Theme: SHOWING UP

Women the world over are no longer accepting the status quo. They’re rising up, breaking out and pushing boundaries. Whatever their focus and talent – business, technology, art, science, politics – these pioneers and their allies are joining forces in an explosion of discovery and ingenuity to drive real, meaningful change.

TEDxPacificUWomen will celebrate how these dynamic and diverse people are showing up to face challenges head on, all while empowering each other to shape the future we all want to see. We’re showing up for TEDxPacificUWomen 2018. Are you?

Pacific University
2043 College Way
Forest Grove, Oregon, 97116
United States

Jazanna-Marie Riddlesprigger

Artist, Writer, Activist

By using different art forms such as poetry, spoken word, acting, and music, Jazanna-Marie, a senior in Arts Communication Magnet Academy is able to spark a discussion about issues that are normally not addressed but are prevalent within our society's social climate. With her original spoken word pieces such as "Hashtag Me" and " What I Am" she is able to express and talk about experiences that surround the black community like, police brutality, the criminalization of black people within the media and among other topics such as the miseducation of black culture and history taught within school curriculums and society. Along with using art forms to spread awareness of issues happening within our society, Jazanna-Marie is also a leader in her school and community. She has created an after-school club called The Back Diamond, the purpose is to let the youth explore the Black culture and history through the arts.

Katie Dolphin

Associate Professor of Exercise Science, Pacific University

Katie wants to live in a world where sport promotes all that is good, lousy beer is banned, and fall is the longest season. Katie received her Master’s in Exercise and Sport Psychology and PhD in Behavioral Health and Health Education from The University of Texas at Austin. She then joined the faculty at Pacific University in the Department of Exercise Science. In teaching, she finds excitement, joy, and suspense in the journey. Her eyes glow with the love of giving knowledge, and she finds that minds and hearts enriched with knowledge are pushed to grasp life and the world with both hands, despite the risks. When she’s not teaching, you can find her exploring the outdoors in matching sweaters with her pups, cheering on the Portland Thorns and Timbers, instilling passion for the beautiful game in young soccer players, and answering the question “why?” for the seventy-zillionth time.

Kia Addison

Black Student Union President, Pacific University

Kia Addison is a writer, speaker, sister, daughter. Often, she dons a business attitude as President of Black Student Union, judgementalism as a speaker and editor, silly faces as a nerd. Best of all, she bustles about being many people and loving every minute of life.

Luz E. Maciel De Villarroel, Ph.D

Co-Coordinator of Women's Resource Center | Portland Community College, Rock Creek Campus

Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco Mexico, Dr. Luz immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 12. From 1962-1969, she travelled back and forth to Mexico, grouping up in a multicultural, multilingual environment with her mother, Elvira Maciel De Browning being her main role model. Graduating high school in'69, she received the Robert F. Kennedy Scholarship to continue her education at Oregon College of Education, where she received her teaching credentials in 1973. She went on to graduate in '75 with a Masters in Guidance Counseling received a Presidential Scholarship in 1982 to continue her pursuit of her Ph.D in College Student Services Administration and was granted this honor in 1986. In all of her career as an educator, administrator, counselor and coach, she's learned that one of the most important things in life is that without love, compassion, and commitment, it is very difficult to continue to do what we do for our students.

Nicole Yip

Fulbright Scholar: English Teaching Assistant, Pacific University Alumn

Nicole Yip is a recent graduate from Pacific University, where she majored in International Studies. In February 2019, she will be departing to Panama City, Panama to teach English through a Fulbright grant. Nicole is a life-long advocate for the access to quality education for all, but especially for youth who come from historically marginalized backgrounds. She is also passionate about learning other languages and about other cultures and is dedicated to fostering a widespread sentiment in which multiculturalism and multilingualism is celebrated.

Sabrina Spurlock

Artist, Photographer, Activist

Drawn to two opposing fields, Sabrina is a working artist that combines data with human emotion. Sabrina is Pacific University's Cawein Art Scholar as well as the Student Representative to the Finance Committee. Studying Studio Art and Accounting, Sabrina strives to reduce the polarity between the two fields. To her, art and data must commingle to create a new perspective. As Pacific University's Art Club President, Sabrina works with members of the community to advocate for the inclusion of arts and humanities in educational programming.

Samara Stahly-Cook

Veteran, Vice President of the Veterans Club, Treasurer of the Psi Chi/Psychology Club, Senior at Pacific University

Samara Stahly-Cook spent her late teens and early twenties working in the grocery business, while attempting to attend community college. After moving to Arizona in early 2008, at 25 years old, she decided to join the United States Army Reserves as a Combat Medic (68W). She spent 6 years active in the Reserves and deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan at the end of 2013 till mid 2014, where she finished out the remainder of her obligation to the US Army. After several odd jobs, she decided to use her Post 9-11 GI Bill to earn a degree and fulfill her endeavors to become an Occupation Therapist. She spent two years at Portland Community College to earn two Associate’s Degrees and came to Pacific University Forest Grove, Oregon in the Fall of 2017. She is currently working toward a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology.

Shari R. Gregory, LCSW, JD

Social Worker, Lawyer

Shari R Gregory, LCSW, JD is the Assistant Director and an Attorney Counselor with the Oregon Attorney Assistance Program (OAAP). She counsels clients on career and life transition, mental health and trauma, alcohol and drug misuse, relationship stressors and assists with crisis intervention. Shari works with individuals and facilitates support groups on topics including Women and Trauma, Finding Meaningful Work, Trans*, and depression/anxiety, peace and productivity, creating healthy habits and safe space support group. She worked as an indigent criminal defense attorney, in Portland for 4 years before joining the OAAP staff in 1999. Shari is the OAAP Liaison to the Oregon State Bar Advisory Committee on Diversity and Inclusion. Shari has a passion for helping people and building community.

Sophia O'Neal

Co-Chair of the Center for Gender Equity, President of Pacific University College Democrats, Political Director of College Democrats of Oregon, National Council Secretary of College Democrats of America.

From her family and friends to teachers and elected officials, strong women have played a powerful role in Sophia O’Neal’s life. In particular, Hillary Clinton’s campaign for President in 2008 and 2016 inspired her to get involved with electoral politics and community organizing. With the support of the incredible women around her, Sophia has dedicated her college career to getting others involved in community action. Through her work with College Democrats and Pacific’s Center for Gender Equity, Sophia has helped organize dozens of events annually on her campus that highlight issues of inequality of gender, sexuality, race, and culture. She is a junior at Pacific University majoring in Politics and Government with a minor in Gender and Sexuality Studies, and plans to pursue a career in public office. Sophia dedicates her talk to the some of strongest women in her life: Leah, Gloria, Bella, and Olivia.

Susan Dieter­-Robinson

Founder of Love Rocks

In 2010, when Susan and her daughter met Tom and his three kids, Susan knew right away that one day they would be one big, crazy­ happy family. One year later her dream came true and thus began her new role of wife and stepmom. Then on Mother’s Day in 2015, the same year their oldest started college, Susan and Tom found out that they were expecting another child. Alice became the littlest of their crew in Dec. of 2015 and has filled their home and hearts with unimaginable joy. Susan does not consider herself a natural writer but rather found the gift of writing as a tool to help her move through grief after her daughters, Anna and Abigail, went to Heaven due to a tragic accident in 2013. A dear friend set up a blog and gifted her an outlet to pour her broken heart. She will forever be grateful for this gift as she has found that the written word along with her unwavering faith has allowed her to stay very connected to her daughters and their beautiful lives here and in Heaven.