Executive Chair

Dheeraj Bandaru (He/Him), originally from Centreville, VA, is an incoming Masters student at the University of Chicago and is majoring in Computer Science. Dheeraj was an active member of Georgia Tech’s Campus Kitchens Project for the past 3 years and was the President of the organization. He has previously interned for the City of Atlanta and helped support the AgLanta program. He is excited to lead SAAB for this upcoming year and help make an impact!

Executive Vice Chair

Gal Yovel is a Senior at the University of Pittsburgh majoring in Biological Sciences with a minor in Chemistry, a certificate of Conceptual Foundations of Medicine with a distinction in Sustainability. Gal was the president of Food Recovery Heroes, Pitt’s chapter of Food Recovery Network, for his sophomore and junior year. He received the University of Pittsburgh Student Sustainability Award for his leadership as president of Food Recovery Heroes and his impact on the local Pittsburgh community. He has been with SAAB for a year and is excited to take the role of Executive Vice Chair.

Kelsey Rogers (She/Her) is a 2017 graduate of Roger Williams University, where she studied Graphic Design, Film, and American Studies. She was the founding president of FRN at RWU and was one of seven inaugural Hassenfeld Fellows, a group of civically engaged students selected to receive leadership training and mentorship. During her time at RWU, she organized and executed a forum in partnership with the Providence Public Library and Á La Rhody, bringing together representatives from community agencies, local government, and Rhode Island colleges and universities to explore strategies for a more coordinated food recovery response in the state. Working full-time in advertising for the Boston Globe, she remains engaged in the movement by providing freelance design services to companies dedicated to fighting food waste and is an active member of the Rhode Island Food Policy Council.

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist in the DC/MD/VA area. Her clinical experience includes senior living care, eating disorders/mood disorders. During her undergrad at Georgia State University, she was the founding member of Panther Food Recovery Network, the first ever chapter in Georgia, helping get Georgia on FRN’s map! She graduated from Georgia State in May 2016, and has a Bachelor’s of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics. With all of her accomplishments, her biggest dream, is to help those in need. Her passion in continuing to do so is all thanks to having the strong support of her family and closest friends.

Hunter Riccardelli is currently an Applied Economics PhD student at Oregon State University, studying international development and sustainable land use. He was previously the President of the Weber State University FRN chapter. He believes that access to food is one of the largest drivers of societal equity and is of utmost importance in ensuring the quality of life.

Maggie Shugerman (she/her) originally from Seattle, Washington, is currently the Director of the D10 Community Market in San Francisco. Developing and managing a free grocery store is Maggie's dream job, and she uses her knowledge of food recovery to provide a variety of high quality recovered offerings to her clients. A graduate of University of San Francisco, Maggie co-founded and co-chaired the USF Food Recovery Network from 2015-2019. From working in restaurants, to FRN, to farmers markets, to Meals on Wheels, and now the D10 Market, Maggie has a unique and robust perspective on the food system, and looks forward to continuing working to make the system more equitable.

Izzy Fuller (she/her) is a 2022 graduate of the University of Utah where she studied Urban Ecology and Environmental and Sustainability Studies. She was co-president of her campus chapter of the Food Recovery Network and the partnership liaison with the Lowell Bennion Center for Community Engagement. She currently works as an environmental planner, finding ways to stay involved in food by managing a hydroponic system at her local public library and working in a small restaurant focusing on fresh, local ingredients.

Erica Szymanski (She/Her) is a 2023 graduate of the University of Virginia. She earned a B.S. in Commerce with an IT Concentration, Business Analytics Track, and Global Sustainability minor. She joined the Food Recovery Network during her first year at UVA. Erica served as Public Relations Chair, Vice President, and eventually President of UVA's FRN chapter during her third and final year at UVA. She organized the first annual Food Justice Panel at the University, which highlighted student organizations, faculty, and staff combating food insecurity within the community. She is excited to remain in Charlottesville for her new role as a Dean's Fellow at Darden School of Business, where she is currently working on sustainability initiatives.

Rafer Friedman, (he/him) originally from Princeton, New Jersey, lives in Washington, DC. He recently graduated from American University where he double majored in Environmental Studies and American Studies with concentrations in history, policy, food waste/recovery and sustainability. Rafer currently works on an NSF-funded research grant RECIPES, conducting independent research to create an assessment of the Washington, DC food recovery/redistribution/waste system, in order to determine successful practices and particular challenges. The project includes mapping the geographic and quantitative terrain of food recovery/redistribution in the city, using arcGIS.

Alanna King is a 2021 graduate of Shenandoah University with a B.S. in Public Health. She was the Vice President of her chapter's Food Recovery Network and supported with their transition from the Campus Kitchens Project to FRN. Now Alanna currently works at a Food Bank as an Agency Partner Specialist. She is excited to expand her passion and career in fighting Food Insecurity and supporting Food Recovery!

Augustine Huh (he/him) is a 2024 graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology where he majored in Neuroscience with a minor in Health and Medical Sciences. He joined the Campus Kitchens Project, GT’s FRN chapter, as a sophomore and served as the President in his senior year. While leading the organization, he focused on expanding FRN’s impact on the campus and recovering food from previously overlooked locations. During his time as President, the club received the Community Champion award from the Student Government Association and secured a grant from the Student Foundation. In his free time, he enjoys playing soccer and spikeball. He is excited to be a part of SAAB and help other students pursue social equity at their respective college campuses!

Brandon is a Senior at the University of Pittsburgh studying Mechanical Engineering with an Innovation, Product Design and Entrepreneurship Certificate. He is the president of the Food Recovery Chapter at Pitt after volunteering since the fall of his freshman year. He believes that food security is a basic human right and to that end is diligently working towards preventing and spreading awareness about food waste culture.

Lydia Vulich (she/her) is a Senior at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) majoring in Civil Engineering with minors in Sustainable Cities and Spanish. Lydia has been president of the Food Recovery Network at UIC since her sophomore year. She worked with her fellow executive board members to increase their recovery frequency from twice a week to five times per week. Her efforts as a leader for FRN at UIC led to a CBS Chicago story that featured the chapter's collaboration with their food donors and partner agency.

Rachel Raineri is a small business owner who completed her degrees at NC State University, where she co-founded a chapter of FRN in her undergrad years. In her time, they built a network of over 100 volunteers, expanded to 3 dining halls and 3 local shelters. She is most proud to say that she and her co-founder left it in strong leadership hands upon graduating in 2018 and it continued running for years beyond them. Rachel strongly believes in taking hold of life and being the change we wish to see, which is what led her to start the chapter in the first place. She loves staying active in any community she is part of and spends her free time rock climbing, traveling, and sharing with loved ones!

I am originally from Crystal Lake IL, but now live permanently in Ashland WI next to the Big Lake. I graduated with my Associate in Science with an emphasis on Horticulture from Mchenry County College, and I am in my Senior year for my bachelor's majoring in Geology with a Sustainable Agriculture Minor. After spending 3 years working in fast food and seeing endless amounts of food waste I looked for change when I joined my college's Compost Crew and FRN team last year. I have learned so much since joining FRN and find the relationships between food and Geology fascinating. The lockdown hurt Northland’s FRN program, but over the past year as President of the chapter, we’ve been building it back better than ever! With the Compost Crew and FRN now working very closely on campus, I hope that in the rest of my time with FRN at Northland, our team can eliminate food waste and landfill additions from our campus. Striving to fight hunger while building the soil, I am proud to be a SAAB representative at Northland and am excited to learn from the rest of the Board.

Rebekah Lindsay (she/her) is a senior at Williams College in Western Massachusetts majoring in Statistics and Environmental Studies. Since joining the College’s FRN chapter, WRAPS (Williams Recovery of All Perishable Surplus) in her first year, she has engaged deeply with the campus and greater Berkshires communities through packaging and delivery shifts, student organization collaborations, and dining appreciation events. As chapter President in her sophomore year, she championed food justice through hosting panels, workshops, and community outreach with Williams' Center for Learning in Action and additionally served as a student voice on the Berkshire Food Project board.

In her role as the 2024-2025 External Outreach and Operations Coordinator, she is eager to build stronger connections with local nonprofits, food access organizations, and community members. She is also enthusiastic about developing sustainable solutions as part of her school’s Food Waste Working Group. Rebekah is excited to join SAAB to enhance outreach and raise awareness about the critical links between food access and sustainable food systems.

Mereya Riopedre is a graduate student at Loyola University Chicago pursuing her MS in Environmental Science and Sustainability with a concentration in Sustainable Assessment and Planning. She is currently interning at Feeding America, aligning with her passion for sustainable, equitable food systems. She became interested in this field through her service work with Food Recovery Network, the largest student-led movement fighting food waste in the United States.

Sophia Samantaroy is a master's student at the University of Rochester studying epidemiology. Originally from the DC area, she recently graduated from UofR, where she received a double major in Environmental Health and History. As her school's FRN chapter president, Sophia expanded the chapter post-pandemic by launching new community and campus partnerships--and helping Rochester students break out of the campus bubble. Sophia is passionate about the intersection of health and the environment and is currently researching the health effects of air pollution. Sophia is also a journalism fellow with Health Policy Watch, where she reports on environmental, humanitarian, and health issues. She is excited to continue supporting FRN's mission on a national level.

Isabella was born in Argentina but spent most of her childhood in Belgium. Growing up in a multicultural family and city sparked her interest in international affairs and public service, specifically as it relates to environmental protection and workers’ rights. 

At Georgetown, Isabella is a student analyst at the Beeck Center for Social Impact at Innovation and a teaching assistant for Map of the Modern World. She currently interns at the Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues at the State Department, where she conducts research and works on communications relating to gender equality and climate change. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors and traveling.

Arjun Nair is a former FRN chapter leader at Washington University in St. Louis who helped re-establish the organization after its shutdown due to COVID. He spoke at the 2022 ReFED Food Waste Solutions Summit on the “The Future is Now: The Power of Indomitable Youth to Spark Action” panel. He graduated in 2024 with a B.A in Biology and minor in History, and he is currently working as a Research Technician in a research lab while applying to medical school.

Sophia Gunawan (she/her/hers) is a senior at New York University (NYU) majoring in Global Public Health and Biology. She is a founder and current president of the Food Recovery Network chapter at NYU, having restarted the university’s chapter last fall. As a New Yorker, she is deeply aware of how the seemingly opposing issues of food waste and food insecurity do, in fact, manifest one another. She was inspired to join FRN to help change the status quo on how food surplus is used to support food access in our communities. From volunteering with the team at God’s Love We Deliver to engaging with other frequent visitors at local community fridges, Sophia is grateful for the bond she has been able to build with her community through FRN. She cannot wait to join the SAAB in their mission to fight hunger and grow the amazing group of university chapters united under FRN nationwide.

Luke is currently a Senior at the University of Pittsburgh majoring in Chemistry and minoring in Italian. He is the vice president of volunteers for his chapter of the university of Pittsburgh. He joined SAAB because he feels environmental activism is important goal of his as he works currently in a chemistry lab focused on carbon capture and he hopes to continue working with the environment in his future career.

Jane Guglielmo (she/her) is a sophomore at Cornell University studying biomedical engineering. She joined her school’s chapter of FRN in the fall of her freshman year, then trained to become a recovery officer, and this upcoming semester will take on the role of Logistics Coordinator on the executive board. Growing up, she volunteered at the community food bank and held soup drives throughout middle and high school. She wanted to continue the service of giving back to people and thought that FRN would be the perfect opportunity to do so. Jane is really excited to be an active member of SAAB and wants to help the organization make as much of a positive impact as possible.

Selina Chiang is an Alum of the University of Pittsburgh Food Recovery Heroes chapter. As Vice President of Partnerships, she managed community outreach, connecting local restaurants and food banks with the organization. Her efforts strengthened ties between the chapter and the broader Pittsburgh community. Currently pursuing her dental degree at New York University, Selina continues her active involvement in Food Recovery Network through SAAB.

Charlotte Cai (she/her) graduated from Mount Holyoke College in 2024 with a major in Economics and a minor in Psychology. During her time there, she co-founded the school's FRN chapter with a focus on policy and education, since Mount Holyoke does not produce enough recoverable food scraps to qualify for physical food recovery. This challenged her chapter's team to adapt to the contexts and needs of her school and understand the community's collective food experience by building sustained relationships. She was also a lead organizer for Growing Vines, a food justice collective centering BIPOC spaces in environmentalism. She hopes to continue learning at the intersection of climate, policy, economics, and community.

Food Recovery Network provides both the practical tools of action and the necessary structure of a network to create lasting paths for food waste reduction and climate change mitigation. Within that, SAAB is an opportunity she is grateful for, to develop her ability to make a positive social impact through continuous experiential learning opportunities, skill development, and community-building.