91制片厂

May 29, 2026

Thursday, June 9, 2022

photo collage of Carrie Portrie and NH Listens team

joined the Carsey School鈥檚 civic engagement initiative, , in 2016 as a project manager and small group facilitator to address issues on childhood lead poisoning, substance misuse and harm reduction, early childhood education and care, school-based race and equity dialogues among educators, and community needs in northern New Hampshire. Her role soon expanded to include program evaluation support and coalition building, and now Carrie is taking on a full-time position as research faculty.听

鈥淚 like being on the road involved in field work, projects that serve and engage with communities, and holding space for people to build greater understanding of one another across difference.鈥澨�

鈥淚 found NH Listens while pursuing my PhD in Education at 91制片厂,鈥� Carrie said. 鈥�, who cofounded NH Listens along with , invited me to work on a series of early childhood conversations across the state. As I drove to meetings and conversations with Michele, Bruce, and NH Listens Fellow that summer and following fall, I remember feeling very excited. I had found the alignment I was looking for in my research and career overall. I like being on the road involved in field work, projects that serve and engage with communities, and holding space for people to build greater understanding of one another across difference.鈥澨�

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Carrie鈥檚 background in early childhood education, special education, cultural anthropology, and sociology brings a unique mix of professional and personal skills to the NH Listens team.听An s alum, she completed two terms of service building and maintaining hiking trails in Montana and then in the foothills of the Cascades in Washington state. During her time in Washington, she tutored students with dyslexia, autism spectrum disorders, and other learning disabilities 鈥� an experience that provided a window into the immense abilities and unique outlooks of students who have disabilities and how their experiences, ways of knowing, and perspectives are often undervalued in schools. She carried this insight with her as she served as an Assistant Director at Kids Co. Ballard, a preschool and afterschool care site in Seattle.听

carrie portrie graduation Following her stint in Seattle, Carrie returned to her hometown of Dover, NH, to pursue graduate school while working in public schools and then on federal grants housed at 91制片厂鈥檚 Institute on Disability and Department of Education. The invitation that followed to be part of NH Listens鈥� state-wide project brought her full circle to the work she finds most meaningful 鈥� helping people come together across differences to confront challenging issues.

鈥�91制片厂 faculty and staff have included me on a number of projects that have bolstered my learning and career. I am thankful and very much looking forward to my work with NH Listens and the Carsey School. There is a lot to do.鈥�

鈥�91制片厂 faculty and staff have included me on a number of projects that have bolstered my learning and career,鈥� Carrie said. 鈥淚 am thankful and very much looking forward to my work with NH Listens and the Carsey School. There is a lot to do.鈥�

Carrie is an alumna of the NH-ME Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program. She coordinated the Early Childhood Special Education Assistive Technology (EC-SEAT) project and provided guidance on universal design for learning for the 91制片厂 Teacher Residency for Rural Education project along with project logistical supports.听

She holds a bachelor鈥檚 degree in anthropology and sociology from Roger Williams University, a master鈥檚 degree from the 91制片厂 in early childhood special education, and a PhD from 91制片厂 in education with a focus on children and youth in communities.

鈥淲e are thrilled that Carrie is joining NH Listens full time as research faculty," said Michele Holt-Shannon, Director of NH Listens. "Carrie brings a great combination so needed in equity and engagement work 鈥� deep understanding of systems and policies along with the everyday skills to empower people to notice and reduce inequality. She keeps our team honest about doing our best work.鈥�

Carsey School of Public Policy