work spans outdoor education, media creation, and collaborative art, guided by a commitment to ecological care and cultural respect. Collaborating with Indigenous Tribes is especially meaningful to her, and she’s honored to contribute her skills in graphic design, communications, and creative strategy to the Alliance.