The Executive Team
Operations Committee
The Operations Committee oversees all other executive committees. They work closely with the Executive Director to make decisions on action plans for nationwide campaigns.
Genavieve Koenigshofer
Executive Director
Genavieve Koenigshofer (she/her) is the Executive Director of GENup and a first-year MPP student at the UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy. Her journey in education reform began in her senior year of high school, where she served as the student board member for Capistrano Unified School District. She then spent 4 years as Chief of Staff of GENup, where she helped pass dozens of pro-student bills and worked with hundreds of student leaders. She learned everything she knows about advocacy and leadership from her time as a student advocate with GENup!Genavieve graduated from UC San Diego in 2024, where she worked with Associated Students to fight for comprehensive disability services reform and affordable housing opportunities. She recently completed the Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs in Los Angeles. Now, as an MPP student, she hopes to learn how to design policy that is effective, implementable, and actionable at the local level.
Michelle Mendoza
Executive Chief of Communications
Michelle Mendoza (she/her) is a Data Sience undergraduate minoring in Education at UC Irvine. Her passion for education began in high school through teachers that inspired her and meeting with her school board. Her passion continuted into university, where she became a campus representative, connecting with other students through storytelling and sharing her experiences as a student. She hopes to connect her love of data science with education policy to make meaningful, positive impacts on education.
Lily Ma
Chief Operations Officer
Shaoxuan (Lily) Ma is an 12th grader from Tallahassee, FL. She first explored STEM through research and competitions, but discovered a passion for policy while working on historical analyses of ethics in STEM, particularly around issues that affect marginalized communities and students. She has witnessed firsthand the impact of educational inequities and recognizes the importance of initiatives like those led by GENup. Lily serves in many local and national initiatives, where she focuses on fostering community engagement. She hopes to continue bridging the gap between education, policy, and advocacy throughout her high school years and beyond, to ultimately pursue a career in politics. Outside of academics and advocacy, she enjoys lifting weights, building Legos, and going on boat rides. Lily is thrilled to join GENup this year and to be able to contribute to the organization’s nationwide impact!
Rishaan Marwaha is a student at Sage Hill committed to expanding opportunities for young people through education and leadership. He has worked with local and statewide organizations to support student voices in policy conversations and has gained experience in civic spaces by collaborating with elected officials. Beyond leadership and policy reform, he started Ladder Up, a community-based initiative that offers tutoring, mentorship, and skill-building programs to help students prepare for future careers. Rishaan has been involved in finance, banking, the policy world, and debate, experiences that have shaped his interest in creating practical solutions for education equity and youth empowerment.
Rishaan Marwaha
Executive Chief of Policy and Programs (K-12)
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Alvin Lee
Founder
Alvin Lee (he/him) is the founder of GENup.