Our Board

Dean Merrill

Executive Director

After finishing an undergraduate degree at Maine College of Art in 2002, Dean spent the following eight years working as a designer and photographer assisting other artists with their online presence. In 2010 he continued the tradition of uplifting others by founding TEDxDirigo, Maine’s first TEDx event. TEDxDirigo went on to be a must attend event for inspiration and deep thinking in Maine for 10 years. Many speakers' careers were boosted onto the international stage, or were highlighted on the TED Radio Hour on NPR. At the same time he focused attention on cinematography to lens a number of award winning short and feature films. Of these projects some have been featured in Filmmaker, Indiewire, MovieMaker magazines. Others would be highlighted in The New York Times, and National Public Radio (NPR). 

In 2019 during the height of the pandemic, in the absence of state leadership for safety guidelines for video production he led the creation of a COVID Safety Document for Maine production. This document was used across the state, most notably during the first season of The Lost Kitchen on the Magnolia Network.

In 2023 Dean began a major photographic project addressing climate change through photographic contemplation, starting in Svalbard, Norway and is now moving to photographing landscapes across North America in 2024.

Outside of creating, Dean enjoys surfing, sailing, snowboarding, climbing, and quiet contemplative moments in nature.

Daniel Stephens

Chair of The Board of Directors

Daniel Stephens studied filmmaking in the early 1990’s at Loyola University (New Orleans) and the University of South Florida. Subsequently he decided that the best place to apply his storytelling skills was the booming new Internet security industry that blossomed in the mid 1990’s. Eight years later Daniel realized his mistake: filmmakers should make films, not firewalls. In 2000, Daniel left the company he co-founded to return to filmmaking.

In the intervening years, he has served as the Chief Lighting Technician and Director of Photography and producer for numerous music videos, commercials, and short and feature films. He is particularly inspired by the verisimilitude of the unpredictable and feels these moments are the foundation of exceptional storytelling.
Daniel is deeply passionate about the planet’s resources, both environmental and human. He is particularly engaged in the field of social justice and often works with nonprofits specializing in this area to document their work and inform the general public about it through film and multimedia. His work with PopTech has taken him across the globe, from Nairobi to Haiti and from Iceland to the streets of Chicago to document and create stories of social change and social justice.

Elizabeth Jackson

Secretary

Elizabeth is an experienced public health and social sciences-oriented professional with global and domestic experience. She is currently the Executive Director of The Institute for Quantitative Social Science (IQSS) at Harvard University. Prior to joining IQSS, Elizabeth served as the Chief Operating Officer at Greater Portland Health. In several, community, academic, public sector, and health settings, Elizabeth has provided system and community strengthening efforts and worked with partners to translate proven research into the implementation of effective programs in the U.S., Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Elizabeth received her Masters in Public Health from Yale University and her Bachelors from Bates College. Bringing experience from serving on other nonprofit Boards, Elizabeth is committed to supporting organizations and community efforts seeking to help others with humanitarian missions. You can find Elizabeth personally recharging through physical activity and adventures in the beautiful outdoors with her family and friends.

Ryan Richards

Treasurer

With experience in Social Work, Education and Non-Profit Operations, Ryan W. Richards is committed to positive social change through practicing and teaching conflict-resolution.  Having earned his B.A. in Psychology and his M.A. in Health Arts and Sciences, Ryan’s expertise lies in applying contemplative concepts regarding human development to practical challenges in personal, interpersonal, and professional settings.  Ryan has held many roles in the non-profit sphere, most recently as the Operations Manager for Graduate Medical Education at Maine Medical Center, overseeing the operations of more than 30 residency and fellowship training programs.  As a Human Development Educator, Ryan runs a private practice in Portland, ME, where he assists clients to develop timely approaches to conflict-resolution; based on comprehensive principles for learning to master critical struggles.