Meet the Team

ranen miao (he/him)
co-founder & Advisory Board chair

Ranen graduated with his Bachelor’s in Political Science, Sociology, and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from Washington University in St. Louis in 2023. Currently serving as a public interest paralegal, Ranen is passionate about protecting democracy, civil and human rights, and equity for all. He is proudly a Point Scholar, Prism Scholar, and Truman Scholar.

isaac james (he/him)
co-founder & Executive Director

Isaac James (he/him) is serving as the Executive Director of OutVote after co-founding the organization in 2024. As a proud Texan and 2022 graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Isaac earned both a Master of Public Policy (MPP) and Master of Studies (MSt) from the University of Oxford, where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar. He previously interned in the Biden-Harris White House and staffed the Texas House LGBTQ Caucus, experiences that deepened his commitment to building power in marginalized communities.

Isaac is now based in Washington, D.C.

jenna smith (she/her)
director of programming

Jenna is a Robertson Scholar at Duke University and the University of North Carolina Chapel-Hill. A passionate advocate, she serves as the President of the Duke Justice Project, a facilitator of Restorative Justice Durham, the founder of the LGBT History Project and the Programming Director for OutVote, and teaches a for-credit course at Duke University entitled Faces of Durham Re-Entry. She has been honored as a Point Scholar, Vital Voices Visionaries Fellow, and an Eva Clayton Fellow by the North Carolina Democratic Party. 

j.L. (they/them)
director of coalitions and outreach

J.L. (they/them) is a Human Rights Studies M.A. candidate at Columbia University and a queer, API activist with experience in campus and community organizing in Texas. As a Southern Methodist University (SMU) graduate with degrees in human rights, political science, and public policy, J. has dedicated their life to advocacy work and activism through work and education. With a strong background in community building and activism, J. is inspired to build bridges across communities and create a stronger, unified platform that advocates for all marginalized peoples. 

camille serrano (she/they)
director of communications

Camille (she/they) is a queer woman of color with a background working in advocacy nonprofits and political campaigns. Before working as a communications operative, Camille attended Fullerton College and transferred on a full-ride scholarship to the University of California, Los Angeles. Currently, Camille is obtaining her Masters in Communication at Johns Hopkins University. As a proud queer Korean Pilipina, Camille is a firm believer in utilizing the digital space to mobilize and empower on the path to social change. 

aLEXIS KOSLOSKI (she/her) director of organizing

Alexis graduated from the University of North Texas in May 2023 with a Bachelors of Science in Criminal Justice and minors in Legal Studies in Business and Conflict Resolution. Since then she has worked with Common Cause Texas, When We All Vote, and the Blue Future Collaborative focusing her efforts on increasing civic participation and advancing positive voting legislation. Alexis is passionate about community organizing and equity as the basis for taking steps towards social progress and looks forward to building community and partnerships at OutVote.

josh babu (he/they)
research coordinator

Josh studied molecular biology and gender and sexuality studies at Princeton, where his research explored the clinical benefits of gender-affirming hormone therapy for gender-diverse youth. As a Rhodes Scholar, Josh then received a Master’s in Comparative Social Policy and a Master of Public Policy at the University of Oxford. Josh's graduate research, which won the George Smith Award for Best Thesis, explored legal protections for LGBTQIA+ individuals in the United States.

Farah merchant (she/her)
digital manager

Farah Merchant is a digital media manager, freelancer, and creative dedicated to elevating organizations through people-centered mixed media and communication strategy. She holds a B.A. in English and a certificate in Digital Arts & Media from the University of Texas at Austin. Her advocacy is rooted in socioeconomic justice and racial equity, with her current work focusing on supporting coalitions and system-impacted Texans to reform criminal justice policy. Her previous work includes managing social media for an art, culture, and fashion publication and assisting a think tank with its media initiatives.