Board of Trustees

Daniel C. Taylor, Chair

Franklin, WV

Bio

Growing up in India, Dan’l moved to West Virginia in the 1970s, co-founding The Mountain Institute, then national parks around Mt Everest, and from this West Virginia base he has launched the global family of Future Generations organizations. See: www.danielctaylor.org

Chido Madiwa, Vice Chair

Mutare, Zimbabwe

Bio

An alumna of Future Generations University, the Honorable Chido Madiwa has 25+ years’ experience working in the civil service, culminating in a position as director of gender. Currently, she holds a seat in Parliament and serves as chairperson for the Parliamentary Portfolio on Women’s Affairs and the Parliamentary Portfolio on Small and Medium Enterprises, as well as serving as a member of the Environment Committee and the Local Government Committee.

Nachiketa (Nick) Bhatt

Louisville, KY

Bio

Nick Bhatt is a medical doctor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. His businesses include nursing homes, home health services, pharmacy, senior living facilities, community centers, and a medical facility that treats substance use. His businesses are located in Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, and Tennessee. Nick graduated from Sardar Patel University with degrees in medicine and surgery (MBBS). In addition, he has a masters degree in nursing from Excelsior University.

Rupin Dang

New Delhi, India

Bio

Rupin is a graduate from Dartmouth College with a degree in Film Studies and Environmental Studies. He is the Managing Director of Wilderness Films for 35+ years, creating awareness on conservation issues, and is an expert on Himalayan Botany.

Kimberly Pettigrew

Knoxville, TN

Bio

Kimberly Pettigrew is a recent Future Generations University graduate (Class of 2025) and director of food systems for United Way of Greater Knoxville.

“I strive to always play an active role in bettering my community by being and active listener, a dedicated team member, and a unifying voice . I am passionate, hardworking, and organized. I always strive to exceed expectations, but I do so by moving slowly, steadily, and sustainably. I’m always looking forward to new challenges to grow my community and myself.”

Kimberly spent years working on numerous local farms. She serves as Local Food Initiative Coordinator for Nourish Knoxville, director of Community Health Programs at Tennessee Clean Water Network, communications director at the Market Square Farmers’ Market, and managed Knox Public House. Kimberly holds a Bachelor of Nutrition from the University of Tennessee and is also a certified cheese maker from the University of Vermont. She was president of Slow Food TN Valley and served as an associate member of the Knoxville Food Policy Council

James Patterson

Charleston, WV

Bio

Reverend James Patterson has been the Founder-President of the Partnership of African American Churches (PAAC) since 2000, a non-profit, faith-based community development collaborative in Charleston, West Virginia. He is a director on several community-based boards, including Habitat for Humanity, West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, and the American Heart Association. He is also the founder of the Saving Our Children Program. Besides his experience as a non-profit leader and community change agent, Reverend Patterson has been a pastor for more than 32 years and is an ordained Elder of the Church of Nazarene. Patterson earned a Master of Arts degree in Applied Community Change and Conservation from Future Generations University in 2005. Additionally, he obtained his MA in Sociology from Marshall University and his BA in Sociology from WV Institute of Technology.