Francesca Holland

Stewardship Technician II

Professional Experience

As part of the CTNERR Stewardship team, Francesca Holland is engaged in green stormwater and shoreline resiliency work, invasive species management, and various community, fieldwork, and mapping initiatives.  She is deeply committed to supporting our interconnected ecosystems and communities with her interconnected creative, technical and interpersonal skills.  As a Class of 2019 UConn alumnus, Francesca achieved a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering plus a Minor in Studio Art, and engaged in environmental research and design.  In addition to running her own fine art business since 2014, she worked as a scientific illustrator for ten research initiatives across UConn engineering, astrophysics, biology, and anthropology.  Francesca’s lifelong fascination with the ocean and passion for complex systems led her to a five-year career at General Dynamics Electric Boat specializing in corrosion mitigation systems engineering for marine structures.  She ultimately felt called to shift her full focus toward protecting and regenerating the local ecosystems she has always loved.  So, she completed a Master of Arts in Design Engineering with a focus on environmental systems in 2025 through a joint-degree program at Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD).  She has been deeply involved in community education, political advocacy, urban planning and sustainable materials initiatives within the Rhode Island composting industry.  Now, Francesca is greatly excited to learn from and contribute to the CTNERR mission!

Favorite memory of the Sound?

Francesca has had many special times on the Long Island Sound including engaging in horseshoe crab conservation with the Maritime Aquarium, learning to sail out of the Thames Yacht Club, and a favorite that comes to mind: “Countless memories going on a walk or run near Ocean Beach in New London, CT and spontaneously allowing the allure of the water pull me in for an unplanned swim in my street clothes, sometimes in the middle of winter, and walking back after to my old home, wet and receiving concerned looks from my neighbors’ faces – haha.”