TEDxUConn

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Andrea Perez-Meneses

  Andrea Perez-Meneses is an economics student and campus leader at the University of Connecticut with a strong focus on financial literacy and long-term empowerment. Her work centers on helping individuals better understand money, credit, and opportunity through education and intentional structure. Through her leadership and advocacy, Andrea challenges the idea that financial security is reserved for a select few. Instead, she emphasizes that stability and generational wealth are built through accessible knowledge, disciplined systems, and informed decision-making.

• Dr. Danielle Brick

  Marketing professor Danielle Brick specializes in research on consumer relationships, including brand and interpersonal relationships. She is particularly interested in the impact of shared decisions and experiences, power, and resources within relationships on consumer well-being. Her research has been published in top academic journals, such as the Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Psychology, and Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, among others, and has been featured in various popular press articles. Prior to earning her Ph.D. from Duke University, Dr. Brick conducted biomedical research at Massachusetts General Hospital and co-authored several peer-reviewed articles with the Neuroendocrine Unit. She graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree in psychology from Amherst College.

• Dr. Kami Hoss

  Dr. Kami Hoss is an orthodontist, dentofacial orthopedist, entrepreneur, and leading voice in oral-systemic health. For three decades, he has challenged the long-standing belief that the mouth is separate from the body, advocating for a biologically driven, prevention-centered approach to health care. He is the co-founder of one of the largest multispecialty dental practices in the United States and the founder of SuperMouth, an innovative oral care company focused on age-specific, science-based prevention. He is also the author of the bestselling book If Your Mouth Could Talk, which explores the powerful links between oral health, pregnancy, airway and sleep, mental health, systemic disease, and longevity. Through his clinical work, research, and international lectures, Dr. Hoss encourages both professionals and the public to rethink outdated models of care and recognize the mouth not as an isolated system, but as the gateway to whole-body health.

• Jennifer Gearin

  Jennifer Gearin is a sophomore at the University of Connecticut pursuing a B.S. in Physics with minors in Astrophysics and Linguistics. As well as being drawn to theoretical astrophysics and mathematics, she also studies the ways we understand, interpret, and communicate scientific knowledge. With the Life Purpose Lab, she has researched how meaning and motivation influence human behavior. Beyond academics, she is a competitive and professional figure skater who loves her dog, family, and friends more than anything, and will often be found playing the crossword.

• Nathan Miller

  Nathan Miller is a 2024 graduate of UConn’s School of Business and CLAS. He designed his own major focusing on human-computer interaction, ethical technology design, and digital well-being. His writing focuses on how people engage with technology, looking at social media, the tech market, and consumer behavior. After graduating, he worked on social impact campaigns in healthcare, economic development, and political advocacy. He recently returned to UConn for pre-med coursework ahead of medical-school applications. Nathan aims to build in the health-tech space, with an emphasis on care accessibility and preventative health.

• Nyanna Pannu

  I’m a sophomore double major in English and history at UCONN Stamford, with a background in writing, acting, and education. My creative work focuses on exploring how stories shape our identity and connections. As an aspiring educator, my experiences in the classroom have shown me the impacts of cuts on arts education. I’m very passionate about addressing rising illiteracy and promoting the humanities as essential tools to human development.

• Valerie Gordon

  Valerie Gordon believes in the power of story. A television producer with credits at CBS News, ESPN, HBO Sports, and other outlets, she went on to found The Storytelling Strategist, a career and communication consultancy that brings narrative tools to the workforce. She speaks at conferences, delivering keynotes and workshops, and partners with organizations to develop leaders, build strong, collaborative teams, and create brand-building content. She is the author of Fire Your Narrator! A Storyteller’s Guide to Getting Out of Your Head and Into Your Life, which helps readers reframe unhelpful inner narratives and craft more intentional personal and professional chapters. A proud University of Michigan alum, Valerie received a master’s in organizational leadership from Quinnipiac University. She has been part of the UConn community since 2019, first as adjunct faculty in the School of Business and currently as communications lead for the Institute for Municipal and Regional Policy in the School of Public Policy.

• Will Rucker

  Will Rucker believes the most effective form of self-care is community. After more than two decades working at the intersection of public health, leadership, and equity— and leading community health assessments grounded in the lived experiences of thousands of community members—he’s learned a simple truth: well-being isn’t an individual project; it’s a community practice. As Director of Community Health for a leading healthcare system, a former political candidate, and a pastor by training, Will bridges systems-level strategy with lived experience. His work challenges institutions to move beyond burnout culture and see compassion not as a personal virtue, but as a structural necessity. Through initiatives like the A Healthier Tomorrow radio program and the Compassionate Las Vegas podcast, Will amplifies community voices and translates care into action. His work is guided by a singular aim: aligning personal purpose with community need so caring for yourself and caring for others become the same act—and both people and places can thrive.