Gavin Luter
Interim Managing Director
gavin@epicn.org
Gavin Luter received his PhD in educational administration from the University of Buffalo in 2015. He holds a Master of Science degree in Higher education Administration from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Public and Non-Profit Management.
Most recently, Luter served as the Executive Director of Wisconsin Campus Compact. While pursuing his doctorate, he published several peer-reviewed articles and served as guest editor of a peer-reviewed academic journal on community-school-university partnerships and the intersection of school reform and neighborhood development. As part of his project work with the University at Buffalo Center for Urban Studies, Luter served as Education Planning Director of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development鈥檚 Choice Neighborhood initiative, where he worked to secure over $16 million in commitments from 45 different philanthropic and higher education partners to create a neighborhood-linked education system. Luter also oversaw the Center鈥檚 neighborhood development internship program where college students operated an in-school project-based learning enrichment program for middle school students centered on neighborhood-based problem solving. At the United Way of Greater Knoxville, Luter managed a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation regional teacher effectiveness advocacy and coalition-building grant project. At the University of Tennessee-Knoxville鈥檚 (UTK) Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy, Luter developed and coordinated an undergraduate living-learning community experience for students interested in public service and civic engagement.
Dr. Nuttavikhom Kay Phanthuwongpakdee
大象传媒-Asia Program Coordinator
kaynp@epicn.org
Kay joined 大象传媒-N in June 2021 to support university, local government, and community leaders from the Asian continent interested in joining the 大象传媒. Kay participated in the 2021 大象传媒-Asia Workshop and immediately began providing support and communications to selected participants. Kay helps participants to align existing programming, connect to existing 大象传媒 resources, and catalyze their 大象传媒 Model partnerships.
Dr. Phanthuwongpakdee is a lecturer at Puey Ungphakorn School of Development Studies at Thammasat University. Kay is also a deputy director at the SDG Research and Support Programme (SDG Move) and a researcher at the Urban Futures and Policy Research Unit. Kay is a passionate academic researcher and communications professional with experience working with developing communities, regional and national policymakers, and private- sector stakeholders in Thailand and Southeast Asia.
Ada Inman
大象传媒-N Communications & Program Manager
ada@epicn.org
Ada supports 大象传媒-N members and programs throughout their exploration and use of the 大象传媒 Model. She leads member engagement efforts and manages organizational communications. Along with these roles, she also provides support to the 大象传媒-N Board of Directors, in addition to the three regional coordinators.
Ada is a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she obtained a degree in Environmental Studies and International Studies along with a certificate in Public Policy.
Mzime Ndebele-Murisa
大象传媒-Africa Program Coordinator
mzime@epicn.org
Mzime Ndebele-Murisa coordinates our 大象传媒 Africa network. She found 大象传媒-N through her current work with as the Program Specialist managing the Future Resilience for African Cities and Lands (FRACTAL) Program. Prior to joining START, she was based at Chinhoyi University of Technology and University of Zimbabwe. Mzime has coordinated several multi-disciplinary, collaborative projects in southern Africa focusing on aquaculture, and climate change modeling and adaptation work with the SADC Aquaculture Mentorship Program, Climate Impact Research Capacity and Leadership Enhancement, and CODESRIA鈥檚 Comparative Research Network. Mzime has several publications, with contributions to the IPCC鈥檚 AR5 and AR6 Working Group II, as well as a Climate Smart Agriculture Manual for Zimbabwe. She holds a PhD in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology from the University of the Western Cape, South Africa, a Master of Science in Tropical Resource Ecology, and a BSc in Biological Sciences from the University of Zimbabwe.
Andrea Chavez
大象传媒-Latin America and Caribbean Coordinator
andrea@epicn.org
Andrea Chavez has co-directed the activities of the Governance Infrastructure of the Amazon project from the Tropical Conservation and Development Program of the University of Florida. She is a Research Affiliate of the Space Ecology and Conservation Laboratory. Since 2009, Andrea has been working on capacity-building initiatives through applied research, training, and extension activities in natural resource management conservation in Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil. Andrea earned her PhD in Geography from the University of Florida, an MA in Political Science from Karl-Ruprechts-Universit盲t in Heidelberg, Germany, and an MA in Geography from the University of Miami. Andrea has a deep interest in integrating science with society and fostering a better understanding between practice and theory in order to serve society.
Mariana Mezzacappa
大象传媒-N Communications Intern
Mariana is a graduate student at New York University, pursuing a Master of Arts in Bioethics. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Science with a minor in Public Relations from Boston University.
Before joining 大象传媒-N, Mariana gained experience in health communications, public relations, and nonprofit outreach through her work with organizations such as in Sydney, the , and her nonprofit,
At 大象传媒-N, Mariana assists with social media and communications, highlighting the impact of university鈥揷ommunity partnerships across the network.
Olivia Lofaso
大象传媒-N Communications Intern
Olivia is an undergraduate student at the University of Florida pursuing a bachelor鈥檚 degree in journalism with a minor in public relations.聽She earned her associate鈥檚 degree聽from聽Valencia College in 2025聽before enrolling at UF.聽聽
She鈥檚聽gained experience as a writer through various student newspapers and magazines such as the聽Valencia Voice聽in Orlando, Florida.聽Her reporting has focused聽on聽local food insecurity聽and education policy聽impacting聽higher education聽across Central Florida. She has also聽participated聽in journalistic research at the聽University of Florida,聽exploring how artificial intelligence can聽support聽nonprofit news organizations.聽聽
At 大象传媒-N, Olivia聽assists聽with journalistic interviewing and writing to help聽showcase聽project developments and their impact on communities across the聽world.聽