Our Staff
Tallu Schuyler Quinn, Executive Director
tallu@thenashvillefoodproject.org
A native of Nashville, Tallu earned a B.F.A in Papermaking and Bookbinding from the Appalachian Center for Craft. In May 2008, she received an M. Div. from Union Theological Seminary in New York, where she focused her studies on art, ritual and liberation theology. After seminary, Tallu moved to Nicaragua, where she lived and worked with poor farmers on food security projects using methods of agriculture that build communities and protect the land. In addition to her work at The Nashville Food Project, Tallu serves as a minister of mission and outreach at Woodmont Christian Church. She and her husband Robbie keep a garden at home and seven chickens in the backyard. In her spare time, Tallu loves to grow, cook and eat food.
Malinda Hersh, Program Director
malinda@thenashvillefoodproject.org
Growing up on a farm in the small rural town of Red Boiling Springs, TN, Malinda experienced organic gardening before she knew the term for it. After graduating from Middle TN State University with a degree in Communications, she spent 18 years working for radio stations and ad agencies in Nashville and Los Angeles, CA. A career transition led her to work in youth leadership and nonprofit program management including 7 years with Hands On Nashville. Now she finds herself returning to her organic roots providing the food that nourishes both body and soul. Malinda and her family live in west Nashville where she enjoys hiking with her rescue dog, Faith, along Warner Park trails.
Nathan Dryden, Volunteer Coordinator
nathan@thenashvillefoodproject.org
Nathan is a native of Findlay, Ohio who moved to Nashville to attend Belmont University where he majored in cultural sociology with a minor in Christian ethics. Currently, he is a student at Vanderbilt Divinity School in his third year of the MDiv degree program. Nathan is blessed to share his life with a wonderful partner, Becca. They spend most of their free time cooking good dinners, hanging out with friends and being amused by the antics of their two cats and ten month old puppy.
Grace Biggs, Outreach Coordinator
grace@thenashvillefoodproject.org
Grace moved to Nashville from Virginia to study at Lipscomb Univeristy, where she received her BS in Law, Justice and Society–a unique program in nonprofit advocacy and law that allowed her to focus on food justice issues. She has worked with Heifer International in Massachusetts and as an AmeriCORPS volunteer with the Tennessee Campus Compact. Grace lives in Nashville Greenlands, an agricultural community in North Nashville, where she enjoys growing and sharing food with her friends and neighbors.
Anne Sale, Hot Meal Coordinator
anne@thenashvillefoodproject.org
A native of North Carolina, Anne has lived in Nashville (by way of South Carolina and New Orleans) for the last 14 years. She earned a B.S. in Financial Management from Clemson University and spent 15 years in the banking industry. From 2003 – 2008, following her passion for food and caffeine, Anne opened and managed a quaint coffee shop in Franklin called The Good Cup. In addition to facilitating the Hot Meals prepared at The Nashville Food Project, Anne enjoys playing tennis, volunteering and relaxing with her husband, Richard at their farm on the Buffalo River.
Christina Bentrup, Garden Coordinator
christina@thenashvillefoodproject.org
Christina grew up on the east side and attended Nashville public schools until she left for college in New Mexico. She studied a 4 year great books program at St John’s College in Santa Fe, and finished her MS in Plant Biology in 2009, at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ. She has traveled the world – studying plants and working in agriculture in Japan, Australia, France, Guatemala and northern New Mexico, but is pleased to find herself back home in Nashville. She even claims to love the sweltering heat of our southern summers. Trees, bikes, dogs, gardens, and her partner Becket are some of her favorite things – not necessarily in that order.
Sarah Morgan, Kitchen Assistant
Sarah moved from WV to TN to attend Lipscomb University where she studied art and psychology. After finishing school, she worked in a variety of bakeries while pursuing art. A love for food led her to the Catholic Worker community called Nashville Greenlands, located in North Nashville. Sarah has lived there for 4 years serving my community through gardening and teaching. Upon joining The Nashville Food Project, she had just finished a 2 year term teaching art and gardening through Americorps at Martha O’Bryan Community Center. In her free time, Sarah enjoys biking, hiking, and swimming.
