Casey Maeve Bermingham '25 finds purpose through nature education from Newport to Hawaii

By student writer Faith Lam '27

From the shores of Newport to the coastal marshes of Cape Cod, to the volcanic landscapes of Hawaii, Casey Maeve Bermingham '25 has built her path around a simple idea: everyone deserves access to the natural world.

A sociology and anthropology major with a minor in women and gender studies, Bermingham used her time at Salve Regina University to explore the intersection of environmental education, social equity and public policy. Through hands-on work, study abroad experiences and mentorship, she developed a global perspective on how people connect to the land – and who gets the opportunity to do so.

Now, as she continues her work in nature education, Bermingham is focused on creating more inclusive spaces outdoors, ensuring that future generations not only experience the environment, but feel they belong in it.

A perfect mix

Bermingham attributes her expanded horizon to Dr. Jameson Chace, professor and chair of the Department of Cultural, Environmental and Global Studies, who introduced her to bird banding after taking his course BIO140: Humans in Their Environment her first year. This sparked her interest in opportunities outside of the classroom in Newport and beyond.

"I didn't have to choose. I was able to integrate my love for nature with my love for the humanities," said Bermingham.

She has a particular interest in public policy, specifically education policy. Nature education is something she has been involved in most of her life. Bermingham has a strong passion for education equality and giving underprivileged communities access to knowledge about the world around them.

While studying at Salve, she was able to spend her summers working as a coastal nature educator on Cape Cod at Mass Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. Later, she worked as a nature educator at the Norman Bird Sanctuary in Newport after graduation last year.

Bermingham believes that everyone deserves access to these educational opportunities, and hopes to create the next generation of environmentalists.

"Certain advantages and disadvantages can impact someone's experience of the Earth. The kinds of green spaces we are given access to can affect who feels like they belong in places like Newport or Cape Cod," said Bermingham. She wants to continue creating experiences of these types of spaces for underprivileged children. This summer, she is going to do just that, while working as camp director at Mass Audubon's Boston Nature Center and Wildlife Sanctuary at their Jamaica Plain satellite campus.

Broadening the work

Bermingham took every opportunity she could get to grow and learn. This includes her three times studying abroad, in Florence, London and the Amazon Rainforest. Salve's study abroad programs allowed her to gain a global understanding of culture and the natural environment. "My studying abroad experiences taught me that it can be easy to go wherever I want and no one's going to stop me."

Bermingham took her skills and passions to Hawaii this past fall in a volunteer position with World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF). This work exchange program brought her to Hawaii's Big Island where she lived and worked on a local farm as well as assisting at the University of Hawaii Manoa Komohana Research and Extension Center. At the research center, she worked alongside professional gardeners to build a public pollinator garden, replacing an area of growing weeds.

While living on the farm, she spent her time removing invasive plants and animal species, harvesting produce and tending to livestock. An inner view of Hawaii's culture allowed her to explore the land and islands ethically and learn from locals.

"Through living and chatting with locals, visiting museums, working at the farmer's market and exploring Big Island and Oahu, I was lucky enough to experience Hawaii's rich culture first-hand and consider what it means to travel ethically," shared Bermingham. "I am deeply grateful for the knowledge I gained from every person, and living creature, I came across in my time there."

Bermingham recognizes the opportunities Salve has provided her with and is grateful to the University's mercy mission for helping lead her to where she is today.

"There's a responsibility to take a look at our own community and how we're applying mercy," said Bermingham. "Newport is a beautiful, wonderful place, and everyone deserves to have access to that beauty. I think the mercy mission should guide people to take an honest look at how we make this a more inclusive space for everyone." She emphasizes incorporating mercy into the education of future generations of conservationists.

A combination of education, policy reform and love of the Earth have allowed Bermingham to be a leader of what she hopes is a movement towards a happier, healthier planet.