Our Team

Board of Directors

Thomas Rangsikul

Greetings everyone! I'm Thomas Rangsikul, the CEO and co-founder of the TRAR Foundation. I am a Vanderbilt alumni currently working full time in clinical research at VUMC. My journey to this point includes extensive volunteering in soup kitchens and a 4 year stint as a restaurant owner in Charlotte, NC, where I witnessed firsthand the staggering amount of food wasted in the industry. Motivated by this, I embarked on creating a solution to redirect surplus food to those in need before it goes to waste. Having recently relocated to East Nashville, I've observed the stark reality of food deserts in the area, which further fueled my determination to launch this project within my community.

Anjali Raman

Hi everybody! My name is Anjali Raman, and I am the COO and co-founder of TRAR Foundation. I graduated from Vanderbilt University with the Class of 2024, and I am continuing my research on T cell immunology and preparing to apply to medical school. I first learned of the insidious effects of redlining and restrictive zoning through field research in my hometown. Over the years, I have seen these manifestations in work securing childcare resources for homeless women, volunteering at refugee empowerment organizations in Nashville, and in my time as a Spanish interpreter. The common thread in these different lived experiences always seemed to return to access to the basic resource of food, especially in Nashville, a city where the food system is continually interrupted as it develops, which was my main motivation for starting this organization. I hope that our efforts will reach neighbors across the city and across zoning lines to minimize waste and increase access.

Savanna Starko

I am Dr. Savanna Rae Starko (she/her), a STEM instructor at Templeton Academy and former Senior Lecturer and Course Coordinator for Introductory Physics for the Life Sciences in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at Vanderbilt University. Alongside my academic pursuits, I hold a 500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher certification through the Yoga Alliance. Currently, I lead classes at Small World Yoga in Nashville, our city's only non-profit yoga studio. Teaching is at the heart of who I am, and I cherish every opportunity to unite people through shared knowledge and experiences. I am particularly driven to contribute to Porch2Porch because of its remarkable ability to foster connections among neighbors and facilitate mutual assistance.

Owen Lamson

My name is Owen Lamson (he/his), a high school chemistry teacher at Independence Academy in Antioch, TN. I graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2022 and received my Masters in Education in Instructional Practice from Lipscomb University in 2023. In addition teaching chemistry, I am involved with my school’s Chess Club and Science Club. Uncovering my students’ passions through my class or extracurriculars in order to prepare them to succeed in the real world gives me an incredible sense of fulfillment and joy. I am excited to build relationships and leverage the strengths of the classrooms and communities of Nashville to increase their agency through Porch2Porch.

Mackenzie Charpientier

My name is Mackenzie Charpentier I am the Director of Volunteer Services at the Nashville Rescue Mission. I coordinate, host, and plug in volunteers and I also oversee some of the operations as well. I decided to be a board member of the TRAR Foundation because I believe they are trying to help others and empower people to serve. I believe that God calls us to love, help, and serve all types of people, and when we do that we bring glory to His name!

Executive Team

  • Sophie Azar

    My name is Sophie Azar and I am a sophomore at Vanderbilt University. I plan on majoring in Economics and minoring in Spanish for the Professions. I love working with other service organizations on campus, including Alternative Spring Break and the Nashville Rescue Mission, so I'm very excited to get started with the TRAR Foundation!

  • Brent Driver

    Hey everyone! My name is Brent Driver, and I am a rising sophomore at Vanderbilt University studying economics and mathematics. I joined TRAR Foundation because while I have worked at food drives soup kitchens before, I want to get more involved in creating novel sustainable solutions to food waste and food deserts within the Nashville community. I am really excited to get to work!

  • Carly Doran

    Hi, I’m Carly Doran! I’m currently a junior at Vanderbilt University studying medicine, health, and society and data science. I also perform research on the differentiation of pancreatic endocrine cells. Outside of school, I enjoy soccer, hiking, and reading. I joined the TRAR foundation through volunteering at the Nashville Rescue Mission. I have also been involved in working with food banks and the homeless populations in my home state.

  • Nikhil Partap Kahlon

    Hello! My name is Nikhil Kahlon and I am a member of the executive board for the TRAR Foundation. I am currently an undergraduate student at Vanderbilt University with the class of 2026. Outside of my duties as an undergrad, I am involved in researching the effect of H.Pylori on gastric cancer and training to become an emergency medical technician. Throughout my experiences as a volunteer at the Nashville Rescue Mission and Hospice of the Valley, I have developed an appreciation for giving back to the communities I live in. After being introduced to the founders of TRAR I was also made aware of the flaws in the Nashville food system. Inspired by their ideas to address these issues, I jumped at the opportunity to join.

  • William Kuhlman

    Hello! I am William Kuhlman, a student at Vanderbilt University majoring in Neuroscience and MHS, with a minor in Data Science. I first began working with food pantries in my hometown of Cincinnati, and have continued to volunteer with many organizations here in Nashville. I hope to apply to medical school in the future, but in the meantime I plan to do everything I can to alleviate the food insecurity problems facing Nashville and the surrounding area. This foundation allows us to reallocate food to those who really need it, helping both to eliminate waste and provide many with valuable nutrition.

  • Kel'Veon Kelly

    Greetings, everyone! My name is Kel’Veon Kelly, and I am a junior attending Vanderbilt University. I am majoring in Elementary Education and Child Studies with a minor in Teaching Linguistically Diverse Students. Since I was a little boy, my passion has always been to improve the world. I have been involved in many things throughout my life that are service-based, and I count it an honor to be able to serve the communities that I am a part of. I am called to have a heart for serving others, which I enjoy doing. Food scarcity is one of the many problems in the world, yet this organization seeks to attack it and improve the lives of so many people. I consider myself blessed to be a part of this organization, and I look forward to the beautiful things that will come from it.