TedxGeneseo 2018 Event

2018 TedxGeneseo Speakers

barnabas

Barnabas Gikonyo 

Barnabas Gikonyo graduated from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Illinois with a Ph.D. in organic and materials chemistry. His research interests range from application of various polymeric materials as "biomaterial bridging surfaces" for the repair of spinal cord injuries to the use of osteoconductive cements for the repair of critical sized bone defects/fractures to development of alternative/non-food biofuels. He has published of a number of textbooks on biofuels, and is currently supporting 10 undergraduate students in research. He is involved in STEM (Science, Engineering, Technology and Math) initiatives at the university aimed at helping increase enrollment and retention of students from underrepresented groups in STEM fields. Notwithstanding being an award winning motivational speaker, instructor and faculty mentor, Barnabas is an avid golfer and poet


brennon

Brennon Thompson

Brennon Thompson works as a Cultural Competence and Health Literacy Operations Specialist at the Center for Human Services Education, a division of Heritage Christian Services. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Studies from American University. While at American, his thematic focus was Global Inequality and Development and he minored in Public Health. Brennon has a passion for bringing people together to share and learn about the unique identities and experiences of our local and global neighbors. He has led international service-learning trips, organized interfaith events, and facilitated critical conversations on social justice.


grace

Grace McMahon

Grace McMahon is a freshman at SUNY Geneseo from Long Island, New York. She has had a stutter from a very young age, and devotes her time to helping and understanding others who struggle with their own differences. She attends conventions every summer through an organization called FRIENDS: The National Association for Young People Who Stutter, and is an active member at every one. Her favorite things to do include writing poetry, painting, listening to music, reading, and talking to others about subjects she is passionate about.


jen

Jennifer Jackson Gkourlias 

Dr. Gkourlias is an educational leader with over twenty years of experience as a public school curriculum leader and social studies teacher. She is currently a school principal in the Rochester City School District, and served as the founding principal of Rochester's first charter school for young women, Young Women's College Prep from 2011-2014.  She earned her doctorate in educational leadership with a concentration in program evaluation from the University of Rochester in 2007, her Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from the University at Buffalo in 1999, and her Bachelor of Arts in History and Social Studies Education at the State University of New York, College at Geneseo in 1996.  She is an advocate for veterans, and is presently writing an oral history of the Persian Gulf War through the eyes of veterans who served with a focus on exposing the truth about Gulf War Illness.


sandra

Sandra Uwiringiyimana

Sandra Uwiringiyimana is Co-founder and Director of Partnerships & Communications at Jimbere Fund, an organization that aims to revitalize distressed communities in Congo. Since her family’s resettlement in 2007, Sandra has fought hard to call for Justice for the Gatumba massacre and has become a voice for women and girls, refugees and immigrants, and forgotten people like the Banyamulenge Tribe. In telling her story, Sandra has shared the world stage with Angelina Jolie, Hilary Clinton, and Tina Brown at the Women in the World Summit. She addressed the United Nations Security Council at the request of Ambassador Samantha Power to plead with world leaders to act on the pressing issue of Children in Armed Conflict. Sandra is finishing her studies in New York City.