In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

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

Amanda Young

Amanda is a Junior honors student majoring in History at Arcadia University, where she transferred after receiving an Associates degree in Cinema and Video Production. She has recently worked as a tutor at Bucks County Community College, aiding students in subjects like AESL, Reading, Writing, and Speech. Amanda has carried out her love for filmmaking through work as a camera operator and production assistant, as well as on her own productions of numerous short films. She considers herself to be both an academic and a storyteller, and hopes to continue to work towards combining both of her passions and paths of study.

Corrina Gonzales

Corrina Gonzales talks about the abnormalities and normalities of fear, and how instead of shying away from the biochemical and emotional response, we can learn from it.

Dr. Doreen Loury

Dr. Doreen Loury, assistant professor of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice and director of the Pan African Studies Program at Arcadia University, is an expert in the areas of race, class and gender equity, culture and media, multicultural and pluralism educational competencies and organizational research and evaluation. She was recently appointed to the Defenders Association of Philadelphia board, and has received numerous awards for her work, including the 2019 Black History in the Making (BHIM) Legacy Award by One Village Alliance. She is founder and executive director of the Black Male Development Symposium (BMDS). Dr. Loury earned her doctorate in African American Studies from Temple University.

Dr. Jojo Lucena

Dr. Joanne Lucena, associate professor and chair of the Modern Languages and Cultures Department, research focuses on Spanish literature and culture. She received a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University, a master’s degree from Temple University, and a doctorate in Spanish literature and linguistics from the University of Pennsylvania. Additionally, Dr. Lucena received a Certificate of Women in Leadership from Cornell University in 2017. Dr. Lucena has authored a variety of articles in both Spanish and English publications.

Elizabeth Gillen

Elizabeth Gillen is a Senior Computer Science major and Music minor at Arcadia University. She is also a Software Engineering intern at Precision Systems, Inc and the Community Outreach Coordinator for the Honors Council. During her time at Arcadia, she has studied abroad in London, England. In her free time, Elizabeth performs with the University Choir and participates in various music events on campus and in the community.

Jordan Seguin

Jordan Seguin is a senior at Arcadia University studying Elementary and Special Education. She recently completed her two student teaching experiences, one in a third grade general education classroom and one in a first and second grade Autistic Support classroom. Before student teaching, Jordan was an active participant in several clubs on campus, and was on the board of the school’s GSA. She has a passion for advocating love, acceptance, and growth in her classroom and her life, including towards the self.

Kate Lombardi

Kate Lombardi received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from The University of the Arts, along with more extensive dance training at The Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance and the American Dance Festival. Kate began working with Dancing Classrooms Philly (DCP) in 2008 as a Teaching Artist, when she had the honor of being trained in the Dulaine Method by Dancing Classrooms (DC) founder, Pierre Dulaine. She then took on the position of Education Liaison and later Artistic and Education Director. In 2014, Kate received certification as DC Global Network Senior Teaching Artist. She finds true joy in her current role as Managing Director of DCP, which through social dance is helping to mold the lives and spark an artistic flare in children throughout the region. Kate recently began working more closely with DCP affiliate Musicopia as the Musicopia Drumlines Manager. Continuing to explore her own dance artistry, Kate performs with SHARP, Dancefusion, and Anne Marie Mulgrew & Dancers in Philadelphia, where she enjoys both reconstructing historical modern dance works and exploring new choreography by local artists.

Kempis Songster

In 1987, at the age of 15, Kempis Songster was imprisoned for homicide. Despite his age, he was certified as an adult, convicted of first degree murder, and given a mandatory life sentence without parole, or what is increasingly known today as death by incarceration. Thus, he became one of America’s many juvenile lifers/condemned children. While in prison, he developed and facilitated programs to help people behind the walls with him, as well as programs to help people on the outside. He also co-founded outside organizations such as The Redemption Project and Ubuntu Philadelphia; and is a founding member of Right To Redemption (R2R), which helped launch Philadelphia’s Coalition to Abolish Death By Incarceration (CADBI) (The Coalition to Abolish Death By Incarceration|Decarcerate PADecarcerate PA › CADBI). After 30 years of incarceration, Kempis was released from prison, at the age of 45. Since his release, he has joined the staff at the Amistad Law Project (Amistad Law ProjectAmistad Law Project › home), a grassroots abolitionist law collective working for the release of others, as they fight to end the sentencing of human beings to life without parole/death by incarceration and abolish prison industrial complex. He has also joined the membership of Ecosocialist Horizons. Kempis, or who a lot of us in the movement affectionately know as “Ghani,” continues to organize actively for healing justice and a more livable planet.

Megan DiCriscio

Megan DiCriscio is an early childhood and special education major at Arcadia University. Megan’s passion for teaching and love of learning is evident in her hard work throughout all of her classes and fieldwork. Additionally, Megan is a part of the honors program and education club. She aspires to be a kindergarten teacher, so she can inspire young children and watch them grow throughout the school year. Megan works as a childcare provider through Child and Family Focus and as an assistant teacher at Bright Horizons. She takes pride in both of her jobs and loves to make a difference in her children’s lives.

Melanie Brown

Melanie Brown is in her third and final year at Arcadia University. With a passion for travel, language learning, and exploration, Melanie studied abroad in London, England during her first semester and in Granada, Spain last spring. She also completed Spring Preview in Oman. On campus, she is a member of the Honors and Peace Corps Preparation programs, a conversation partner for students at the neighboring English Language Institute, treasurer of Arcadia’s chapter of Amnesty International, a member of the International Studies Honor society, and dedicated student. Melanie’s deep interest in language learning led her to complete an English teaching internship while studying abroad in Spain and another internship at an NGO called Kentucky Refugee Ministries in her hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. Melanie’s goal is to educate people on the beauty of learning another language and the importance of multilingualism in modern America.

Nicole Adler

Nicole Adler is a first generation college student, and plans to continue her academic career at a law school after her time at Arcadia University. While at Arcadia University Nicole was a member of the Honors Program, the university Tennis team and is completing her Bachelors of Psychology in just three years. Nicole has an interest in criminal justice reform, more specifically in wrongful convictions, or possibly pursuing a career dealing with family court.

Olivia Lutz

Olivia Lutz, a San Diego native, is a sophomore at Arcadia University. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a minor in Spanish. Her passion for immersing herself in other cultures led her to study abroad in London for her first semester at Arcadia as a participant in Arcadia’s First Year Study Abroad Experience (FYSAE). In addition to her studies, Olivia is a part of the Honors Program and tutors at the Learning Resource Network. Outside of college she works at United States Liability Insurance (USLI) as part of the nonprofit package underwriting team, where she is pursuing both a leadership and power skills degree. She also volunteers at a local VITA site, where she prepares residents' tax returns.

Rachel Keown

Rachel Keown is a Senior Biology major and honors student at Arcadia University. As she prepares to graduate with a Bachelor’s of Science this May, she is completing a research thesis investigating genetic markers of speciation in the brown algal species Eisenia. During her time at Arcadia, she has completed a preview course and semester abroad in Galway, Ireland as well as a Global Field Study course in Saint John, USVI. Experiences abroad have lead her to become a study abroad mentor with the STAMP program at the College of Global Studies at Arcadia. Rachel has a passion for learning and teaching the art of performing science, which she hopes will take her far in her professional goal of completing a PhD. in Genomics.

Scott Rawlins

Scott Rawlins graduated from Earlham College with a degree in biology, and holds graduate degrees in museum education and medical & biological illustration from the George Washington University and the University of Michigan respectively. Scott is a Professor at Arcadia University where he teaches scientific illustration, general illustration and design. He regularly exhibits his artwork nationally and has served on the board of the American Society of Botanical Artists as well as the boards of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators and the Philadelphia Society of Botanical Illustrators. Before becoming a full time college instructor, Scott worked as a naturalist and museum curator. Scott’s illustrations have appeared in numerous books, including Your Inner Fish, The Guild Handbook of Scientific Illustration and Shackelford’s Surgery of the Alimentary Tract. Journals that have published his illustrations include Acta Zoologica, Records of the Australian Museum, Harvard’s Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Geobios and Zootaxa.

Seth Berkowitz

Seth Berkowitz is a Senior at Arcadia University, where he is pursuing a Bachelor of Art in History. Seth’s desire to learn about other cultures led him to study in Stirling, Scotland during his second semester as part of Arcadia’s First Year Study Abroad Experience. On campus, Seth is a hardworking honors student, as well as a member of both the Society for Castle Restoration and the Policy, Legal, and Citizenship Education Association. Outside of college, Seth worked as a curatorial intern at the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia.

Stephanie Gumabon-Greaver

Stephanie Gumabon-Greaver is a Senior Honors Student with a History major and International Studies minor. At this time, she is completing her senior thesis, which is centered on the events of Japan’s Unit 731. During her time at Arcadia, she has previously served as a Senator on Student Government, Chair of the Student Services Committee, the Undergraduate Representative for the Faculty Academic Committee, and as a mentor at Parkway Northwest High School, and currently serves as the Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary of the Asian Students in America club on campus, volunteers as an International Peer Associates League member and an English Conversation Partner, and is a member of the History Honor Society and International Studies Honor Society. She works on campus at the Office of Sponsored Research and Programs and as a Student Ambassador. She is an advocate of animal rights, criminal justice reform, and ending the stigma around mental health. She will be spending her final semester interning in London, and after graduation hopes to attend law school.

The Honorable Christopher Cerski J.D.

Honorable Christopher Cerski, J.D., is a pre-law adviser and adjunct professor of Historical and Political Studies. Judge Cerski received his J.D. at the Temple University Beasley School of Law. He has served as a Montgomery County District Judge since 2005, and advocates progressive restorative justice practices for teens and young adults. Additionally, he serves on the American Bar Association’s Racial Justice Improvement Project—Pennsylvania Task Force. In 2012, he received the Adjunct Faculty Award for excellence in teaching.

Veronica Pontis

A Biology, Pre-PT major at Arcadia University, Veronica is in her final year, pursing a bachelor’s degree in biology, and will be continuing her education in Arcadia’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program this coming fall. On campus, she has played four years of collegiate soccer and will be finishing up her final year running for the cross-country team as well. She loves sharing connections with others and has an intense enthusiasm for learning about the world. This led her to participate in Spring Preview, which took her to Mumbai, India, and to complete a semester long study abroad experience in Christchurch, New Zealand. Combining her love of shared connection with others and her passion for outdoor adventure, New Zealand was nothing short of an amazing journey, which challenged and inspired her to adopt a new way of thinking about how to step out of her comfort zone.