Spring 2019 Speakers
Lee Pierce PhD: Visiting Asst. Professor of Communication at SUNY Geneseo
Lee Pierce (she/hers) is a Visiting Assistant Professor at SUNY Geneseo teaching classes in rhetoric, public speaking, and interpersonal communication. Lee is also a scholar of rhetoric, style, and contemporary U.S. political culture. Her talk on Beyonce's "Formation" was inspired by her students as an exemplary text demonstrating how rhetoric works in unique ways to shape our common sense. When Lee isn't teaching or writing she teaches fitness classes, advises the student newspaper and the visual culture club on campus, and working on her newest extemp comedy routine.
Joseph VanderWaag College Student
Joseph VanderWaag is finishing his Associate’s Degree in Communications at Suffolk County Community College. VanderWaag is the former Organizing Director of March For Our Lives Long Island and is a student ambassador at the Center for Social Justice and Human Understanding housed at Suffolk County Community College. Joseph has demonstrated a strong passion for many social justice issues including racism, LGBTQ+ rights, and gun violence prevention.
Jacob Klingensmith: Winner of Student Speaker Competition
Jacob Klingensmith was born and raised in Rochester, NY and is currently a senior at SUNY Geneseo studying communication. Jacob is the founder of Madera Greek Paddles, a start-up company that gives a portion of its earnings to support STEM education in Oaxaca, Mexico. He was inspired to start his company after spending a summer studying Spanish in Oaxaca and joining Alpha Kappa Psi, the professional business fraternity at SUNY Geneseo.
Dr. Poonam Desai: Medical Professional
Dr. Desai is an emergency medicine attending at a level 1 trauma center and academic hospital. She completed a fellowship in emergency ultrasound and is currently the emergency ultrasound division director at New York Presbyterian Queens. She is active in global medicine and has lectured at many international conferences and hospitals. One of her many talents include being a professional dancer. She has trained in classic Indian dancing and recently performed at the world-renown Lincoln Center in New York City. Dr. Desai is health and wellness advocate and has developed a strong network of followers on social media. She was recently invited to be the regional director of New York and New Jersey American Medical Women’s Association. She enjoys traveling, experiencing new cultures, and has visited over 41 countries.
Jean Paul Laurent: Chief Smiling Officer
Jean Paul Laurent is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Unspoken Smiles Foundation, a New York-based non-profit that promotes both long-term oral healthcare and economic security in the world’s most disadvantaged regions. As CEO, Jean Paul works across two key program areas— oral health education and prevention, and the Unspoken Smiles Fellowship—to help ensure better, access to quality dental services for the greatest number of people. By developing, supporting, and incubating those initiatives, Unspoken Smiles Foundation is improving lives in underserved communities across the world. Previously, Jean Paul served a contributing writer at Huffing Post covering social impact, the future of philanthropy, and young global leaders. His work has appeared in Thrive Global, and the New York Times, among other places. Jean Paul is an Award Winning Social Entrepreneur, Oral Care Specialist, Author, and Philanthropist. His philanthropic achievements have garnered recognition from a variety of prestigious organizations including The United Nations (ECOSOC), New York State Senate, American Express Leadership Academy, Ashoka Changemakers, The Resolution Project, The Clinton Global Initiative University, Global Entrepreneurship Summit India, NYN 40 Under 40 Rising Star, National Society of Leadership and Success, Dr. Ambedkar Ratna – Global Changemakers Award, and President Obama Lifetime Achievement - Volunteer Service Award, and more. Jean Paul lives in New York and holds an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters – D.H.L (h.c.) from CICA International University & Seminary, an Executive Masters in Public Administration from Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs, a Bachelor of Science in Health Service Administration from NYC College of Technology, a Dental Hygiene degree from New York University College of Dentistry, and a Liberal Arts degree from Rockland Community College. For fun, you can often find him at a ballroom dance competition.