Theme: The Big Idea

There are far more Big Ideas that contribute to bringing people together than we can imagine. When one looks at the glass half full, they can engage and connect with others who share their enthusiasm for growth and change. The theme of our TEDxArcadiaUniversity 2017 conference reinforces that concept. The more we imagine, create and gather together to listen to one another, consider alternatives to solving problems and work together, the better off our world will be. Everyone has a BIG Idea inside them. Enjoy our TEDx Presenters and talk to one another. Share your big ideas!

Arcadia University
450 South Easton Road
The Great Room in The Commons
Glenside, Pennsylvania, 19038
United States

Allegra Benites

Student, Community member

Allegra Benites is a junior Actuarial Science major and Spanish minor at Arcadia University. She is part of the Honors Program and the Women’s Lacrosse team. During her first year, she participated in spring preview, traveling to South Africa to explore the relationship between South African music and culture. During the fall semester of her junior year, she studied abroad in Granada, Spain. While there she participated in a Spanish full-immersion program and volunteered weekly teaching English to local students. Her TEDxArcadiaUniversity talk is with Octavia, and is about the current issues with race in the United States and the future of these issues.

Alyssa Pivirotto

Biology Student at Arcadia University

Alyssa Pivirotto is a third-year at Arcadia University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biology with minors in Chemistry and Psychology. Alyssa was recently inducted into Beta Beta Beta, the national Biological Honors Society. Along with her studies, she participates in the Honor’s Program on campus, participates in the campus chapter of Active Minds, and serves on the board and as founding member of Rotaract Club. Through Rotaract Club, she has volunteered her time throughout the local community. During her freshman year, Alyssa traveled to Nicosia, Cyprus for spring preview to study the conflict in the divided capital, and during the Fall of 2016, she studied abroad at Queen Mary, University of London. In the past, Alyssa has worked as College Access Mentor through Arcadia University, and she has volunteered her time at a local library to serve as a youth book discussion leader.

Carrie Maria

Founder of The Monster Milers + Mother

Carrie Maria is an entrepreneur and dog rescue advocate. Her business, The Monster Milers, is Center City Philadelphia’s largest dog walking service. In the past 12 years since its inception, The Monster Milers has won “Best of Philly” three times, has over 20 full time employees, and is recognized as the standard for dog walking services in the City. In her downtime you can find Carrie making memories with her daughter and husband, sitting behind her sewing machine making quilts, hiking or running with her two rescued dogs, relaxing with her head in a library book, or trying not to lose her balance while doing yoga. (Lately, she’s been doing her best to not over-consume political news, but she’s a confessed political podcast junkie.) Carrie’s husband is a Kiwi (New Zealander), and she has lived and worked overseas in England and New Zealand. Even though Philadelphia is her home base, she still loves to travel with her family when she can get away.

Deb Gilmore

2016 Arcadia University Big Idea Competition Winner, Founder/President of Waste.EDU

Deb Gilmore is a sophomore at Arcadia majoring in Print & Video Communications and minoring in Computer Science, and is a member if the honors program. She is an activist, student, musician, performer, and brainstormer. Prior to college Deb served in several leadership roles including Assistant Scenic Designer for multiple theatrical productions, president of Interact (the high school version of Roteract), and a board member for a local non profit organization dedicated to providing alcohol-free music venue opportunities. Since coming to college, Deb has accomplished a lot both academically and through extracurricular activities. In March of 2016 she released her first full-length album through Paper Scissors Media under the artist name Busy Bee. The album is available on Spotify, iTunes, Google Play, and Bandcamp.

Elizabeth Spina

Activist, Community Member, and Student

Elizabeth Spina is a junior currently attending Arcadia University. She is completing her B.S. in Biology and her B.A. in Spanish under Pre-Med curriculum. Elizabeth’s appreciation of multicultural experiences has challenged her to pursue a second degree in Spanish. She values education and has been on the Dean’s Honors List and the Dean’s Distinguished Honors List every year she has attended Arcadia. In 2017, she was inducted into Sigma Delta Pi, the Spanish Language Honor Society. She also has served on the executive board of Arcadia’s Spanish Club for three years and is currently in the position of President. She creates programs and events for the Spanish Club that encourage the appreciation and cultivation of the Spanish language and Latin American culture. Elizabeth is an ambassador to mental and physical health. In her sophomore year, she completed an internship at the American Heart Association under the director of Multicultural Initiatives in which she communicated with membe

Ellen Murphey

Arcadia English Professor

Ellen Murphey has taught a variety of courses at Arcadia University since 2008, including University Seminars, Honors courses and English for International students. She also teaches at Widener University in Chester, PA. She lives with her partner and daughter in Mt. Airy. Ellen Murphey developed the Arcadia Honors course, "Music, Art and Memory" in 2013 as a way for students to explore how our memories actually work -- as opposed to popular notions about it. As it turns out, our senses, as well as our imaginations, are vital in helping us recall past experiences. In weekly visits to a local longterm care facility, students experiment with what they've learned in class, partnering with elders who have some memory loss. The result is cross-generational exploration and surprisingly deep connections. Ellen has an MA in Asian Studies and an MFA in Creative Writing. She has been an adjunct instructor at Arcadia since 2008, teaching English, Honors courses and University Seminars.

Erika Raskay

Political Science Student at Arcadia University

Erika Raskay is a third-year student pursuing a political science degree at Arcadia University. She works a legal assistant at High Swartz LLP in Norristown. At Arcadia, she is a member of PI Sigma Alpha and serves as an event co-coordinator in the Honors Council; in addition she serves her community through the Rotaract, and works as a counselor in our College Access Mentoring Program. Last spring, she volunteered for Breakthrough of Greater Philadelphia as a student teacher for underserved students; she co-taught a 7th grade class about topics surrounding education policy, race relations, and law. Her TEDxTalk is “Students Teaching Students: the Power of Mentorship”, which focuses on how student teaching and mentorships can help promote confidence and understanding in the academic realm.

Fran Wasserman

Founder and Director, The Baby Bureau

Since collecting the first stack of donated baby clothing in a spare bedroom in 2010, Fran Wasserman has been the guiding force behind The Baby Bureau. A non-profit 501(c)3 organization, The Baby Bureau provides gently used and new baby clothing for underserved babies in Bucks and Montgomery Counties. Fran and her volunteers work with local hospitals, social service providers and charitable organizations that work directly with new moms in need. Through her leadership and vision, Fran has expanded the outreach of The Baby Bureau by partnering locally with businesses and other community organizations. The Baby Bureau has dressed over 1,700 Babies and counting! Fran earned a B.A. in Human Services from Chestnut Hill College. She is the recipient of the St. Marie Eugenie Milleret Award and the 2016 Partnership Youth Services Award from a local foundation. She lives in Bucks County with her husband, Mark, and two little rescue dogs, Oliver and Linus.

Ghilene Joseph

Biology Student on a Pre-Physical Therapy Track at Arcadia University

Ghîlene Joseph is a Junior at Arcadia University from New Jersey, majoring in Biology with a focus in Pre-Physical Therapy. She is in the Honors program and is slated to complete her undergraduate degree in 2018. She works as a tutor on campus helping students in various subjects including, biology, statistics, and evolution. While on the Arcadia Women’s Varsity Soccer team she was named to the MAC Academic Honor Roll for two consecutive years. She was a first year study abroad student in Stirling, Scotland and played on the Stirling University women’s soccer and futsal teams that were finalists in the Scottish and English leagues. She also volunteers in her community with the Senior Meals program and is also a member of Love Your Melon. Her TEDx talk is called, “Introvert, Extrovert, or Ambivert,” and is about how personalities impact an individual and why it’s important to learn not only about your personality strengths and weaknesses, but also those of others around you.

Gilberto Gonzalez

Designer, Filmmaker, Writer, Activist and Television Host

ABOUT GILBERTO GONZALEZ Gil was born and raised in North Philadelphia to parents of Puerto Rican descent. Senior Graphic Designer at Community College of Philadelphia - Local Artist, Film Marker, Educator and Community advocate. Voted one of the most influential Latinos in 2014 and Community Advocate of the year in 2014. Mr. Gonzalez is co-chair of the Classified Unit representing over 200 staff members of the AFT Local 2026, Board member of Culture Trust and Founder of Logee Film and Productions. The Logee is the first Latino-owned film company in the Philadelphia region, focusing on Latino History and Stories. Gonzalez is also the author of Three Rings a book about growing up in the Barrio from the perspective of relationships. Three Rings came in runner-up in the New York Book Festival of 2010. . ABOUT THE CUENTOS FILM PROJECT AND THE 20G Every Saturday and Sunday the barrio would wake-up and fall asleep with the sounds of the 20G drums beating, letting the community know it is

Jaqueline Glanfield

Biology Student at Arcadia University

Jackie Glanfield is a senior Biology major at Arcadia University. Through Arcadia’s preview program she traveled to Havana, Cuba in the spring of 2014 where she researched Cuba’s healthcare. Which she used to later compare the healthcare system in the United States to Cuba’s. She was a captain of the Arcadia Women’s Soccer team this past season, which had its first NCAA tournament berth since 2005. Amongst various athletic and academic awards, her highest honor was earning the Arcadia women’s soccer first ever National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Scholar All-America Team selection. After graduation in May Jackie will be attending Arcadia University’s Physician Assistant program. Her TEDxArcadia University talk, “Unbreakable Charge!” debuts a concept of an unbreakable phone charger that would be guaranteed not to break.

Katherine Wolfrum

Psychology Student at Arcadia University

Katherine Wolfrum is a sophomore psychology student at Arcadia University, as well as a member of the Honors program. She works at Arcadia University Advancement and is also a editor and future logistics manager of Arcadia’s scholarly journal, The Compass. She was previously radically unschooled until beginning a public school education in eighth grade. Her TEDx talk is about the concept of radical unschooling, an alternative form of education, and how it has affected her life.

Kristen Stedman

Communications student, writer, artist

Kristen Stedman is a sophomore Print and Corporate Communications major. She entered Arcadia University in Fall of 2015 as an Honors student and a participant of the competitive First Year Study Abroad Experience (FYSAE), where she studied in London during her first semester. Since returning to Arcadia’s Glenside campus, she has successfully established herself and excelled academically. She was granted the Elaine P. Maimon Award for Excellence in Freshman Composition, began working in the school’s writing center as a consultant, serves as president of the Arcadia Rotaract Club, and writes frequently for lifestyle magazine Loco Mag. In her TEDx talk, “Slow Down, Take Care” Kristen speaks about chronic illness, the problem with the speed at which we live our lives today, and the shame we are made to feel surrounding productivity.

Kyle Kammerle

Activist + Biology / Physical Therapy Student

Kyle is a third-year, undergraduate student who is a Biology / Pre-Physical Therapy major at Arcadia University. He is an active member of the Arcadia University campus community serving as a Co-President of the Honors Program, the Vice-President of the Environmental Network, and a campus ambassador. Kyle is also the Treasurer and a hip-hop choreographer for the dance club on campus, Knight Club, where he has choreographed for and danced at multiple 76ers games. He works in Arcadia’s Admissions department, the College of Health of Sciences, as a dance instructor at a local dance studio called Dance Time Dance Academy, and formerly as a blogger for Arcadia University’s award-winning student blog, Because Arcadia, as well as a Peer Mentor for a first year seminar class about chocolate. Upon graduation, Kyle will be attending the physical therapy doctorate program at Arcadia University. At this TEDx Conference, Kyle will be speaking with Elizabeth Spina on “Redefining the American Dream”.

Maria Maneos

Founder, Brush with the Law

Maria Maneos earned her Bachelor's of Fine Art Degree from Arcadia University located in Glenside, Pa and accomplished her Masters of Fine Art from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts located in Philadelphia, PA. Her paintings have been shown extensively in the Philadelphia area in such galleries as Artists' House in Old(e) City and Art in City Hall. In 2013 she started the now nonprofit program, Brush with the Law, which works with marginalized people such as parolees/probation, those afflicted with drug addiction, behavioral and mental health, disabled veterans, at-risk youth, and many more people doing city beautification projects like murals and site-specific art installations throughout Montgomery, Bucks, and Delaware Counties for community service. Our work is meant to inspire meaningful changes and lasting improvements in the critical social issues affecting the incarcerated and those suffering from addiction and mental health issues.

Megan Campbell

Psychology Student at Arcadia University

Co-presented '6 Impossible Things Before Breakfast' with Alyssa Pivirotto

Octavia Geiger

Student

Octavia Geiger is a senior Honors student with a political science major and a double minor in gender and women’s studies, and French at Arcadia University. She is actively involved on campus, participating in various clubs and organizations. She is on the executive board of For the Women, and she coordinated the play “The Vagina Monologues” by Eve Ensler, and raised over $1,000 dollars to be donated to charity in February 2017. During her first-year she participated in spring preview, and spent a week in Greece studying ancient civilizations and culture. In the spring of her junior year, she studied abroad in Paris, France at Hollins University: Paris Center. While abroad she completed an intensive French immersion program, and lived with a French family. Octavia has various leadership roles on campus as a resident assistant, and the director of Open Houses for Arcadia Ambassadors. Overall, she is very passionate about feminism, and describes herself as social justice warrior. She is

Olivia Bates

Team member + speaker; Preservice teacher + Arcadia student

Olivia Bates is a Junior Early Elementary/Special Education preservice teacher at Arcadia University and a member of the Honors Program. She serves as the Community Outreach Co-Coordinator on the Honors Council, Vice President of the Education Club, and an active member of various organizations such as Kappa Delta Pi and Knight Club. Her TEDxArcadiaUniversity talk, “From the Inside: Healthy Minds and Bodies Program” focuses on fostering positive self-concepts among elementary school students to address the issues of eating disorders and negative body images through a holistic approach.

Rachel Loeper

Education Director, Mighty Writers

RACHEL LOEPER, education director at Mighty Writers, has taught ESL, remedial reading and creative writing. In 2011, the Pennsylvania Statewide Afterschool Network honored her as an Afterschool Champion. She served as an Afterschool Matters Fellow with the National Institute on Out-of-School-Time from 2010-12 and wrote, “Combat Sports Bloggers, Mad Scientist Poets and Comic Scriptwriters: Engaging Boys in Writing on Their Own Terms,” (Afterschool Matters, Spring 2014).

Robert Naseef

Published Psychologist; Alternative Choices counseling and psychotherapy

Robert Naseef is seasoned by 25 years of professional practice as an independent psychologist with Alternative Choices in Philadelphia. Dr. Naseef's specialty is working with families of children with autism and other special needs. He has published in scholarly journals and other publications. He has a special interest and expertise in the psychology of men and fatherhood. Robert relates to community and professional audiences and is a sought after speaker around the country and internationally and who has appeared on radio and television. In 2008, Robert was honored by Variety, the Children’s Charity for his outstanding contributions over the past 20 years to the autism community.

Shira Walinsky

Multidisciplinary artist and teacher; co-founder of Southeastbysoutheast

Shira Walinsky has worked with communities throughout Philadelphia on grassroots community projects in underutilized spaces. She is compelled by the personal story and modes of representations from the painted portrait to the documentary. Her murals can be seen throughout the city of Philadelphia. In 2012 she co- founded Southeastbysoutheast through the City of Philadelphia’s Mural Arts Program. Southeastbysoutheast is a community center for new refugees from Burma and Bhutan in South Philadelphia. Southeastbysoutheast has been presented at the North American Refugee Health conference in Rochester NY. Her work has also been shown at PAFA, Asian Arts Initiative and the ICA Philadelphia. She is currently working on a series of short films about the Burmese and Bhutanese refugee experience in Philadelphia with teens in South Philadelphia. Southeastbysoutheast was recently featured at the Asian Arts Initiative from February 5 through April 29, 2016.

Stephanie Maggio

Biology Student on a Pre-Physical Therapy Track at Arcadia University

Stephanie Maggio is a sophomore Biology Major on a Pre Physical Therapy track at Arcadia and is a member of the Honors Program. She is a part of various clubs and teams on campus, for example the Arcadia Women’s Soccer team and the Equestrian team. During her first year, Stephanie participated in spring preview where she spent a week in South Korea learning about their culture and gathering data for a cross-cultural psychology study. As a part of an Honors class, Honors Project, she decided to step outside the comfort of her major and code a website guide to the Stock Market. Stephanie is an active member in the community as a volunteer at a local hospital and an attendee at a local church. If she’s not in the library studying, you will most likely find her in the lab where she is working on research or lab set-up. After, graduation Stephanie hopes to enroll in a Doctor of Physical Therapy Graduate Program and becoming a Physical Therapist.

Vanessa Hemmen

International Studies Major at Arcadia University

Vanessa Hemmen is a senior International Studies major at Arcadia University and a member of the Honors Program. She serves as Co-Coordinator for events on the Honors Council and as a mentor for both FYSAE and Honors Programs. Her TEDxArcadiaUniversity talk, presented with fellow student Zach Sturiale, “Sustainability in Schools and Urban Planning” focuses on the importance of teaching sustainability in schools and making urban farming and sustainable environmentally friendly plans a priority in urban planning designs.

William Keegan

Retired PAPD Lieutenant, Special Ops; Founder/President HEART 9/11

In 2007 Bill founded HEART 9/11 (Healing Emergency Aid Response Team), a non-profit disaster response organization comprised of police, fire, union construction workers, 9/11 surviving families and those who share the belief that we can help ourselves by helping others. As HEART 9/11's president, Bill has led his expert volunteers on fifty-seven deployments to rebuild lives both domestically and internationally in communities such as New Orleans (still rebuilding from Hurricane Katrina in 2005), Haiti, NY and NJ in response to Hurricanes’ Irene and Sandy, Oklahoma City when HEART 9/11 responded to the EF5 Tornado, and the devastating Ecuador earthquake this spring. HEART 9/11 works alongside first responders at disaster sites, dealing with the incident at hand, but also by helping first responders assess their emotional state and needs.

Zachary Sturiale

Political Science Student at Arcadia University

Zach Sturiale is a Senior Political Science major at Arcadia University who will be graduating in May and hopes to pursue a career in human rights law or urban planning. Zach currently works as a research assistant for the Chair-Rapporteur of the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. He is the Vice-President of The Arc Radio Station and a double-double machine for team Computer Blue in the Arcadia Intramural Basketball League. Zach and Vanessa Hemmen will be giving a talk at TEDxArcadiaUniversity called “Schools Sustaining Cities.” The talk will focus on the importance of teaching students in schools, specifically urban settings, agricultural skills to create more sustainable cities and a community more connected to the neighborhood they live in.