Board | Project Lux

Shefali Varma

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Shefali is currently an MS4 at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. As an undergrad, she witnessed multiple individuals struggle to receive basic health care due to lack of medical insurance, with some individuals losing everything because they were unable to get the care they required. Driven to make a change, she started a club on campus and worked with her peers to transform it into a non-profit. Today, she is incredibly proud of the impact we have made and continue to make in our community.

Shefali Varma

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Shefali is currently an MS4 at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. As an undergrad, she witnessed multiple individuals struggle to receive basic health care due to lack of medical insurance, with some individuals losing everything because they were unable to get the care they required. Driven to make a change, she started a club on campus and worked with her peers to transform it into a non-profit. Today, she is incredibly proud of the impact we have made and continue to make in our community.

Brandon Truong

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Brandon joined Project Lux in 2020 and previously served as the President of the Project Lux chapter at UCLA and Executive Director of the nonprofit board. He was responsible for building the enrollment assistance program that has since expanded statewide. Now serving as Chief Operating Officer, Brandon combines on-the-ground experiences with strategic leadership to expand our impact and advocate for lasting solutions that are in line with community priorities.

Brandon Truong

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Brandon joined Project Lux in 2020 and previously served as the President of the Project Lux chapter at UCLA and Executive Director of the nonprofit board. He was responsible for building the enrollment assistance program that has since expanded statewide. Now serving as Chief Operating Officer, Brandon combines on-the-ground experiences with strategic leadership to expand our impact and advocate for lasting solutions that are in line with community priorities.

Zoe Shin

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Zoe is the current Executive Director of Project Lux and President of the UCLA chapter. She joined Project Lux after feeling inspired by its tight-knit community of dedicated volunteers and students working to support individuals experiencing houselessness. Zoe is excited to oversee Project Lux as it expands to a national level and impacts even broader populations. In her free time, she loves hiking and swimming in the ocean!

Zoe Shin

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Zoe is the current Executive Director of Project Lux and President of the UCLA chapter. She joined Project Lux after feeling inspired by its tight-knit community of dedicated volunteers and students working to support individuals experiencing houselessness. Zoe is excited to oversee Project Lux as it expands to a national level and impacts even broader populations. In her free time, she loves hiking and swimming in the ocean!

Jessica Li

LOGISTICS DIRECTOR

Jessica serves as the Logistics Director of Project Lux and was a part of the UCLA chapter during her undergraduate years. She is passionate about expanding healthcare and insurance access for underserved communities. At Project Lux, Jessica is focused on making care more accessible by expanding remote portals so clients across California can connect with services from anywhere.

Jessica Li

LOGISTICS DIRECTOR

Jessica serves as the Logistics Director of Project Lux and was a part of the UCLA chapter during her undergraduate years. She is passionate about expanding healthcare and insurance access for underserved communities. At Project Lux, Jessica is focused on making care more accessible by expanding remote portals so clients across California can connect with services from anywhere.

Joellen Bragasin

PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Joellen is the Program Director of Project Lux and was previously President of the UCLA Project Lux chapter. She joined the organization during her freshman year, drawn to its mission of bridging the gap between healthcare and houselessness. Joellen was inspired by the tangible efforts of the board members and wanted to contribute to creating meaningful change. A fun fact about her is that she loves arts and crafts!

Joellen Bragasin

PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Joellen is the Program Director of Project Lux and was previously President of the UCLA Project Lux chapter. She joined the organization during her freshman year, drawn to its mission of bridging the gap between healthcare and houselessness. Joellen was inspired by the tangible efforts of the board members and wanted to contribute to creating meaningful change. A fun fact about her is that she loves arts and crafts!

Manahil Gill

ADVOCACY DIRECTOR

Manahil is the Advocacy Director of Project Lux and a fourth-year pre-medical student at UCLA. She has been involved with the UCLA chapter of Project Lux since freshman year and is passionate about how Project Lux empowers students to create tangible change within their local communities. Manahil strives to help expand that impact to more universities across the country.

Manahil Gill

ADVOCACY DIRECTOR

Manahil is the Advocacy Director of Project Lux and a fourth-year pre-medical student at UCLA. She has been involved with the UCLA chapter of Project Lux since freshman year and is passionate about how Project Lux empowers students to create tangible change within their local communities. Manahil strives to help expand that impact to more universities across the country.

Tess Waddy

CO-DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Tess first joined Project Lux because of its mission to expand healthcare access and support underserved communities. Since then, she has become passionate about helping the organization grow and broaden its impact through outreach and chapter development. As Co-Development Director, Tess works alongside Mollie to support new chapters, strengthen connections between teams, and create opportunities for students to get involved in meaningful service.

Tess Waddy

CO-DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Tess first joined Project Lux because of its mission to expand healthcare access and support underserved communities. Since then, she has become passionate about helping the organization grow and broaden its impact through outreach and chapter development. As Co-Development Director, Tess works alongside Mollie to support new chapters, strengthen connections between teams, and create opportunities for students to get involved in meaningful service.

Mollie Chou

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Mollie is the Co-Development Director of Project Lux and a first-year Public Health student at UCLA on the pre-med track. She joined Project Lux after being inspired by initiatives she started in high school, including creating care packages for individuals experiencing homelessness, where she saw firsthand the tangible impact small acts of service can have on a community. She is passionate about expanding healthcare access, empowering underserved communities, and helping students create meaningful change through advocacy and service. In her free time she loves running, hiking, watching sunsets at the beach, and spending time with her family and friends.

Mollie Chou

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Mollie is the Co-Development Director of Project Lux and a first-year Public Health student at UCLA on the pre-med track. She joined Project Lux after being inspired by initiatives she started in high school, including creating care packages for individuals experiencing homelessness, where she saw firsthand the tangible impact small acts of service can have on a community. She is passionate about expanding healthcare access, empowering underserved communities, and helping students create meaningful change through advocacy and service. In her free time she loves running, hiking, watching sunsets at the beach, and spending time with her family and friends.

Raghuram Padmanabhuni

FINANCE DIRECTOR

Raghuram is a Molecular Biology student at UCLA (Class of 2027) with a strong passion for service and healthcare. He joined Project Lux as part of his personal mission to improve equity by addressing the needs of the most vulnerable in society. In the future, he hopes to become a physician focused on promoting accessible healthcare in his local community. A fun fact about Raghuram is that he loves playing tennis, surfing, spending time with friends, and taking care of his cat!

Raghuram Padmanabhuni

FINANCE DIRECTOR

Raghuram is a Molecular Biology student at UCLA (Class of 2027) with a strong passion for service and healthcare. He joined Project Lux as part of his personal mission to improve equity by addressing the needs of the most vulnerable in society. In the future, he hopes to become a physician focused on promoting accessible healthcare in his local community. A fun fact about Raghuram is that he loves playing tennis, surfing, spending time with friends, and taking care of his cat!

Mingfei Chen

BEACON TEAM LEAD

As the Beacon Lead for the nonprofit and Director of Outreach & Social Media for the USC Chapter, Mingfei is passionate about supporting underserved communities. She is particularly committed to addressing challenges related to healthcare access and food insecurity through community engagement and service initiatives. In the future, she hopes to establish partnerships and programs that improve quality of life for individuals facing barriers to essential resources and opportunities.

Mingfei Chen

BEACON TEAM LEAD

As the Beacon Lead for the nonprofit and Director of Outreach & Social Media for the USC Chapter, Mingfei is passionate about supporting underserved communities. She is particularly committed to addressing challenges related to healthcare access and food insecurity through community engagement and service initiatives. In the future, she hopes to establish partnerships and programs that improve quality of life for individuals facing barriers to essential resources and opportunities.

Lucian Li

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Lucian is the Product Development Director at Project Lux, where he leads the design and development of both internal and client-facing tools that support the organization’s mission of connecting underserved communities to low-cost health resources. He joined Project Lux to apply his background in computer science and design toward building more equitable and accessible systems of care. Lucian is passionate about creating tech that is practical, human-centered, and rooted in community needs.

Lucian Li

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Lucian is the Product Development Director at Project Lux, where he leads the design and development of both internal and client-facing tools that support the organization’s mission of connecting underserved communities to low-cost health resources. He joined Project Lux to apply his background in computer science and design toward building more equitable and accessible systems of care. Lucian is passionate about creating tech that is practical, human-centered, and rooted in community needs.