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MARCUS BURDEN (he/him/his)
Legal Director
Marcus Burden is a lawyer at a private international law firm, and specializes in government contracts, international trade, and construction. A graduate of the George Washington University Law School, Marcus has authored notes on leveraging U.S. federal appropriations for its annual procurements to mitigate carbon emissions, and proposed an amendment to the World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Government Procurement to include a carbon tariff on all goods and services utilized in international procurements that exceed a mutually agreed upon emissions threshold for its Member States. Always eager to serve, Marcus joins IGC with the belief that everyone should start where one is, use what one has, and do what one can.
RASHAD BURDEN (he/him/his)
Chair
Dr. Rashad Burden is a proud husband and father. His greatest joy is his family and impacting the world in which they live. He has enjoyed making a difference in the community as a pastor for over 13 years. He is the lead pastor of the Historical San Diego 31st Street Church that has been a cornerstone in the community for over 100 years. He is a sought after speaker and presenter for both his spiritual and organizational culture insight. During his pursuit of his PhD, he found his academic niche in Creative Leadership and multigenerational dynamics. He enjoys guiding leaders and organizations to be sensitive to problems, fluent in adversity, original in operation, and flexible in the face of change.
ADRIENNE FUSEK (she/her/hers)
Executive Director & Founder
Prior to shifting focus to advance climate justice in her local community, Adrienne worked in the field of international education for 18 years. Her work includes serving as a founding board member of CANIE (the Climate Action Network for International Educators) where she co-founded the Climate Justice working group and served as the lead author of the COP26 Glasgow Paper and CANIE Accord. She co-chaired the Forum on Education Abroad working group that wrote the guidelines aligning education abroad with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Adrienne is a lecturer at San Diego State University (SDSU), where she teaches Sustainability and Environmental Science. She also advises colleges, universities, and nonprofits on global higher education with expertise in global strategy creation, sustainable development, and inclusive climate action.
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Adrienne studied in Querétaro, México while earning a bachelor’s degree in Spanish Education from Cal Poly Humboldt, served as Peace Corps Volunteer in Bangladesh while earning a master’s degree in International Education from SIT Graduate Institute, and she holds a Doctor of Education in Postsecondary Educational Leadership from SDSU. She lives in University Heights with her wife and two unruly dogs.
SAGE GAUTIER
Secretary
Sage Gautier, a native of San Diego, recently graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor's of Science in Sustainability and is deeply committed to sustainability. Prior to serving on the Board, Sage was IGC's Climate Games Intern working with community volunteers and IGC leadership to make climate education more accessible and fun.
With a diverse background in administration and hospitality, as well as a fervent passion for environmental activism, Sage seeks to contribute to positive change. Outside of her academic and professional pursuits, she enjoys engaging in leisure activities such as playing board games with friends, exploring new restaurants, and unwinding with a captivating show or movie. Sage aspires to work for The City of San Diego, where she aims to leverage her expertise to implement inclusive green policies that address the diverse needs of marginalized communities, fostering both environmental sustainability and social equity.
LILIT GEVORKYAN (she/her/hers)
Director
Lilit is of Armenian origin and has a multicultural background shaped by experiences from living in several countries, speaking 5 languages including Armenian, French, Spanish and Russian. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin in 2017, which is where her love for nature and environmental awareness began to grow. Post-graduation, she worked in the HVAC industry for over 2 years in Dallas, founding an interorganizational sustainability group focused on local park cleanup. She also volunteered with the Texas Trees Foundation, contributing to Dallas Urban Forest restoration by planting trees and distributing 5-gallon saplings (young trees) to residents.
After an unsuccessful attempt to change careers in Australia in 2020 due to the pandemic, Lilit left for France to obtain a Master's Degree in Science, Technology and Management in Energy Environment from École Polytechnique. Throughout her time in France, Lilit gained extensive knowledge in renewable advancements, sustainability practices, climate education and nature-based solutions through academic study and work in carbon offsetting. As of July 2023, Lilit has relocated to San Diego and works for EDF Renewables, helping combat the fossil fuel industry and raising climate education awareness in the local communities through volunteer work.
In her free time, Lilit loves to go rock climbing (both indoors and outdoors), camping, hiking, cycling, playing volleyball, going to the beach, listening to live music and spending time with her family.
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HENAR HELLOW (she/her/hers)
Treasurer
Henar Hellow holds a Master’s degree from the University of California, San Diego in International Relations, where she focused on environmental policy and politics in Southeast Asia. She also holds a double Bachelor of Arts degree in Asian Studies (Chinese language) and in Studio Arts, specializing in oil painting and figure drawing. Her work experience has ranged from non-profit work in labor market, humanitarian aid, and energy to the private sector, where she uses her research and analytical capabilities to help communicate the story hidden in the data. Henar is committed to pursuing DE&I in the corporate space, and for the past few years has been the chapter lead for the Asia Pacific Network in San Diego, an employee resource group focused on the Asian experience and supporting its members and allies. She currently works as a senior research analyst in research consulting within CBRE, using a multi-disciplinary approach to analyze data and produce insights for clients.
A San Diego native, Henar spends her free time knitting, painting, and reading when she’s not working on personal analysis projects centered around climate change and ESG. She lives with her family in San Diego, along with their very funny and chatty cat. Henar is incredibly excited to working with In Good Company and make a positive impact in this space, as well as continue to deepen her experience working in the multi-disciplinary intersection of climate justice.
MALAK MITCHELL (he/him/his)
Youth Climate Leader
Malak Mitchell is a San Diego high school student who spends his time on science, surf, math, and videography. Nature is his inspiration to learn and experience the magic of life. Time in the ocean serves as his constant reminder that we all share this planet. Living abroad taught him that we cannot transform our future without creating social and environmental justice. He wants to build a better future by designing investment models that regenerate communities and the natural world.
ARMANDO SEPULVEDA II (he/him/his)
Director
Armando Sepulveda II is an avid enthusiast of the outdoors. Having grown up in South San Diego, Armando’s main access to green space came in the form of Montgomery-Waller Community Park and the Silver Wing Recreation Center, with frequent visits to the Mission Trails Regional Park system. These visits shaped his view on the importance of nature and what it can do for one's mental and physical well-being. This became ever more apparent when his fellow peers did not have the same access to or connection with green spaces, and because of this Armando worked to advocate for his peers and community in any way he could. Currently, Armando works as a Community Organizer for SAY San Diego. In this role, Armando works to provide information to youth and adults on Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug (ATOD) related topics.
INEMESIT WILLIAMS (she/her/hers)
Education & Training Specialist (Contract)
Inemesit "Ine" Williams transitioned into the international education sector in 2004 after studying and working in the sciences. As a higher education practitioner and manager, she has led efforts in cultural programming, international student orientation coordination, international student and scholar immigration advising services, exchange & study abroad program management, and more. Her deep belief in creative efforts and collaboration led her to join the Climate Action Network for International Educators (CANIE) to focus on the intersecting crises of climate change, racial justice, and other social inequalities. She completed her 3-year term on the CANIE global board and as co-chair of the Climate Justice Working Group in 2023, and continues to contribute as a general CANIE member and volunteer. She is an advisor for In Good Company (IGC) and joined the IGC team in December 2023 as an Education and Training Specialist.
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Ine is also a Climate Reality Leadership Corps alumna and mentor who collaborates with community members to educate, build, and support climate action in her local Arizona area and beyond. Her goals for 2024 include becoming a Climate Literacy trainer and Climate Fresk facilitator to help expand, normalize, and catalyze everyday climate and justice conversations into community action. She lives in Arizona and is developing a sustainable off-grid desert homestead and short-term vacation site to encourage family, friends, and guests to get outside and respectfully connect with nature.