Staff

Gina Geffrard

Executive Director

GINa@fokag.org

(She/Her) Bringing extensive leadership experience in nonprofit governance, federal program management, and community engagement, Gina is excited to apply her expertise in directing cross-functional teams, building collaborative partnerships, and advancing major federal initiatives to her role as Interim Executive Director.

Gina first discovered Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens after moving to the Ward 7 community, where her regular runs and bike rides led her to discover the Gardens’ unique beauty. She later became a long-serving board member of the Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens (FoKAG), previously as Board Chairman, where she strengthened the organization’s governance, fundraising capacity, and strategic direction.

Beyond FoKAG, she has held senior roles across the federal government, including with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Commerce and the White House. Her work includes managing multi-million-dollar national statistical programs, leading enterprise-wide data collection modernization efforts, and advising on government-wide statistical policy.

Her commitment to public service and community leadership extends to her role as a Board Director for the State University of New York at Albany’s Student Affairs and Enrollment Advisory Board, her experience as a reviewer for the national Digital Equity and Farm to School grant programs, and her service on Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6C’s Grants Committee.

Born and raised in New York City, Gina holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy and Management from the State University of New York at Albany, Master of Public Administration from the University of Illinois at Chicago and has earned professional certifications in project management, business analysis, strategic planning facilitation, Agile and Scrum, and artificial intelligence.

Alivia Villari

Senior Programs & Outreach Manager

alivia@fokag.org

(She/Her) Originally from Philadelphia, Alivia is thrilled to join the Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens team! She graduated from Tufts University in 2021 with her Bachelor’s degree in Biology, where she fostered her love of botany, sustainability and environmental justice. Prior to moving to DC, Alivia enjoyed many hours in The Wissahickon Valley Park teaching children how to be good stewards of their environment. In her free time Alivia enjoys singing, dancing, crafting and exploring nature. She looks forward to meeting the many neighbors and supporters of this beautiful park.

Nat Leinbach

AmeriCorps VISTA Programs & Events Coordinator

Nat@fokag.org

(They/Them) Hailing from Prince George’s County, Maryland, Nat is excited to continue their work in environmental conservation so close to home at the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. Before joining the team at Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, they served in the Maryland Conservation Corps at Patapsco Valley State Park. There, Nat supported park rangers, naturalists, maintenance staff, and partner organizations by building and maintaining trails, hosting educational programs, monitoring water quality, surveying wildlife, and more. They also assisted other departments in natural resources to help carry out state-wide conservation management plans, like the Maryland Hemlock Conservation Plan. These experiences fuel Nat‘s motivation to continue facilitating connections to community and shared public lands through education, volunteerism, and recreation.

Nat is a graduate from the University of Maryland, College Park where they studied multimedia communications and storytelling. They are a photographer, videographer, editor, poet, and writer. Nat is very active and in their free time can be found outside rock climbing, hiking, birding, camping, kayaking, or biking. They are also a ceramic artist and avid traveler. They look forward to serving DC’s community and supporting local conservation with Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens.

Tanok Ramirez

Urban Conservation & Community Fellow

tanok@fokag.org

(He/Him) Tanok Ramirez found his love for aquatic ecosystems as a child on the coast of Lake Michigan, where he swam with his siblings on hot summer days. Later, he learned that his hometown of Waukegan, Illinois had 5 superfund sites, and the beach he swam at was one of them. Tanok has dedicated his career to ensuring that marginalized communities—like the one he grew up in—have equitable access to clean water for drinking, fishing, and recreation. He has a BS in Environmental Science from Duke University, where he researched urban conservation, environmental justice and decolonial museum science. Tanok is excited to work with The Conservation Fund and Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens to learn about non-profit management and engage marginalized communities in DC.

Emily Fox

Community Engagement & Stewardship Intern

emily@fokag.org

(She/Her) Emily was born in Washington DC, raised in nearby Takoma Park, MD, and has loved visiting Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens her whole life. She has a bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Maryland, College Park, where she conducted research on Maryland labor history. Her previous experience includes working as a union organizer for AFSCME Maryland and teaching English as a second language. Emily has lived in Colombia for the past year on a Fulbright scholarship. There she learned about the importance of wetlands and got involved in community restoration efforts in the rural and industrial state of Boyacá. She tries to make artistic creation a part of her daily life and loves film, music, learning languages, and playing chess. Ask her about Chucua!