TEDxRiverdale

Speakers

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

• Anastasiia Vlasenko

  Researcher of Electoral Politics and Democratization

  Dr. Anastasiia Vlasenko is a Postdoctoral Research Scholar in the Harriman Institute at Columbia University. She is also a recent HURI Research Fellow at Harvard’s Ukrainian Research Institute and a recent Postdoctoral Fellow at the NYU Jordan Center for the Advanced Study of Russia. She studies war-time resilience and democratization with specialization in politics of Ukraine. Her book project, ‘Ukrainian Resilience: Institutions, Society, Economy, and Culture in Times of War’ investigates why Ukraine has remained remarkably strong in the face of a full-scale invasion. Using a Comparative Politics framework, the book argues that Ukrainian resilience originates in the long history of political reforms and institutional (trans)formation. Vlasenko is particularly interested in the study of political resilience, transitional period reforms, propaganda, electoral politics, and forecasting.

• Betty Ng

  Founder of Pickleball Positive

  Betty Ng is a purpose-driven leader, social impact entrepreneur, and former corporate executive who empowers individuals and communities to transform their identity into a superpower for success.She is the creator of the Pickleball Positive methodology and the Founder and President of Pickleball Positive Communities (PPC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that uses pickleball as a platform to build confidence, connection, and essential life skills—on and off the court—in underserved communities. As a result of her impactful leadership, Betty has been recognized by Crain’s New York Business as a Notable Asian Leader and honored by organizations such as the Chinese-American Planning Council, NYC SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management), and the Sophie Gerson Healthy Youth Foundation. Her work has been featured in Forbes, Bustle, Thrive Global, Fairygodboss, Fox 5, and PIX11 News.

• Chandrima Bhattacharya

  Microbial Life Researcher

  Chandrima Bhattacharya is a computational biologist and PhD candidate at Weill Cornell Medicine who explores the surprising ways microbes adapt to the harshest places on—and off—our planet. Working in the labs of Dr. Christopher Mason and Dr. Jan Krumsiek, she studies microbial life in radiological sites, deep‑sea lakes, urban superfund zones, and even aboard the International Space Station. Using metagenomics, machine learning, and genome mining, she uncovers the hidden strategies microbes use to survive and the clues they offer for new medicines. Chandrima has contributed to landmark spaceflight and global microbiome studies, with work published in Nature, Cell, and Nature Microbiology. She is passionate about bridging science and society, making the microscopic world feel vivid, human, and accessible. Outside the lab, she’s an avid painter and a black‑belt martial artist.

• Deidra R. Moore

  Judge

  Hon. Deidra R. Moore is an elected New York Civil Court Judge in the Bronx, a former trial lawyer, and a nationally recognized speaker on dignity, humanity, and leadership. Before taking the bench, she spent two decades in private practice, representing people at their most vulnerable moments—when their freedom, families, or futures were at stake. Those experiences shaped her belief that justice is not only about what the law allows but also about how people are seen and treated throughout the process. On stage and in the courtroom, Judge Moore is known for her powerful use of “the pause” to create space for truth, reflection, and human connection. She is the author of From Me to You: The Power of Storytelling and Its Inherent Generational Wealth. Her work invites audiences to slow down, listen more deeply, and recognize dignity as the foundation of our humanity.

• Dylan Oh

  Student

  Dylan Oh is a student at Riverdale Country School. During the 2025-2026 school year, he pursued an independent study on Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo and examined how one of the earliest operas uses music to express grief, longing, and the emotional complexity of human life. At Riverdale, he co-leads the Flume Ensemble, a student-led musical group that performs regularly at school and senior homes, and he is also a staff writer on the Riverdale Review. Outside of school, Dylan studies cello at Juilliard Pre-College and has a profound passion for exploring and sharing the historical and contemporary interpretations of classical music, particularly music from the Baroque Era.

• Eddy Cruz

  Co-Founder of Nine26

  Eddy Cruz is the co-founder of Nine26, the only supper club in the Bronx and the first Dominican-inspired supper club in New York. Hosted monthly in his apartment for just 10 guests, Nine26 has built a waitlist of nearly 8,000 people and was named the "hottest dinner party" by The New York Times. A Cornell University hospitality graduate, Eddy's creative interests led him to work in marketing at Goldman Sachs, BlackRock, and Citi. Driven by a passion for design, hosting, and storytelling, he opened his home to strangers to create intimate, themed dinners inspired by his family’s history and culture.

• Ellie Fishman

  Student

  Ellie Fishman is a student at Riverdale Country School with a deep interest in psychology and brain health. Inspired by her grandmother’s experience with Alzheimer’s disease, she is dedicated to raising awareness in her school and broader community. She partners with organizations such as the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, where she's been volunteering for the past two years, and the Alzheimer’s Association, where serves on the Walk Planning Committee. Ellie also created a personalized memory card game that uses personal family photos to create a matching game designed to spark recognition, connection, and engagement for individuals with Alzheimer’s and their loved ones.

• Eric McElvenny

  Paralympian and Triathlete

  Eric McElvenny is an engaging communicator and an expert in teaching resilience. In 2006, Eric graduated from the United States Naval Academy, preparing to serve as a Marine Corps Infantry Officer. Eric was injured on a deployment to Afghanistan after stepping on an IED. The blast resulted in the amputation of his right leg. This injury marked the beginning of a new journey. Determined to overcome his physical challenge, Eric made a promise to himself to finish an Ironman Triathlon. He went on to complete nine Ironman distance triathlons, including the prestigious World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, and became a two-time Paralympian proudly representing the United States in both Tokyo, 2021 and Paris, 2024. Throughout this journey, Eric discovered that the adversity he faced and the strategies he employed could be applied to the challenges we all encounter in life. When not training, racing, or inspiring others, Eric can be found with his wife and children in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

• Evan Stern

  Host: Vanishing Postcards Podcast

  Evan Stern is the host and creator of the acclaimed podcast Vanishing Postcards. A documentary travelogue that explores the hidden dives and threatened histories found by exiting the interstates, its second season was entirely centered on Route 66 and named Best Americana Podcast at 2024’s Indie Podcast Awards. An oral historian, narrative audio producer, actor and singer, Evan hails from Austin, TX and makes his home in Manhattan where he has performed at such venues as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and the Oak Room at the Algonquin. Having interviewed hundreds of individuals—from Illinois greasy spoons to the U.S.–Mexico border and the Santa Monica Pier—he believes that “sharing stories helps people and places endure.”

• Jeffrey Spencer

  Olympian and Entrepreneur

  Dr. Jeffrey Spencer is a prolific polymath having been a successful entrepreneur in multiple businesses, Olympic athlete, sports scientist, artist, author, speaker, father and advisor to iconic business, sports and entertainment household names. His calling is to help others live exponential potential lives of passion, purpose, productivity and prosperity. To witness his clients go from thinking they can do it to knowing they can do it then doing it is his greatest professional reward. Being a father and his family are his highest priority and joy.

• Julie Agashiwala

  Director of Operations, Brand & Community at Café Joyeux US

  Julie Agashiwala is the Director of Operations, Brand & Community at Café Joyeux US, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that trains and employs people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She brings together operational excellence, brand storytelling, and community partnerships to build a joyful customer experience and expand real opportunities for a community too often kept out of sight. Julie is also the Founder & CEO of JA-MH, Inc., a digital marketing agency helping brands grow through creative, data-driven strategy. Originally from the French Alps, she moved to New York City in 2003 and made it home. She’s a mother of two, a mentor to emerging leaders, a literature lover, and a long-distance runner.

• Kara Wang

  Student

  Kara Wang is a high school student who resides in New York City and is deeply passionate about how awareness and policy can help transform the homelessness crisis faced by the city today. During her summers, Kara is intentionally building an experience working across all three levels of government – city, state, and federal – to better understand how comprehensive solutions to this pressing issue are designed and implemented. She has also interned with non-profit organizations that provide housing and support services for homeless individuals, such as Volunteers of America-Greater New York, conducting further policy research on affordable housing. Kara has been an active member of the Youth Fighting Homelessness Club at Riverdale Country School since 2023 and will be its Co-President during the 2026-2027 school year.

• Max Darringer

  Student

  Max Darringer is a recent graduate from Riverdale Country School with a keen interest in understanding how diet impacts the human body. As someone who once struggled to develop positive eating habits, he engaged in a comparative research project examining how different diets impacted the gut microbiome. He subsequently created the Gut Project (www.gutproject.org), a website featuring his research, as well as educational videos about using diet to obtain health goals while maintaining gut health.

• Philip Negrin

  Student

  Philip Negrin is a recent graduate of Riverdale Country School who has been deeply engaged in computer science and artificial intelligence throughout his four years of high school. During his senior-year independent study, Philip focused on researching the ethical implications of AI, exploring case studies in areas such as job applications and the college admissions process. He has also published research on AI algorithms and led two clubs at Riverdale, AI4All and Build-a-ware.

• Scott Yamamura

  Financial Educator and Author

  Scott Yamamura is a financial educator and author of Financial Epiphany, guiding people to make sense of money without intimidation, shame, or complexity. With over 25 years studying the art of communication inside a Fortune 15 company, Scott considers himself an imposter in the world of finance—bringing simple, creative explanations that help everyday people handle money with the confidence they’ve always wanted.

• Stella Jaffe

  Student

  Stella Jaffe is a high school student at Riverdale Country School with a passion for baking. She has worked at Levain Bakery for the past four years and was even featured in their 30th anniversary book. She also volunteers weekly at the Association to Benefit Children, teaching a baking class. With her free time, she frequently bakes on her own, bringing baked goods into all her classes and gifting treats for her friends’ birthdays.