TEDxWest Chester University

Speakers

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

• Constance Case

  Professor of Costume Technology and Design

  Constance Case is a Professor of Costume Design and Technology at West Chester University of Pennsylvania. She has designed costumes, hair and makeup for over 150 theatre and dance pieces in both professional and academic settings including the Woolly Mammoth Theatre, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and the Harmonie Park Playhouse in Detroit, Michigan. Ms. Case’s costume design philosophy is to present a true visual representation of character so that you, the audience, can have the best possible experience at the theatre. www.constancecase.com

• David Dannenfelser

  Lecturer, Theater, Rutgers University

  David received a BA in Special Education from William Paterson University, an MA in Educational Theatre from New York University, and an MFA in Directing and Playwriting from Sarah Lawrence College. He has been an Assistant Professor of Theatre/Performance at Bloomsburg University and an Assistant Professor of Theatre at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. He is a lecturer for Rutgers University (Mason Gross School of the Arts) where he teaches theater and communication courses. David has written, directed and produced his plays for The Joseph Papp Public Theatre, Expanded Arts, The NYC International Fringe Festival, and The John Houseman Studio Theatre. His plays are published in The Clockhouse Review, The Caribbean Writer and the Indie Theatre Now Collection. His book, The Art of Effective Science Communication, is published by Springer Nature/Macmillan. David is a member of The Dramatists Guild, Inc. and The Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers.

• Jessica Turner-Skoff

  Associate Director, Science Communications, Longwood Gardens

  Jessica is an internationally recognized, award-winning science communicator. During her doctoral research as a conservation biologist, she discovered her calling to tell the story of science and plants. She is the Associate Director of Science Communications at Longwood Gardens, one of the world’s great gardens, and previously held roles at The Morton Arboretum and Phipps Conservatory. In addition to connecting people to research and conservation at Longwood, Jessica teaches science communication at both collegiate and professional levels. She is an Editorial Advisor for the scientific journal, ‘Plants, People, Planet,’ the 2020 Emerging Horticulture Professional Award recipient from the American Horticultural Society and a Chanticleer Scholar in 2021.

• Manuela Ramalho

  Assistant Professor of Biology, West Chester University

  Dr. Manuela O. Ramalho is an Assistant Professor of Biology at West Chester University and leader of the Ramalho Lab, where she studies host–microbe interactions, ant microbiomes, and evolutionary ecology using multi-omics approaches. Originally from Brazil and the first in her family to attend university, she is passionate about making science accessible and inclusive. Her work integrates research, teaching, and outreach, including large STEM engagement initiatives for K–12 and undergraduate and graduate students. Through her TEDx talk, she explores how ant evolution, diversity, curiosity, and belonging can transform the scientific landscape and inspire the next generation of scientists.

• Maria Urrutia

  Professor of Dance, West Chester University

  Cuban-born (Marielita), Maria Urrutia is a Professor of Dance at West Chester University. She holds an MFA from Goddard College, an EdM from Temple University, and a BFA from The University of the Arts. A company member with Cardell Dance Theater, she collaborates widely while continuing to develop her own creative work. Her artistic and scholarly practice centers on Cuban Rumba and women’s narratives, and her performances and presentations have been featured across the United States and internationally.

• Oné R. Pagán

  Professor of Biology, West Chester University

  Dr. Oné R. Pagán is a husband, a father of three, and a science nerd. He holds a BS in natural science and a MS in biochemistry (University of Puerto Rico) and a PhD in pharmacology (Cornell University). He teaches pharmacology, biology, and astrobiology at West Chester University. His research involves using planarians (free-living flatworms) as animal models to explore pharmacology and neurobiology. His scholarship (so far) includes 31 peer-reviewed papers, three academic book chapters, and a technical book. He is also engaged in science communication for the public through two popular science books, a blog, and a podcast

• Peter Doehring

  Founder, Kennett Outdoors / Kennett Ability Network

  After a career leading school-, hospital-, and university-based programs for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Dr. Peter Doehring stepped away to care for his daughter Margot, who lives with profound Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities. He now works as an independent researcher and advocate for better policies and programs, with a special interest in community-based volunteering, outdoor recreation, and environmental conservation for people like his daughter. He continues to publish and present nationally on a wide range of topics related to disability, including a recently updated and expanded edition of his 2011 book on evidence-based practices in ASD.

• Sakina Zaidi

  Cell & Molecular Biology (Pre-Med) Student, West Chester University

  Sakina is an aspiring pre-medical student majoring in Cell & Molecular Biology at West Chester University (WCU). With a passion for community networking and involvement, she plays many active roles within the WCU student body. She serves as the President of the Minorities in Medicine student organization, a Senator in the Student Government Association, and a Student Researcher in Dr. Buskirk’s Microbial Evolution Lab. Outside of the classroom, you can find her volunteering at Chester County Hospital, hanging out with her friends and family, or enjoying her favorite hobbies like calligraphy and working out.