Bernadette Mary Dineen is a doctoral student in the Tufts Department of Chemistry, where she works as a research assistant in the Kounaves Planetary Chemical Analysis and Astrobiology lab. Her research focuses on investigating the effects of UV radiation and oxychlorine intermediates on biological compounds, such as Tryptophan and Porphyrin, under standard Mars conditions in order to contribute to the search for life on other planets. This past year, she participated in the NASA Astrobiology Mars Mission Concept Workshop at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, where she worked with 29 other early career specialists on developing future missions to Mars; she will be returning to this project later this fall. In addition to her research, Bernadette works on developing curriculum that centers on analytical instrumentation and astrochemistry. She spends most of her free time reading and solving 3D hand puzzles.

David Delvalle is a formerly incarcerated activist dedicated to criminal justice reform and expanding access to higher education. David is attaining his Bachelor’s Degree in Civic Studies through the Tufts University Prison Initiative of Tisch College (TUPIT). Since his release, David has dedicated himself to youth mentoring and empowerment as a nonprofit Program Manager, Board Member, Tutor, Teacher and Father. He sees education as a powerful tool for rehabilitation and advocates for policies that increase prison education programs. David hopes his story will inspire others to take a chance on themselves and push back against the misconceptions of higher education. His greatest accomplishment is being a dad to his 11 year old daughter Analise.

Dr. Natalie Rubio is the Co-Founder & CEO of Deco Labs, a Tufts spin-out company focused on commercializing enabling technologies for the cellular agriculture industry. Natalie has a B.S. in Chemical & Biological Engineering from the University of Colorado, Boulder (2015) and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Tufts University (2021). Her career is dedicated to replacing the role of animals in our food systems via innovations in biotechnology.

Dr. Basáñez is guilty of introducing public opinion polls for elections in Mexico, was president of the World Association for Public Opinion Research (WAPOR), member of the World Values Survey Group, and Former Ambassador of Mexico to the U.S.. In 2008, he moved to Boston as a Professor of Culture and Development at the Fletcher School of Diplomacy and Law at Tufts University. He worked 20 years in government and 20 years in opinion research. Dr. Basáñez has spoken at more than 300 conferences in many countries. He is the author or co-author of 15 books, the two most recent ones are A World of Three Cultures, Oxford University Press, 2016 and Who Rules in Mexico? MA Porrúa, 2023. He is from Tuxpan, Veracruz, Mexico (1947), studied law at the National University of Mexico (UNAM), earned a master's degree in public administration from the University of Warwick, England and recieved a PhD in Political Sociology at the London School of Economics.

Why do we hate getting old? Isn’t the alternative worse? Our society treats aging as if it is something to be avoided. But why? Peter Kaldes, who graduated from Tufts with a BA in International Relations in 1998, returns to campus 26 years later, older, wiser and prouder. With a non-linear career that includes practicing as an international litigator with Weil Gotshal, advising President Barack Obama in the White House, and leading global philanthropic programs at JPMorgan Chase, Kaldes is the President and CEO of Next50, a private foundation investing in aging. He lives in Denver with his husband learning how to ski. In this talk, Kaldes shares how ageism throughout our entire lives prevents our future selves from thriving. He imagines what a world without ageism would look like and offers ways for all of us to value aging.

Sophia (Phi to her friends) Day is an artist from the Chicagoland area. She graduated with her MFA from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts in 2023 and is currently serving as the Post-Graduate Exhibitions Fellow there. In addition, she also works and teaches at various local arts organizations. Her art practice combines making, curation, and research to amplify under-discussed narratives and to form connections across disciplines and histories. Raised Catholic, she has produced several bodies of artistic and academic work about the intersections of feminism and Catholicism and she brings this background, along with her experience in food systems, to her Tedx Tufts talk. When not juggling multiple jobs and art projects, she likes to host friends for dinner with her dog, Tommy.

Supreme Hassan brings over three decades of expertise in fostering meaningful connections, building transformative organizations, and nurturing caring communities, particularly within marginalized populations. With a keen focus on understanding the root causes of harmful behavior and the intersection of systemic oppression and interpersonal violence, Supreme has dedicated twenty years to this exploration. In 2010, he designed and established the Restorative Justice Working Group in Norfolk, Massachusetts, followed by co-founding the Transformational Prison Project in 2012, a prominent Boston-based non-profit organization centered on restorative justice principles. Trained as a Restorative Justice and Trauma Healing facilitator, Supreme specializes in leading group processes for individuals impacted by the justice system and collaborates closely with victims and survivors of violent crimes.

Nikhil Vootkur is the sole undergraduate speaker for the 2024 TEDxTufts Conference, bringing a uniquely Gen-Z perspective in his talk titled ‘The Aesthetic Economy: Surveillance, Consumption, and the Metaverse’ where he talks about the applicability of philosophical theories from Michel Foucault, Jean Baudrillard, and Susan Sontag to our modern, hyperconsumerist and surveilled society. His commentary on image glut and the distortion of the natural state will leave listeners thinking for long after his talk is concluded.

Cristobal Cea is an artist and Professor of the Practice at SMFA Tufts, where he teaches courses on digital animation, 3d modeling and interdisciplinary topics where digital technologies to broader issues in art and culture: America Imaginaria is one of these courses, where he approaches the history of monstrosity and dehumanization in the America’s during the colonial period, linking It creatively with contemporary issues of disinformation and computing. He is a Chilean citizen who enjoys hiking in the hills, misusing digital tools and developing his work and practice at the southern cone of Latin America. 

Award winning Rapper. Educator. Activist. Business owner. World-renowned keynote speaker. National Social Emotional Learning Consultant. Nasir Jones Hip Hop Fellow at Harvard University. Tufts University Professor. The name is Dee-1. He is the Billboard Top 10 charting, game-changing MC with a persona to match his penmanship. Dee-1 has transitioned from being a middle school math teacher in Louisiana to a hip-hop heavyweight with much more to still accomplish. He has released a total of 21 projects thus far in his career. His recent album “UNO” debuted at #4 in the world on the Apple Music/iTunes Hip-Hop Charts, 100% independent. From nationwide “knowledge for college” financial literacy tours, to numerous corporate partnerships, Dee-1 message of positivity and hope is embraced by the multitudes. Dee-1’s music is part of a bigger lifestyle movement called Mission Vision, which centers around three core principles: Be Real. Be Righteous. Be Relevant. In 2020, Dee received the prestigious NAACP “Power of Influence Award,” highlighting his community activism and commitment to inspiring the youth. In 2021, he was nominated for an Emmy Award for his work on “The Manhattan Project,” but he lost to Michelle Obama. Later that year, Dee was also appointed to the “Louisiana Council for the Success of Black Men and Boys” by Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards, making him the first rapper in Louisiana history to become a governor’s appointee. Dee-1 says, “I make music to provide the soundtrack to someone’s life who is trying to maximize their potential and walk in their purpose. It’s non-fiction, it’s authentic, it’s lyrical, and it’s relatable.”