Who We ARe: Board, STAFF, and PARTNERS

I’m Sophia Paul, a lifelong midwesterner, currently living in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I have experience in consensus decision making, collaborative natural resource management, food justice, volunteer coordination, event planning, and community gardening.  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.

In my free time I enjoy cooking, baking, gardening, reading, spending time with my cat, and running as much as I possibly can.

Leo Goldsmith (he/they) is a Climate and Health Specialist at ICF and is contracted out to the U.S. Global Change Research Program. In this role, he coordinates an interagency working group on climate change and human health, facilitates the implementation and integration of health activities, and is the point person for development of multiple chapters of the Fifth National Climate Assessment. 

Leo’s passion for earth, ecology and nature have inspired him both personally and professionally. As a proud brother and plant parent, the care he shows for others shines through. His passion is also demonstrated in his work in environmental justice and tropical ecology research he has performed in Barro Colorado Island off the coast of Panama. Leo is excited to continue uplifting LGBTQ+ communities and influencing change by bringing his passion and experiences to bear as a member of the Out4Sustainability Board. 

Leo has a BA in Environmental Studies from Oberlin College, and holds a Masters of Environmental Management with a specialization in Climate Change Science and Solutions from Yale. He has been a Yale Environmental Justice and Health Strategic Initiative Fellow, and was a technical contributor for the Fifth National Climate Assessment’s Human Health chapter on LGBTQ+ health.

Jan (he/him) is very excited about being part of the OUT4S board and currently serves as the organization’s treasurer. He is an Associate at Boston Consulting Group, where he specializes in climate and sustainability projects in fields including renewables, carbon dioxide removal technology, and climate impacts. Jan graduated from the University of Georgia, earning Bachelor’s degrees in Economics, Finance, and German. While there, he conducted research on ESG and carbon pricing legislation, presenting his findings at conferences in the US and Europe. Jan is passionate about using innovation to address the climate crisis in an equitable way and believes in interdisciplinary collaboration as the key to both reversing climate change and supporting those most affected by its impacts. In his free time, Jan loves to go on walks in his local parks, hike in the mountains in North Georgia, and listen to audiobooks.

Rashad Williams (he/him)  is a social and environmental justice advocate, currently serving as  Director of Subscriber Services at Groundswell, where he works to  advance equitable clean energy solutions that center marginalized  people. Rashad views his role on the Out for Sustainability board as an  extention of that work, particularly as it relates to uplifting and  addressing the needs of the LGBTQIA+ community in renewable energy and  environmental justice.

Rashad  provides strategic direction, project governance, and general program  oversight to Groundswell’s subscriber services delivery. He coordinates  day-to-day operations among the customer support, communications, and  data analytics program elements. Highlights of his work include leading  product development for Groundswell’s proprietary SharePower™ subscriber  management platform, facilitating contract execution and compliance  with solar developers, ensuring adherence to local regulatory statutes,  and managing program financials.

A  native of Atlanta’s south side, Rashad attended Georgia State  University, earning a master’s degree in public policy and a bachelor’s  in sociology. When he’s not working to identify solutions that benefit  marginalized communities, you can find him reading a good book,  discovering new ways to stay active, or traversing the Washington, D.C.,  food scene.

 Diana  Wilkinson (she/her) leads BSR’s Global Supply Chain Practice in New York City, working at the intersection of social and environmental impact mitigation. As a native Californian committed to  protecting the environment, she has been working in the sustainability space for 15  years on issues ranging from carbon neutrality and plastics reduction  strategies to labor rights advocacy in factories. Diana is extremely excited to focus her  sustainability experience toward the queer community as a member of the  Out for Sustainability Board. 

A dual citizen of the US and Switzerland, Diana received her MBA in Environmental Management and Policy from The George Washington University School of Business (getting to finish her studies in France) and a BA in Economics from Bates College. Diana speaks Spanish and French and in her free time, you can find her on the soccer pitch or anywhere near the water with her dog. 

 Diego (he/him) is based in New York City and has a passion for working to address climate change in cities. He's been connected to a number of sustainability and environmental initiatives in both state government and in the private sector at the national and intrenational level. Diego is interested in how the LGBTQIA+ community is included in the eco-discourse.

In his downtime, Diego is an avid gamer (or interactive novels as he fondly calls them!) and enjoys going out with friends to the park, beach or any yummy brunch spot! He also enjoys spending time in his home country of Mexico. He looks forward to being part of OUT4S Board of Directors to enhance the work already being done to address the impacts of climate change in the LGBTQIA+ community nationally and at multilateral fora. 

 Brandon Rothrock (he/him) is a Geography PhD Student at The Ohio State  University, where he is an EmPOWERment NSF Research Trainee focused on  sustainable energy systems. His research interests are at the  intersection of LGBTQIA+ livelihoods and energy justice in Appalachia.  He is also an Agents of Change in Environmental Justice Fellow through  Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and Environmental  Health News, and is an Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) Climate Corps  Fellow at Sustainable Cities Fund. Prior to his PhD, Brandon worked as  an Assistant Program Manager of Energy Efficiency at TRC Companies, Inc.  leading New Jersey’s new construction energy efficiency incentive  program. He holds a M.A. in Geography and a Graduate Certificate in  Women’s and Gender Studies from West Virginia University and a B.S. in  Geography and minors in Climatology and Sustainability Leadership from  The Pennsylvania State University. Brandon is deeply committed to just  and equitable practice in the broader environmental movement and is  particularly enamored with work on LGBTQIA+ perspectives of climate  change and rural environments. In his free time, he enjoys hiking,  reading, relaxing by the shore, and attending outdoor concerts.

Whitley Poyser (she/her) is a director at Lockheed Martin Space, working in space technologies. In this role, Whitley is currently pursuing a Master's degree from Harvard University in Sustainability focusing on the intersection of sustainable consumption, social equity, and innovation. As a member of the Out for Sustainability Board, Whitley is passionate about establishing partnerships and fostering collaborations that build upon and support Out for Sustainability's mission and strategic priorities. 

Whitley is a graduate from University of North Texas with a BS in Logistics and Supply Chain Management and Mathematics, and has earned an MS in Operations Research and Logistics Systems Engineering from Southern Methodist University.  She spends her free time with her family exploring the natural world and sponsoring sustainable agriculture and responsible water consumption efforts.

Vicki (she/her) is a  leader in the government, working at the intersection of emergency  management, community resilience, and sustainability. With over a decade  of experience driving strategic change and innovation, she specializes  in data analysis, report writing, and knowledge management to strengthen  preparedness and recovery capabilities. As a member of the  Out4Sustainability Board, Vicki is passionate about promoting equal  representation of LGBTQ2S+ individuals in the climate movement and  governance. A graduate of Temple University with an MA in Geography and  Urban Studies, she dedicates her career to cultivating systemic change  that advances collective liberation. In her free time, Vicki enjoys  adventures with her partner and their pup and stays active through  taking classes at a local Muay Thai gym.

Kyle Gray (he/him) joined the OUT4S Board of Directors in January 2023 and leads the Board’s Treasury Working Group. Kyle oversees climate policy, financing, and capacity building projects as the Chief of Staff at Throwe Environmental, a Rhode Island-based environmental policy firm focused on helping communities become more resilient to climate change. Kyle has a M.A in Marine Affairs, a Post baccalaureate Certificate in Community Planning, and a B.A. in Political Science and Italian, all from the University of Rhode Island (URI). Kyle has a micro-credential in diversity and inclusion facilitation from URI, has completed NOAA's Facilitation Basics for Coastal Managers training, and was previously a certified Climate Change Professional (CC-P®) through the Association of Climate Change Officers. Kyle lives in Washington, DC, where he also works part-time at The Potter’s House, a nonprofit cafe and community space dedicated to fostering deeper conversation, creative expression, and community transformation. Kyle enjoys spending his free time in the kitchen, on the trail, and by the ocean..