Theme: The Creative Spark

At 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 1, TEDxURI 2023 goes live. The event's theme is "The Creative Spark,” featuring enlightening stories about the importance of creativity from inspirational voices among the University of Rhode Island community and far beyond. The location is Edwards Hall, 64 Upper College Road, on the Kingston campus. For tickets, go to the event webpage.

TEDxURI
64 Upper College Road
Edwards Auditorium
Kingsotn, Rhode Island, 02881
United States

Abigail Joy Gordon

Student at URI (Secondary education/French major w/ minor in Spanish)

Hi! I'm Abby, and I'm a freshman at URI. I'm dual majoring in secondary education and French, with a minor in Spanish. I love academics, and right now I'm planning to be a high school language teacher after college. I grew up living many different places across the US, but spent my high school years in Durham, New Hampshire. In my free time, I love to read, write short stories, play video games with my friends, and go sailing when I get the chance.

Aryana Sadr

Musician, Composer, and Engineering Major at URI

I am a freshman at URI, and an engineering major. I am first generation as both of my parents immigrated from Iran. I love learning about different cultures, and sharing my own as well. Music has always played a big role in my life, and the older I got it helped me gain different perspectives in cultures and languages. Being from Iran, I have heard many stereotypes, and music was one way I was able to share my culture in another light. With the current situation going on Iran and the lack of representation of it on the news, I would like to use my privilege and this spotlight to give a voice to the girls my age who are fighting for their basic rights. I want to show people what my creative spark was, and how I use the ability to perform music to give a voice to the voiceless.

Carol Pegg

Coach

Carol is a two-time alumna of the University of Rhode Island, earning my BFA in Theatre and Master’s degree in Education. Carol has an extensive background in theatre and dance, spanning over 30 years, involved in various productions at various Rhode Island theatres, most notably at The Players at Barker Playhouse, and the former 2nd Story and Perishable theatres. She has also been seen on stage at the URI Feinstein Providence Campus Arts and Culture Program performing in a staged reading of SHOUT! Sharing Our Truth as well as a production of In Conflict: A Soldier's Story Docudrama. Most recently, Carol has been seen in stage reading performances of Firekeepers Daughter with Learning Literature as part of Reading Across Rhode Island 2022. Other projects include being featured as a dancer in the film Woman, by local choreographer Lillian Carter, which has won several international film festival awards for Best Experimental Film.

Francois Luks

Pediatric Surgeon-in-Chief, Hasbro Children’s Hospital; Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics, Brown University

As a medical student, he drew a daily comic strip for several newspapers in his native Belgium. He later started to illustrate some of his own research publications, then those of colleagues. He has been a Hasbro Children’s Hospital pediatric surgeon for almost 3 decades. He teaches medical illustration to undergraduate students at Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design.

Ginay Lopes

Writer

Ginay Lopes is a Published Author, Spoken Word artist, and motivational speaker from Providence, Rhode Island. Her goal is to tell the stories of unheard voices and promote community through emotional healing and cultural awareness. Ginay has shared her work throughout various high schools and universities and is now expanding her reach nationwide.

Jen Mott

Educator | Entertainer...if keeping it short. (Full-time School Administrator; Part-time Circus Performer & Professional Speaker)

Dr. Jen Mott has been with Cincinnati Circus Company since 2006 as a juggler, stilt-walker, balloon artist, and fire performer. She graduated with her undergraduate degree in Secondary Education for Spanish and completed her Master’s program in Curriculum & Instruction from University of Cincinnati before finishing her Doctoral program in Leadership Studies at Xavier University. While Cincinnati Circus Company has been her consistent weekend and summer job for nearly 20 years, she has continued to serve the students and staff of Greater Cincinnati in a variety of capacities as a teacher and school administrator. Currently, Dr. Mott is a middle school Assistant Principal and Athletic Director in one of the largest public school districts in Ohio full-time. Additionally, she is a keynote speaker for schools, businesses & other organizations— partnering them for speaking, team building and workshop needs—while teaching for Xavier in their Educational Administration program.

Jeremy Bergantini

Student/Artis

I am an Iraq War veteran in the first semester of my junior year at URI working toward my 3 majors and 2 minors. I am working toward becoming an archaeologist and humanitarian, digging up the past and helping others deal with their own. After my father suffered a series of strokes in February of 2022, I started a nonprofit (Tapped Foundation) to help veterans dealing with PTSD, potential homelessness, suicidal thoughts, and women and minority veterans, as well as people suffering from a heart attack or stroke (veteran or not). I'd like to think I can be a positive influence on others, and inspire hope in those that may connect more with my topic (such as other veterans, or those struggling with PTSD or mental health issues). I am hoping that in sharing my story, it will connect with others in such a way that they are encouraged to nurture their own creative sparks, whatever they may be, and find their hope within the darkness.

Jillian Eddy

Scenic Artist

As a self proclaimed Jill-of-all trades, I pride myself on my array of works and talents. Currently I work for SNL as a painter, my business is almost ready for lunch, and occasionally I still give tattoos!

Pardis Mahdavi

Author and Provost and Executive Vice President

Pardis Mahdavi, PhD is the Provost and Executive Vice President at the University of Montana. Previously, she was Professor and Dean of Social Sciences at Arizona State University. Her research interests include gendered labor, human trafficking, migration, human rights, and public health in the context of changing global and political structures. She has published six single authored books and two edited volumes in addition to numerous journal and news articles. She is a lifetime member of the Council on Foreign Relations and has been a fellow at the Social Sciences Research Council, the American Council on Learned Societies, Google Ideas, and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. For more information, please visit www.pardismahdavi.com