Maura Welch is now Senior Writer, Executive Communications for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). As a Mitchell Scholar, she studied Comparative Social Change at Trinity College Dublin. Before that, she was a speechwriter for Boston Mayor Marty Walsh. She has written speeches about a host of local and national issues, including climate action and racial justice, and developed creative outreach materials including videos, opinion columns, and a podcast. After graduating from The George Washington University with a degree in Environmental Studies in 2013, she worked for The Nature Conservancy's Islands Program on Martha's Vineyard where she managed communications for a new citizen science program, developed educational curricula for the public school system, and coordinated sustainability projects. She then spent two years directing youth programs for Portland Parks and Recreation in Oregon. Maura ran the 2020 Boston Marathon to raise funds for the Martin Richard Foundation, which supports affordable youth sports, arts, and educational programs, with an emphasis on inclusion for children with physical and cognitive disabilities.