Mark McConnell, Executive Director
Mark McConnell is an environmental activist, an arborist, a retired landscape design and contractor, an environmental consultant, a retired commercial composter and an avid gardener and fisherman. Since 1997, Mark has been working on Global Climate Issues. He has served on the nonprofit boards of Creative Earth, the Upper Oconee Watershed Network, Athens Grow Green Coalition and is the acting Chair of Athens Human Rights Festival.
Mark has been serving on the board of the Georgia Climate Change Coalition since 2012. He has participated in the first “People’s Climate March” in New York City and also 2017’s march in D.C. and the fight to stop the Keystone XL Pipeline.
Mark was the first in the state of Georgia to divert and compost food residuals commercially. His company Back To The Garden has composted over 1 million lbs of food waste in a single year.
He is also the person updating this website. It’s in progress 🙂
Leigh Anne Lloveras, Chair
Leigh Anne Lloveras is a Senior at the University of Georgia studying Environmental Engineering. She has conducted research in modeling carbon emissions for Athens-Clarke County. She is particularly interested in pursuing a career in the fields of clean energy and energy policy. In her free time, Leigh Anne likes to kayak and read.
Dan Everett, Co-Chair
Dan Everett teaches computer science at the University of Georgia and has recently been accepted into the UGA Certificate of Sustainability.
Dan also teaches climate-related adult education classes at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UGA, and is part of the green sanctuary and ethical eating committees at the Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship.
Gleb Mitskevich, Secretary
Gleb is a undergraduate student at the University of Georgia, finishing a degree in Forestry at Warnell School of Forestry and Natural resources. His studies emphasize Wildland Fire and Urban Forestry and he hopes to one day to work in Wildland Fire out west.
He is a big fan of the great outdoors and find it discouraging on a personal level that our natural systems are struggling to keep up with our urbanization. Of all environmental problems, climate change is the most observable issue with arguably the greatest range of side effects.
This worldwide event needs our immediate attention in order to avoid irreparable damage to ecosystems and ourselves. Our actions are the keystone of this epidemic, so it is our responsibility to make a difference. I attempt to make a difference through volunteer work and personal lifestyle choices. What can you do to help?”
Emily Haar, Treasurer
Emily is a student at the University of Georgia majoring in environmental health science with a minor in environmental law. She has also completed certificates in environmental ethics and water resources. With her education, she plans to attend law school to pursue environmental law, specifically climate change policy. She has loved nature and the outdoors since she was little, and seeks to be a good steward to the environment every day. When she’s not hitting the books, you can find her volunteering at music festivals across the United States or at a local concert!
Nethra Rajendran
A social, curious and proactive third-year college student pursuing a passion in profitable sustainability and businesses that conserve and value Corporate Social Responsibility. Hoping to combine my educational interests in international business, data management and MIS with my love for sustainability and our planet to lead businesses on the path of efficiency and profitable CSR. Seeking to lead, educate, and constantly learn more about how to better our corporations – big and small.
Dr. James W. Porter
James W. Porter is the Josiah Meigs Professor of Ecology Emeritus at the University of Georgia. Ph.D., Yale University. He specializes in the biology and ecology of coral reefs. He is currently conducting research on Floridian and Jamaican coral reefs. He is featured as a principal cast member and science adviser in the Netflix documentary Chasing Coral
Savannah Thompson
Cary Ritzler
Cary is a retired school teacher, full time mom and a Citizen’s Climate Lobby organizer.