Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association Announces New Executive Director – Joanna Roche

Kelly Bernatzky • July 28, 2021

Helene Weld, the President of the Board of Directors of the Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA), announced today that Joanna Roche will take on the role of MMA’s next Executive Director. According to Weld, “While our search allowed us to consider a number of excellent candidates from across the country, we are pleased to welcome a Nantucket resident to this critical role. We are certain Joanna is the person to take our organization to the next level in achieving our mission: to create opportunities for all to develop a life-long passion for science through education, research, and first-hand exploration of the sky, land, and sea of Nantucket Island.”

 

Joanna is a proven leader who has extensive experience in both the nonprofit and business world. In her past roles, she has led large teams, worked successfully with diverse boards, delivered strong financial performance, increased and strengthened revenue streams, and focused on providing exceptional guest experiences. Her past career successes will serve her well in carrying out the goals of the MMA.

 

Joanna has articulated a bold vision for the future and for what can be next for the organization, including raising the visibility of MMA not only on the island but nationally; enhancing the overall experience for those visiting and interacting with MMA; and building and diversifying the funding streams for the organization.

 

Joanna said, “I’m especially enthusiastic about using my passion to help continue to promote the legacy of Maria Mitchell. Mitchell was a true pioneer, not only as a woman scientist, but as a woman leader who was far ahead of her time in advocating for and supporting the next generation of the curious, and those who love nature and learning.”

 

She has a well-established network of connections on the island and has served on the Town of Nantucket Finance Committee for the past six years. She was also recently named to the Coastal Resiliency Advisory Committee, where she will advocate for and contribute her expertise on issues of importance to both the island and the MMA.

 

She was most recently the Executive Director of GSN Planet and Foundation, where she led two global nonprofits focused on sustainability and education in the wellness arena. She has consulted on numerous new capital and development projects, managing budgets, financial oversight, and revenue growth. She also served as an executive at the Westmoor Club where she led the vision, revenue growth, and staff of the Club’s Wellness Center. Earlier in her career, she was Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Strategist for Pierce Mattie Public Relations in New York.

 

Frances Symes, who serves on the MMA Board and co-chaired the search committee, said, “MMA is pleased and excited to have the talents and energy of Joanna as our new leader. With her understanding of the island combined with her passion for the environment, business expertise and commitment to a high-quality visitor experience, we know MMA’s future is in good hands.”

 

Originally from the Berkshires, in western Massachusetts, Joanna has always been active in the communities where she has lived, serving on many local boards and committees. She is also a well-known speaker, hosted a long-running radio show here on Nantucket, and is a wellness and meditation teacher. Roche loves the outdoors, and is a longtime runner. 

 

Weld concludes, “This is an exciting time for MMA, as we look to the future and find new ways to grow our impact and presence both here on Nantucket and nationally. Having Joanna as Executive Director will make us that much more successful in leading the organization into a strong and vibrant future. We are grateful to Interim Director Jason Bridges for skillfully leading the Maria Mitchell Association over the past year.”

 

The Maria Mitchell Association is a private non-profit organization. Founded in 1902, the MMA works to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages.

For Immediate Release

July 28 2021

Contact: Helene Weld, MMA Board President

hmweld@gmail.com

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Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association Welcomes Kike Calvo as Featured July Presenter.

July 14, 2025
NANTUCKET, MA— The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) announces Kike Calvo, award-winning photographer, journalist, and author, as its featured presenter for its July Speaker Series. Calvo’s presentation, "The Power of Creativity: A Journey Through Storytelling, Exploration, and Hope," will take place on Wednesday, July 23 at 7pm at the Nantucket Atheneum’s Great Hall. This event is free. Join the MMA for an engaging evening with award-winning photographer, journalist, and author, Kike (Kee-Keh) Calvo. A Fellow of both the Explorers Club and the Royal Geographical Society, he has traveled to over 120 countries, photographing everything from belugas in the Arctic to traditional dances in Vanuatu. His work has been featured in National Geographic Magazine, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and more. In this engaging presentation, Calvo explores how creativity can be a catalyst for connection, storytelling, and meaningful change. From documenting remote villages to diving with great white sharks, from defying the odds as an author to inspiring thousands of children in the Amazon, Calvo shares the invaluable lessons he has learned along the way. As a National Geographic Certified Educator and Safina Center Fellow (2020-2023), Calvo combines his passion for photography with teaching, having lectured at prestigious institutions such as Yale University. A pioneer in drone photography for art and conservation, he founded the “Little Explorer, Big World” initiative, which brings education to remote communities and has donated over 35,000 bilingual books. Described by anthropologist Wade Davis as, "a fresh voice in visual anthropology," Calvo has a gift for capturing the intersections of human existence. Calvo’s new book, Luminous: A Field Guide for Visual Explorers and Storytellers, isn’t just a book—it’s an invitation to slow down, look deeper, and photograph with soul. It’s a roadmap where photography meets presence, anthropology meets art, and storytelling becomes a path to connection.  Discover how creativity can illuminate pressing global issues—such as plastic pollution—and empower each of us to make a difference. This presentation is free and open to the public, graciously hosted for the MMA by the Nantucket Atheneum in the Great Hall. No registration required. About the Maria Mitchell Association: The Maria Mitchell Association was founded in 1902 to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. After she discovered a comet in 1847, Mitchell’s international fame led to many achievements and awards, including an appointment as the first professor of astronomy at Vassar College. Maria Mitchell believed in “learning by doing” and today that philosophy is reflected in the MMA’s mission statement, programs, research projects, and other activities. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages. ###

The Work Begins

By Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • July 14, 2025
As we are now complete with the conservation of the historic Maria Mitchell Vestal Street Observatory (MMO), I thought it would be good to post a series of blogs concerning it history and activities, as well as some of the remarkable people who have made it what it is over the last 100 plus years. Therefore, over the next few weeks, the focus will be on the MMO. And it is now open for tours – Monday through Saturday 11-1PM. In 1906, the MMA was given Maria Mitchell’s five-inch Alvan Clark telescope which Mitchell purchased with money raised by the Women of America in 1859. With the telescope, a fireproof observatory was needed to house it and the activities surrounding its use. A campaign was developed to raise the funds for an observatory and in approximately four months, a small observatory was built at a cost of $4,800.00. Completed in 1908, the Maria Mitchell Observatory now was in need of a permanent astronomer. An Observatory Committee was developed and chaired by Annie Jump Cannon. From 1909 through 1911, the MMA was able to employ an astronomer to teach classes, observe, provide lectures, and open the observatory for public observing for approximately a month each summer. As the demand grew, the MMA realized that a more extensive program was needed and the Astronomical Fellowship Committee began to raise funds for an Astronomical Fellowship Fund. With the support of many generous donors and a matching gift from Andrew Carnegie, by 1911 the MMA had the funds it needed to support the fellowship and began its search for an astronomer who would conduct research, provide lectures and classes, and conduct open nights for the public from mid-June through mid-December. The fellow would spend the remainder four months in research and study – every fourth year a full year of study would be spent in an American or European observatory. JNLF

Maria Mitchell In Her Own Words

By Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • July 7, 2025
July 31, 1883. I had two or three rich days! On Friday last I went to Holderness, N.H.. to the Asquam House; I had been asked by Mrs. T to join her party. There was at this house Mr. Whittier, Mr., and Mrs. Cartland, Professor and Mrs. Johnson, of Yale . . . The house seemed full of fine, cultivate people. We stayed two days and a half. And first of the scenery. The road up to the house is a steep hill, and at the foot of the hill it winds and turns around two lakes. The panorama is complete one hundred and eighty degrees. Beyond the lakes lie the mountains.  The Asquam House sat atop Shepard Hill and was built in 1881. A hotel, it has space for fifty guests, it was located near Squam Lake and became part of a summer enclave that developed there in the later part of the nineteenth century. Today, the area is a National Historic Landmark, but sadly, the hotel was demolished in 1948. Maria would have been familiar with these people seen here – and others I did not include – but particularly John Greenleaf Whittier who was something of a family friend. He was close to one of her younger brothers, William Forester. JNLF
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