Board of Directors

Meet the Team

Rachel Bordoli

INTERIM PRESIDENT

Rachel was born and raised in Northeast England in a family passionate about growing vegetables and eating healthy. Getting diagnosed with a rare autoimmune condition in 2009 led Rachel to adopt a whole-foods, plant-based diet and to build a career in the plant-based world.

  • Additionally, Rachel is a member of the first cohort of Food Revolution Network’s Plant-Based Coaching Certification program. Rachel holds an MBA and Masters of Education from Stanford University and a BA/MA degree in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University, UK. Rachel brings a range of professional experiences to the San Francisco Vegan Society (SFVS) Interim Board. Prior roles include fundraising, management consulting, and nonprofit leadership. As the former Executive Director of SEO Scholars San Francisco, a nonprofit education organization, she worked with her board to lead the organization through a turnaround. Rachel also served for six years on the board of a young independent school that was going through rapid change, including the professionalization of staffing and board operations. Currently, she works part-time for the Coalition for Healthy School Food, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to introducing healthier plant-based options in school cafeterias.

Ravinder Sehgal, PhD

INTERIM VICE PRESIDENT

Ravinder is a Professor in the Department of Biology at San Francisco State University, where he teaches courses in parasitology and emerging infectious diseases. A committed vegan since 2004 and vegetarian for most of his life, he has been an active member of the San Francisco Vegetarian Society (SFVS) for over 20 years.

  • His research focuses on the ecology of diseases in birds, including how deforestation impacts the prevalence and diversity of avian malaria in African rainforest birds. More recently, he has begun studying the effects of global climate change on the spread of avian malaria. With a Ph.D. in Cell Biology from UCSF, he applies molecular biology techniques to address major questions in disease emergence and conservation. Passionate about protecting all living beings, he integrates his research and teaching with efforts in conservation biology and animal advocacy. He is one of the co-leaders of the National Geographic Explorers California Hub, serves on the board of the Island Endemics Foundation, and is a core founding member of the Wildlife Malaria Network.

Adrienne Blum

INTERIM BOARD MEMBER

Adrienne’s deep commitment to ethical living and compassionate action is central to who she is. A vegetarian since 1982, she made the compassionate leap to ethical veganism over a decade ago—a choice rooted in minimizing harm to all living beings.

  • Deeply rooted in the community she serves, Adrienne earned a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from the University of San Francisco, equipping her with the skills to turn her passion into meaningful impact.

    Having lived in San Francisco for more than half her life, Adrienne is closely connected to the city, yet she often finds refuge in nature. She loves camping and taking her van on adventures to explore the beauty of forests, state parks, and national parks.

    She shares her home and travels with her beloved companions:

    • 🐶 Miss Vivien Butterfly, her charming canine friend

    • 🐦 Sunshine, or “Sunny,” her spirited feathered companion

    Adrienne embodies the spirit of an ethical life, blending compassion, community, and a deep love of the natural world.

Melinda Hamm

MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR/INTERIM SECRETARY

Melinda has been an active and contributing SFVS member for over 25 years. As Membership Director, she welcomes everyone from the veg-curious to the committed vegan to our organization.

Melinda is a native Californian and Bay Area resident.

  • She grows her own vegetables in a community garden and works with the Tibetan community at Shangri-La Restaurant in Oakland. She graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.A. in Social Sciences.

Lina Huang

INTERIM EVENTS & COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

Lina has been a lifelong animal lover and on-and-off vegetarian. During the 2020 pandemic lockdown, she realized going vegan was the only way to truly align her actions with her beliefs - all animals have the right to live regardless of what kind of animals they are.

  • It is morally imperative to treat all animals with compassion and respect.

    Lina graduated from UC Davis and has worked at UCD Veterinary Teaching Hospital and tech support for startup organizations. She currently works and lives in El Cerrito with her 3 dogs. Lina has volunteered for Berkeley Animal Services, Meals on Wheels, and most recently Anonymous for the Voiceless.

Gaurav Shah

INTERIM BOARD MEMBER

Gaurav joined SFVS in 2024 after experiencing the excitement of SF VegFest. A lifelong vegetarian, he went vegan in 2022 after graduating from UC Berkeley. Outside of SFVS, Gaurav enjoys volunteering at animal sanctuaries and watching movies (all kinds, not just animal-related).

  • Although from Oregon originally, he has spent most of his life in California, and loves this state wholeheartedly. He hopes to continue to grow SFVS as well as continue fostering a strong community of vegans in the Bay Area.