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).

Wood Auditorium, Sleith Hall
1215 Wilbraham Rd
Springfield, Massachusetts, 01119
United States

Alex Lyman

Alex Lyman is a media professional with a career that has spanned television and print news, independent film, marketing writing, blogging, media coaching, and business consulting. She attended Western New England University, where she earned a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Media Theory and Production and an M.S. in Organizational Leadership. Her graduate research was published by Palgrave Macmillan in the textbook Leadership and Role Modelling: Understanding Workplace Dynamics, as part of the Palgrave Studies in Leadership and Followership series. Alex began her media career at local news station ABC40/FOX6 as the weekend assignment editor, and was promoted to 5:00 p.m. newscast and weekend producer. She also experimented in the world of independent film making as a production assistant with Merritt Films and was a freelance reporter for The Republican newspaper and Masslive.com. Currently, Alex is a senior copywriter at her alma mater in the Division for Marketing and Enrollment Management. She has been a blogger for The Huffington Post, contributed a variety of guest blogs for several companies, and had made appearances on business-related podcasts. Alex also freelances as a writer and media/business coach with start-up companies and small businesses.

Danielle Remigio

Danielle Lyn Remigio, 32, is an alumna of Western New England graduating with a BA in Psychology in 2011. She continued her education at Northeastern University, completing an MS in College Student Development & Counseling degree in 2013. She is currently working to complete a graduate certificate in Disability Services in Higher Education Administration at Suffolk University Professionally, Danielle has spent the last 13 years working with residential students on college and university campuses as a part of student hall councils, three years as a Resident Advisor at WNE, two years as a graduate hall director, and eight years as a professional in residence life. She has built expertise in training, staffing, conflict resolution, and case management and values the development of empathy and interpersonal skills while creating organizational structures to help them succeed. She has presented at regional conferences, served on professional boards, and runs a regional newsletter dedicated to educating residence life and housing professionals in the area. One of Danielle's proudest moments was when started a 20000 scholarship fund through a fundraiser for students at the high school level wanting to go into public service. Personally, Danielle is proud of her Azorean Portuguese heritage and values family and personal connections. Growing up in Tewksbury, MA, she was involved in creative writing groups, multiple sports and dance, coaching, interning, and working in catering. Now, Danielle is an avid reader, is currently writing a memoir based on experiences managing grief, and loves connecting her life to the music she listens to. She wants to connect whether it be in person or through her writing; either way, she recognizes the importance of understanding one another and the impact that can have on our community.

Dr Kimberly Pesaturo

Kimberly is a clinical assistant professor of pharmacy practice, and she’s also the co-founder of Loud Coffee Press literary magazine and creativity platform. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Rhode Island, completed a PGY-1 pharmacy practice residency at Saint Joseph Health in Lexington, KY, and a PGY-2 specialty residency in pediatric pharmacy at the University of Kentucky’s UK HealthCare and UK Kentucky Children’s Hospital in Lexington, KY. She has worked in various aspects of pharmacy practice and academia for approximately a decade and a half, and spent time as faculty with the Higher Education Consortium of Central Massachusetts. Kimberly writes fiction under a pen name. A self-proclaimed music fiend, she loves to deep dive into creative ideas through cinema, books, philosophy, coffee, and pop culture. She’s a proud mother to two amazing humans who delight in the arts. She’s grateful to Fred Charles, the other half of Loud Coffee Press, for his contributions to this TEDx presentation.

Dr Michael Jarvinen

Michael Jarvinen is an Associate Professor in the Neuroscience Department at Western New England University. His research focuses on factors that regulate brain plasticity/function and his ideas have been funded by research grants, most notably from the National Science Foundation. Born in Flint, Michigan, he received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan – Flint, Master’s degree from Purdue University, and Ph.D. from Dartmouth College. At Western New England, Dr. Jarvinen teaches courses in neurohormones, neural development, and research methods. He has on-going projects with students in the areas of gut-brain health, neurodiversity, and science literacy. Dr. Jarvinen has received a number of teaching awards and he has published strategies that improve science pedagogy and understanding.

Laura Dennison

No Kick No Prob

Our first speaker is an alumna of Western New England University graduating with a B.A. in psychology and elementary education. She then went on to complete her Masters of Arts in 2011 from the University of Alabama-Tuscaloosa where she presented a workshop for undergraduates on self-determination and incorporating it into instruction. She is a special education teacher at Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, Massachusetts. She has served as a mentor for the past 13 years through Partners for Youth with Disabilities.

Nashali Pagan

Nashali Pagan was born in Aibonito Puerto Rico but raised the majority of her life in Holyoke MA. During her years at Holyoke High School, she did a lot of work with the restorative justice program in which her love for social justice grew immensely and was where she got a lot of things started, her proudest moments include her biggest project which was the Hidden Legends of Holyoke, where they showcased and honored the people of Holyoke who have worked hard to make the community a better place. Living in a poor neighborhood has taught her a lot about the way that the systems work and how communities of color suffer a greater impact. She is now in her second year of University which is an accomplish that her Latina heritage would be proud to witness. She aspires to continue her work in activism through her career as a lawyer. She aspires to educate people on how the systems work so they can have a better chance at fighting their way through it and living a better life.