Theme: Talking Back

Communication is central in building relationships, solving problems, and overcoming challenges. This event celebrates and encourages "Talking Back" by providing a platform for ideas in relation to dialogue, power, community, and discovery. These speakers bring a variety of expert perspectives of how people, organizations, research, and history speak to us and how we can respond.

La Sala Ballroom
4701 W Thunderbird Rd
Glendale, Arizona, 85306
United States

Annika Mann

Expert in Eighteenth-Century Literature and Culture

Annika Mann is an Assistant Professor of English in the School of Humanities, Arts, and Cultural Studies at Arizona State University’s New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences. She is a scholar of eighteenth-century and Romantic-era British literature and culture, with interests in the history of medicine, the politics of health, and print cultures. Her book, Reading Contagion: The Hazards of Reading in the Age of Print (UVa Press, 2018), examines how eighteenth-century physicians, philosophers, novelists, and poets depict reading as materially and affectively contagious, a threat to individual and collective health. Mann’s work has also appeared in Eighteenth-Century Fiction and the collection Systems of Life: Biopolitics, Economics, and Literature on the Cusp of Modernity (Fordham UP, 2018), and she is co-editor of Transforming Contagion: Risky Contacts Among Bodies, Disciplines, and Nations (Rutgers UP, 2018).

Beth Santistevan

Tribal Advocate

Before attending ASU as a graduate student in the Master of Arts in Communication Studies program, Beth Santistevan was an employee for the Southern Ute Indian Tribe in Ignacio, Colorado for over 10 years. As the Media Coordinator for the Southern Ute Tribal Council she worked directly with tribal leaders as a liaison between the tribal government and the tribal membership to communicate to the people the position held by the Tribal Council on their behalf at the state and federal level. In this position she had the opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. to lobby for her tribe’s right to self-determination. In this position, Beth learned a great deal about the possibilities of Indian tribes’ capacity to exercise their sovereign rights. She is a strong advocate for tribal youth and leadership, she is proud to be a mentor for the youth in her community. She believes culture and knowledge is an important part of leading tribal youth to be the leaders of tomorrow.

Carmen Cutler

Graduate Student

Carmen Cutler is graduating with a master’s degree in Social Justice and Human Rights, a program embedded in interdisciplinary collaboration and community action. Her research centers on the experiences of people with chronic illness and how their knowledge can transform healthcare processes. Drawing from her professional background as an educator and curriculum designer, her academic work focuses on strengthening patient/physician collaboration, reimagining clinician training, and signal boosting the voices of the chronic illness community.

Dayna Kloeber

Expert in Forgiveness and Reconciliation

Dayna N. Kloeber, M.A. is a doctoral student in the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication. Dayna’s research focuses on how the communication of forgiveness helps advance the theoretical distinctions between forgiveness and reconciliation. She has co-authored a number of journal articles, book chapters, and most recently a book titled, A Communicative Approach to Conflict, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation: Reimagining Our Relationships. Dayna also created The Forgiveness Tree Ceremony, and together with colleagues and co-authors Vincent Waldron and Douglas Kelley, they bring forgiveness education into communities with The Forgiveness Tree Project initiative.

Douglas Kelley

Author and Expert in Relationship Ethics

Douglas L. Kelley is Professor of Communication Studies and Lincoln Professor of Relationship Ethics at Arizona State University. His research and teaching focus on intimacy and love between relational partners (including family, friends, and lovers) and how individuals can respond humanely to hurt and struggle through forgiveness and reconciliation. He is recipient of the 2017 Bernard Brommel Award for Family Communication and author or co-author of six books, including: A Communicative Approach to Conflict, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation: Reimagining Our Relationships (2019), and the award winning book, Communicating Forgiveness (2008). Professor Kelley has been funded by the John Templeton Foundation, is a faculty affiliate of ASU’s Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict, and is active in the community teaching workshops and partnering with non-profit organizations to create positive relationship spaces where good things can happen between humans being.

Jeffrey Kassing

Expert in Organizational Dissent

Dr. Jeffrey Kassing’s primary line of research concerns how employees express dissent about organizational policies and practices. Dr. Kassing's dissent research has been published in Management Communication Quarterly, Communication Quarterly, Communication Studies, The Journal of Business Communication, Communication Research Reports, and Communication Reports. He also is the co-author, with Dr. Vince Waldron, of the book Managing Risk in Communication Encounters: Strategies for the Workplace. The text explores how people deal with risky issues at work like expressing dissent, venting emotion, and sharing negative feedback as well as how people deal with such issues a difficult teammates, organizational romance, and workplace bullying. The Organizational Communication Division of the National Communication Association selected the text as the Book of the Year in 2010.

Jennifer Hackney Price

Molecular Developmental Geneticist

Jennifer Hackney Price is a molecular developmental geneticist who specializes is understanding how stress and injury influence an organism’s development. Hackney Price earned a PhD in cell and molecular biology as well as an MSc in biological sciences. She currently teaches cell and developmental biology at Arizona State University where she also leads a team of undergraduate researchers seeking to understand how chemical signals produced by injured tissues influence the function and development of non-injured tissues.

Jennifer Keahey

Expert in Development Ethics and Rural Sustainability

Jennifer Keahey is an Assistant Professor of Sociology and a Senior Sustainability Scholar at Arizona State University. Her research focuses on globalization and rural development, inequality and social justice, and sustainable trade systems such as fair trade and local food. She has conducted extensive field research with small-scale producers in Latvia, South Africa, Namibia, and Ghana. Her work has been funded by several awards and grants, including support from Fulbright and the USAID Horticulture Innovation Lab at UC Davis. Currently, she is working on a series of studies related to development ethics as well as embarking upon a comparative historical book project that will address the sociopolitical dimension of rural sustainability. An active member of her profession, Jennifer Keahey is chair-elect for the Sociology of Development Section of the American Sociological Association.

Keisha S. Harrison

Poet

Keisha Harrison is both an alumnus and graduate student at Arizona State University. Where she studies Communication and Advocacy. Keisha is a poetic performer, college instructor, facilitator, author, online course content creator and motivational speaker. She has been on nationwide motivational tours with some of the biggest companies in the world. Keisha teaches a unique form of study referred to as poetic communication. A form of communication that fluidly connects our intellect to our spirit allowing us to un-filter the filters that block us in so many conscious and unconscious ways. Originally from Brooklyn, New York. Keisha embraces diversity! She advocates for youth, human trafficking survivors and those individuals that are marginalized from the inside. Extremely committed to communities across the world, education and the inclusion of the arts, Keisha believes in the power of imagery, civil rights and providing a voice to the voiceless through her use of poetry.

Kendra Estle

Graduate Student, Mentor, and Mother

Kendra Estle is a graduate student of ASU’s Communication Studies program at the West campus. After staying home with her four kids for over 12 years she decided to return to school, earning her bachelor’s degree at the age of 34. Since then, she has uncovered an interest in vulnerable admissions of dissatisfaction, particularly about motherhood, where such expressions are often viewed as taboo. In the past, she has coordinated efforts with non-profits to provide practical communication training to high school students on the mechanics of message creation and delivery. She has organized professional development workshops to assist corporations in effective communication strategies for internal and external communicative practices. She currently works with college students, mentoring them in the art of communication, and harnesses her experience and education to teach lessons on topics ranging from effective dialogue in conflict to utilizing personal strengths to improve group dynamics.

Lisa Watrous

Expert in Feminist Theology

Lisa Watrous received her Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Technical Communication from Michigan Technological University. She writes and researches in the areas of Feminist Theology and Invitational Communication. Recently, her work was published in Bloomsbury's edited collection, Relational Hermeneutics. Dr. Watrous divides her time between the New College and Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University's West Campus teaching interdisciplinary courses in rhetoric, writing, and feminist theology. She is a 3rd generation native Arizonan, a mother, a motorcyclist and deeply devoted to her theology of faith and love-in-action.

Majia Nadesan

Expert in Crisis Communication & Risk Innovation Fellow

At Arizona State University's West campus, Dr. Nadesan teaches courses that look at risk communication, economic and corporate communication, propaganda and social advocacy, and interpretive and critical methods. Dr. Nadesan’s interdisciplinary research examines the ethical implications of societal governing logics and risk-management strategies across social contexts, interrogating global economic, social, and technological logics and assemblages shaping everyday life practices and opportunities for adults, children and people with disabilities. Most recently, she has looked at how politics and scientific uncertainty complicate risk assessment in Fukushima and the Privatization of Risk (2013) and addressed risks to democratic society through comparative risk analyses of 3 crises: the 2007-2008 financial crisis, the 2010 BP oil spill, and the 2011 Fukushima nuclear crisis in Crisis Communication, Liberal Democracy and Ecological Sustainability.

Marianne Kim

Performance Artist

Marianne Kim is an Associate Professor in the Interdisciplinary Arts & Performance Program in the School of Humanities, Arts, and Cultural Studies. She is a Korean American artist working in screendance, multimedia installation, choreography, and performance art. Her areas of research include the disorienting effects of technologized labor, cultural identity, consumerism, and most recently the forces within industrial food production and promotion that mediate race, gender, and bodies. Her most recent presentations include Athens Video Dance Project, Dance Film Association/Film Society of Lincoln Center, Wexner Center for the Arts, International Screendance Festival at ADF, MIVSC São Carlos Videodance Festival, Ciné-Corps Festival de Films Sur La Danse in France, and the Poznan Biennial in Poland.

Meg McConnaughy

Public Speaking Advocate

After graduating from ASU's West campus, Meg taught adult education programs for three years before returning to ASU as a career advisor. Meg served as a faculty member in the Communication Studies program, and was the founding Director for the Communication Assessment and Learning Lab. Meg served frequently as a keynote speaker for various events including the Trial Courts of Maricopa County and the Governor’s Annual Arizona National Service Member Conference. She’s been awarded multiple grants for the creation of a career exploration course and for instructional development and support. Meg served as the faculty advisor to the Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity, was a TRIO mentor, an ASU Senior Technology Fellow, and a member of the Campus Environment Committee. Additionally, she provided training and development to community members and private organizations before retiring in 2011. Meg has been both an advocate and champion for student success and public speaking.

Mickey Mancenido

Expert in Statistics and Data Science

Mickey Mancenido is an assistant professor of statistics at the School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences in Arizona State University – West. An industrial engineer by education and training, Mickey’s advocacy is the sound application of statistics and data science in scientific and industrial research. Her research interests include the design of statistical experiments, quality engineering, statistical methods in the forensic sciences, and trust, fairness, and transparency of machine and deep learning algorithms. The following are her reasons for getting out of bed in the mornings: her two kids, dog, and the dream to see her students succeed in life.

Natasha Behl

Expert in Race, Gender, and Politics

Dr. Natasha Behl is assistant professor in the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Arizona State University. She specializes in gender and politics, race and politics, democracy and citizenship, and Indian politics. Her book, Gendered Citizenship: Understanding Gendered Violence in Democratic India, is forthcoming with Oxford University Press. Her research is also published in Feminist Formations, Space & Polity, Politics, Groups, and Identities, Journal of Narrative Politics, and Journal of Punjab Studies. In 2017-2018, Dr. Behl was awarded the Outstanding Teaching Award at ASU where she teaches Global Feminisms, Feminist Action Research, Navigating Academia, Comparative Politics, Politics of India, and Everyday Forms of Political Resistance.

Raymund Tanaka

Dental Practitioner

Dr. Ray Tanaka is in private practice in Glendale, Arizona with his wife, Cynthia. Together they have developed a dental practice focusing on the care of the whole person. His post doctoral studies include the LD Pankey Institute, Kois Center and the Pride Institute where he developed his philosophy of a patient centered practice. He is currently a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry, Arizona Section Chair of the Pierre Fauchard Academy and in 2016 he and his wife were bestowed the Creighton University School of Dentistry Alumni Merit Award. He currently is on Creighton Universities Dental and National Alumni Advisory Boards.

Sam Bradford

Mentor and Director of People Development

Sam Bradford began his mentoring journey as a youth pastor, serving his community for 12 years. A change of heart occurred 3 years ago for Bradford, after listening to a Podcast about Dutch Bros Coffee where the founder, Travis Boersma, spoke about the company’s culture of love. It was then that Bradford joined Dutch Bros, with the ambition and intent to help people grow. Seven months after being hired as a “bro”-ista, Bradford was appointed Director of People Development, where he created a curriculum to teach team members classes on goal setting, self-leadership, and personal finance. During his People Development career, Bradford has been able to extend his reach to high school students, top-level executives, and the Arizona Diamondbacks. Bradford has a true passion for speaking, coaching, and leading people to improve their lives as well as the lives of those around them.

William Sepulveda

Veteran

William Sepulveda grew up in Apache Junction, AZ, the fourth of five children. He graduated high school in 2009, and joined the military in 2011. After four years as an Army infantryman, and two shoulder surgeries, he returned to college for a new start. He’s been married for six years on April 2nd, to the most amazing partner. He and his wife, Elizabeth, have two boys, Skylar and Oliver, and two golden retrievers. He’s currently an Undergraduate at ASU, studying Communication, with the hope to work with and for veterans after graduation. He loves hiking, playing cars with my boys, or watching a good show with his wife.

Yumi La Rosa

Flamenco Dancer

Yumi la Rosa’s flamenco path started when she decided to follow her passion instead of staying in her established accounting career. She left for Spain to study with well-known Flamenco artists such as Rafaela Carrasco, Juana Amaya, Belen Maya, Leonor Leal, Isabel Bayón, and “La Truco.” Upon returning to Phoenix, Yumi joined Viva Flamenco directed by Lydia Torea as a company dancer, and later became a soloist with Mosaico Flamenco at Hyatt Gainey Ranch Scottsdale Resort. She was later invited to Mexico, India and Singapore to teach Flamenco workshops and to perform. Currently, she is performing at Tapas Papa Frita Spanish restaurant as a featured dancer. Yumi has been teaching flamenco for all ages throughout the valley. In 2009, she founded her own group, Yumi La Rosa Flamenco Dance and presented her very first dance production at Tempe Center for the Arts, to give the public an appreciation of other cultures in general and of the richness of Spanish culture in particular.

Yumna Samie

Student and Semi-Retired Over-Competitor

Yumna Samie is a storyteller by nature and a student by trade. She is pursuing multiple degrees in both English and Communication and will further her a career in digital media in the future, utilizing the visual platform to tell both her stories and the stories of others. She has been published in Metiza, Obvi We’re the Ladies, and Happiful Magazine. In the free moments between writing and crafting, she runs long-distance, and will complete a marathon in the spring of 2020.