Next up in our “Meet the PRLTeam” series, let’s get to know Will Sedlack, our Executive Director. As our fearless leader, Will leads our fundraising and conservation efforts and is our primary liaison to the communities we serve.
Will came on board at Presumpscot Regional Land Trust in 2023, but he has been in the nonprofit and education fields for over a decade. Prior to PRLT he was working for Maine Conservation Voters, which he joined right after graduating law school. He started as a team member working on democracy policy and civic engagement programs, took on offshore wind and building partnerships, and eventually became MCV’s political director. Will has also worked for the Gorham School District, Friends of Casco Bay, Calendar Island Mussels, and Maine Farmland Trust. He has his J.D. from the University of Maine School of Law and a Master of Policy, Planning, and Management from the Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine.
Get to know Will with us:
Where did you grow up?
My father owed the Navy service time in return for medical school, so we moved around a bit when I was younger (Washington, D.C.; Camp Pendleton, CA; Adak, Alaska). I mostly grew up in a small town in central Pennsylvania called Carlisle.
How did you come to work for PRLT?
My journey to PRLT is a little twisty-turny. After studying medieval history and political theory at the University of Vermont, I became a children’s librarian through Americorps. Then I became a social studies and English teacher. I did my student teaching at Camden Hills High School and then got a job at Gorham High School as a technology integrator. While studying to become an assistant principal, I took an education law course and loved it. I signed up for the LSATs after hearing Mary Bonauto give a lecture at USM (thank you, Mary!). During law school, I worked for the Maine Attorney General, Maine Farmland Trust, and Friends of Casco Bay. After graduating, I was hired by Maine Conservation Voters/Maine Conservation Alliance to build out their democracy policy and civic engagement programs. I eventually added offshore wind and building partnerships between the environmental movement and the labor movement to my portfolio. I ended my time at MCV as their political director working to elect conservation and clean energy champions. I was excited about conserving land in towns that I love, which brought me to PRLT!
What’s your favorite PRLT property?
Rivermeadow. I love being along the river and am really impressed by the boardwalk that Toby built with some of our amazing volunteers.
What’s your favorite way to get outside?
Walking. I’m a photographer, so I love to get out and take photos. In the winter, I cross country ski and ice fish. I’m also already scheming what new things to try planting in my garden next summer.
How else do you spend your time outside of work?
I have a ten-month-old child, so she is taking up a lot of my time. Besides family, I am Dungeon Master for a new Dungeons and Dragons campaign with my friend group, and I love to read (both fiction and non-fiction) and to listen to music.
Quick! What’s your favorite…
Mountain – Flying Mountain on Mount Desert Island
River – the Presumpscot, of course
Craft project – I have a pizza oven, so making pizza is my craft (I talked about it with the Portland Press Herald last year)
Podcast – The Ezra Klein Show for news and All Songs Considered on Fridays for new music
Poet – David Budbill
Travel destination – Mexico City or Tokyo – I love exploring cities
Coffee shop – Little Tandem or Coveside Coffee
Musician – Bill Evans, Bon Iver, or The War on Drugs
In one sentence, why PRLT?
Because we are responsible for protecting truly special places, including the Presumpscot watershed.
How do we reach you?
Via email – will@prlt.org