Staff

Maria Finnegan
Director of CHICKs

Maria Finnegan is the Director of the Climate and Health Initiative for Caregivers and Kids (CHICKs) at NH Healthy Climate, where she oversees the Adventures in Climate and Health Curriculum and the Climate Café programs. Her work focuses on addressing the physical and mental health impacts of climate change on both children and caregivers. With a background in media and development at NPR, ABC, ESPN, the Democratic National Committee, MIT, and Harvard, Maria returned to her home state of New Hampshire to focus on combating climate change, first at the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, and later in carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas reduction. She holds a degree in Journalism and Communications from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University and an expanded graduate certificate in Climate Change and Health from Yale University School of Public Health. She is also a member of the Executive Committee of the New Hampshire Public Radio Community Advisory Board, serves on the board of the Monadnock Sustainability Hub, and contributes to the Children’s Environmental Health Committee for the American Public Health Association. Her work is driven by a deep commitment to creating a healthier, more sustainable future for her four-year-old son.

Emily Johnson
Director of Operations

Emily graduated from Colby-Sawyer College in 2016 with a degree in Public Health & Environmental Studies. She began her career in advocacy for climate solutions as an intern for the New Hampshire chapter of the Sierra Club. She has since gained nearly ten years of experience managing political advocacy campaigns and volunteer programs across New England, working for Save the Children Action Network and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. Emily joined NH Healthy Climate in 2025, and she oversees: the development of our working groups, community outreach, organizational administration, and overall development of different projects. 

Joan Widmer, MS, MSBA, RN
Treasurer & Executive Director

Ms. Widmer has a unique and varied professional background. Prior to becoming a nurse, she had a successful career in multiple corporate accounting and finance roles, including the roles of Chief Financial Officer, VP of Finance & Accounting and Corporate Controller. Ms. Widmer was responsible for the day-to-day financial and accounting management, including the preparation of financial statements, business plans, strategic plans and monitoring performance against these plans. In 2004, Ms. Widmer elected to pursue a second career in nursing. She holds a BA from University of California, San Diego and a MSBA from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She completed her nursing training at Rivier University and received a MS in Nursing from the University of New Hampshire. Ms. Widmer practiced clinically at Catholic Medical Center for 12 years and has served as Adjunct Clinical Faculty for UNH. She served as the Executive Director of the New Hampshire Nurses Association for four years and was responsible for the day-to-day operations of this non-profit professional organization for NH nurses. Ms. Widmer is currently serving as the Treasure for the American Nurses Association and working as the Executive Director of NH Healthy Climate.