People Involved

Joined (Founder) 2008

New York, New York

Pronouns: He/Him

I’m Gerod Rody, the organization’s founder and Board President. I initially started this nonprofit to meet great people (and maybe get a date). Since then, OUT for Sustainability has evolved into the spark of a movement that crosses all sorts of lines to connect the queers and the greens in ways no one thought possible. We are helping redefine the oft-narrowly used term sustainability into something that mobilizes action in pursuit of our vision of a Fabulous Planet.

During the day I’m in an innovation strategist passionate about connecting future-driven vision with pragmatically optimistic action. With time at ?What If!, Valtech, and other leading agencies, I accelerate innovation strategies, develop new categories, and bring disruptive ideas to life in a range of industries.

I love thoughtfully sourced food, craft cocktails, dance parties in random places, interactive art, witty and deep conversational walks, smart movies that aren’t devastating, pondering interior design, and traveling places with excellent food and brilliant people.

Joined 2017

Oakland, California

Pronouns: She/Her

I’m Lindi von Mutius, and I’m on the OUT4S Board because I believe it’s important to bring diversity of all kinds to the environmental movement. I fell in love with OUT4S’s mission to make the planet more fabulous, highlighting intersectionality.

Throughout my adult life, I’ve cared passionately about how we can use environmental solutions to reduce poverty, and to lift up communities that have been marginalized or ignored by lawmakers, polluters, and the environmental movement.

I was born in Essen, Germany and my family moved to the US 25 years ago. The first time I remember being scared of pollution was when the Chernobyl plant exploded, and by the time I was finishing high school – and an internship in Senator John Kerry’s office – I knew that environmental work would always be a passion of mine. I’ve worked on some amazing projects including waste management in Cairo, great ape conservation in central Africa, rescuing baby sea turtles in Barbados, and harbor clean-ups in Baltimore.

As Chief of Staff of the Sierra Club, I work on the day-to-day project management of the senior management team, and am an active voice for staff on organizational changes and strategic decisions. Prior to joining the Sierra Club, I worked at the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), as the Director of Government and Legal Affairs at the Representative of German Industry and Trade, and as a corporate, environmental, and bankruptcy litigation attorney. I’m a Vermont Law, Harvard, Williams, and Phillips Exeter grad. That is also the descending order of toughness for the school mascots: fighting swans, a color, purple cows, and a griffin.

My interests include hiking, skiing, biking, painting, dancing, and making sure my orchids are happy.

Joined 2019

Lansing, Michigan

Pronouns: He/Him

I’m Nick Royal and I’m thrilled to be serving on the Board of OUT4S! I discovered this organization while doing research for my daily job and was instantly drawn to it. The organization’s focus on this work and the simultaneity of identities aligns with my personal philosophies. I have a background in social justice education and inclusion work and it is through this intersectional lens that I approach my work to achieve a more fabulous planet.

My career is in higher education administration and I work in a queer resource center at Michigan State University where I have the privilege to support, educate, and advocate for the queer and trans community on campus. It’s inspiring to see the power the LGBTQ community has when we caucus together. My research is focused on LGBTQ students and how their sexual and gender identities interact with their leadership identities.

I love relaxing with my partner and our dog, reading a good book, baking (and eating baked goods), podcasts, caring for a plethora of plants, and playing board games with new and old friends.

Joined 2019

New York, New York

Pronouns: He/Him

I’m Jeremy Hebert, a proud Brooklynite with rural roots from northern Maryland. The LGBTQ community – no stranger to reimagining society and tackling emergencies – has an important role to play in protecting the environment. That’s why I’m excited to serve on the OUT4S Board, where I can help galvanize my community to become even more active stewards of our fabulous planet.

I started my career as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer, teaching English and swim lessons (long story!) in a refugee school in Azerbaijan. I also partnered with community leaders to develop new teaching methods and combat corruption. Since that formative experience, I’ve traveled the world working in administration and development at international policy organizations and graduated from NYU with a Master’s in Public Administration.

The crisis of climate change and its disastrous effects on the world’s most vulnerable populations led me to the Natural Resources Defense Council, where I currently work to advance fundraising partnerships as a Major Gifts Officer.

When I’m not stressing about our warming planet, I enjoy swimming competitively on a U.S. Masters team (go Bearcats!), learning foreign languages, re-watching the same series on Netflix, and nerding out over fantasy novels.

Joined 2019

Seattle, Washington

Pronouns: She/Her

I’m Kym Foley, a self-proclaimed nature nerd who has spent the last 10+ years working to improve the health of our natural environment while supporting strong, resilient communities. I got involved with OUT for Sustainability after helping lead two fantastic OUT4S-sponsored Earth Gay events in Seattle. Getting your hands dirty restoring the ecosystems that sustain us is especially rewarding when surrounded by fearlessly fabulous queer community.

With an emphasis on climate action and sustainability, I recently entered the University of Washington Master of Urban Planning program seeking further opportunities to work at the intersection of ecosystem health, environmental justice, and urban design. Prior to this shift I was a senior project manager with a Seattle-based organization where I collaborated with government, non-profit, tribal, and community groups to develop a variety of ecological restoration projects. Working with community volunteers and young adult trainees from around the world gave me a passion for inspiring the next generation of diverse environmental leaders. I’ve taught backcountry trail construction to crews working in the Chugach Mountains of Alaska, where I once chased a bear away from my lunch with a chainsaw. I’m a Senior Fellow with the Environmental Leadership Program and, more recently, have served on several community-based, grassroots grantmaking committees.

As time allows, I’m typically found wandering pacific northwest mountains and forests looking at plants and birds, exploring Seattle’s music scene, and trying to avoid errant social media while still engaging in social activism. I love chocolate, the color orange, and hanging out around campfires with chosen family. I couldn’t be more excited to bring value to, and learn from, the OUT for Sustainability community.

Joined 2019

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Pronouns: They/Them

I’m Sophia Paul, a lifelong midwesterner, currently living in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I work at the University of Michigan researching diversity in environmental organizations and planning a conference for students and young professionals committed to diversity and inclusion in the environmental field. I believe strongly in the importance of diversity and equity to the environmental movement, and I’m particularly interested in creating spaces for people who have been historically underrepresented in conservation movement. Consequentially, I am incredibly excited to be a part of Out for Sustainability, working with my community for a more just and sustainable planet.

I have experience in consensus decision making, collaborative natural resource management, food justice, volunteer coordination, and community gardening. In my free time I enjoy cooking, baking, gardening, reading, spending time with my cat, and occasionally working out.

Joined 2019

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Pronouns: She/Her

I’m Vicki Carberry, and I’m so excited to be part of the OUT4S board and larger community! I was first connected to the organization through the Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) Senior Fellowes network and felt immediately drawn to the organization’s approach to sustainability, placing great weight on working from an intersectional framework and being a lead voice for the LGBTQ+ community in the environmental movement.

Over the last 8+ years, I’ve worked as an educator and facilitator in a variety of formal and non-formal educational settings. Most of my work has been at the nexus of education, environmental advocacy, and strengths-based youth leadership. I believe by using the power of creative facilitation, dialogue, and brave spaces we can create a more just and empathetic planet. I also feel that this work is necessary as we work together to dismantle institutionalized oppression and create equitable solutions to address climate change both locally and globally.

In my moments of free time, I enjoy being in and building community with friends and family, paddling with an outrigger canoe club, connecting with nature, reading, and looking at cute baby animal photos.

Joined 2019

Boaz, Alabama

Pronouns: He/Him

Hi, I’m Jonathon Meeks. I joined the OUT for Sustainability board because of the bridge it creates between two essential parts of my identity as a queer person and an environmentalist. I’ve been an activist with the Sierra Club and held various leadership positions for several years, and I hope to be a bridge between those two worlds.

I’m from North Alabama, where I grow pastured poultry on my great-great grandparent’s farm. I also work remotely supporting content and relationship management systems as well as managing social media accounts.

When I’m not working or building movements I enjoy and hiking and kayaking on trails and rivers all over the Southeast or spending time outdoors at the farm gardening and hanging out with my miniature donkeys.