Jennifer Mathews
The board of trustees at Coastal Studies for Girls in Freeport has formally announced that Jennifer Mathews has been unanimously selected as the school’s interim head of school. Mathews had served at the school as business and outreach manager for four years, overseeing the business and development offices, admissions strategy, marketing, outreach, and public relations. Prior to her work at CSG, Mathews had served as publicity manager at the Metcalf Institute for Marine and Environmental Reporting at the Graduate School of Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island.
People in the Midcoast Maine area will know Mathews as the founder and owner — for 27 years — of the popular fabric store On Board Fabrics in Edgecomb. She has also been active in education oversight in Lincoln County serving as a member of the board of trustees of The Juniper Hill School for Place-Based Education in Alna. Mathews also served as a member of the Central Lincoln County YMCA Board of Directors in the early 2000s, and held leadership roles in the Edgecomb comprehensive planning process in the early 1990s.
Susan Goodell, president of the Coastal Studies for Girls Board of Trustees, said of Mathews’ appointment, “After we had interviewed both internal and external candidates, it was clear to us that Jen was the right fit for the school. Her vision for the future of CSG was well thought out, including a solid background in business and a deep knowledge of the school’s operations. We are delighted Jen accepted our offer, and look forward to continuing success of our focus on educating girls in STEM and leadership.”
Coastal Studies for Girls invites local residents and friends of the school to a gathering at the FARMS Community Kitchen, located above Rising Tide Community Market, at 323 Main St. in Damariscotta, to introduce Mathews to her new position. The event will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 31, at 4 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided. The gathering is an opportunity to hear about Coastal Studies for Girls and to hear Mathews’ plans for the school moving forward.
Coastal Studies for Girls is a science and leadership semester school for 10th-grade girls. The school brings girls from around the U.S. to the coast of Maine for the fall or spring semester of their sophomore year of high school, enabling students to immerse themselves in a challenging and rewarding experience on an oceanfront land preserve that serves as a natural laboratory. Students at Coastal Studies for Girls interact directly with scientists and guest lecturers as they pursue a rigorous marine-science-based interdisciplinary curriculum. Since opening seven years ago, 11 Lincoln County students – from Lincoln Academy, Boothbay Region High School and Wiscasset High School — have studied at Coastal Studies for Girls.
