Ben ford
Miles-Wye riverkeeper

bford@shorerivers.org
443.385.0511 ext 213

As the Miles-Wye Riverkeeper, Ben is dedicated to improving the water quality in these rivers and Eastern Bay, and ensuring that they remain bountiful, safe, healthy, and beautiful. He joined the staff of ShoreRivers in 2023.

 Ben was born and raised in Talbot County, and spent his early years on the water as a sailing instructor at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, as a living shoreline technician, and as professional crew on a sailing yacht. 

 For the last 13 years, Ben has deepened his passion for the Chesapeake’s people and places as the program manager for the Chesapeake Semester with Washington College’s Center for Environment and Society. During the Chesapeake Semester, a 16-credit interdisciplinary experiential education program for undergraduates, students study the complex history, ecology, and culture of the Chesapeake and learn about the challenges and transitions confronting coastal communities around the world. As part of the initiative, Ben led short-term study abroad programs for undergraduates in Peru, Guatemala, Belize, and Baja Mexico.  

 Ben has an undergraduate degree from University of Maryland Baltimore County. He lives just outside Chestertown, MD with his wife Kate Livie, their son Laurie, and their dogs