TEDxUC Irvine

Speakers

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

• Allen Lai

  Undergraduate Student

  Allen Lai, a fourth-year Data Science and Software Engineering major at UC Irvine. Driven by a passion for continuous self-improvement and compassion for others, he balances his technical pursuits with a vibrant entrepreneurial spirit. Whether he’s coding, snowboarding, DJing events, or working behind the camera, Allen thrives on building community, pushing boundaries, and taking on new challenges

• Casey Vanderlip

  MD/PhD Researcher

  Casey Vanderlip is a MD/PhD student and PhD researcher at the University of California, Irvine specializing in the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease. His work integrates digital cognitive assessments, plasma biomarkers, and predictive modeling to identify individuals at risk years before traditional diagnosis. He collaborates across large national research cohorts to develop scalable tools that can improve screening, clinical decision-making, and trial enrollment for emerging therapies. At the intersection of neuroscience and data science, Casey’s research challenges the notion that cognitive decline begins suddenly. Instead, he studies the subtle patterns that unfold quietly over time, patterns that, when measured carefully, can reveal opportunity rather than inevitability. He represented UCI at the University of California system-wide Grad Slam competition and is passionate about translating complex ideas into accessible, human-centered stories about brain health and resilience

• Cherise Lesesne

  Writer & Storyteller

  Cherise Lesesne is a writer, storyteller, and critical thinker who is passionate about helping people see the world and themselves with more depth, empathy, and curiosity. Her work is rooted in the belief that stories have the power not only to entertain, but also to challenge assumptions, spark reflection, and bring people closer to one another. For much of her life, she occupied the role of the quiet observer. Often one of the shortest and most reserved people in the room, Cherise learned early on that being “safe” and “likable” was often rewarded, especially as a Black woman navigating spaces shaped by expectations around race, gender, and respectability. She was taught, directly and indirectly, that being too loud, too passionate, or too outspoken could make her seem difficult or undesirable. In response, she learned to shrink parts of herself, softening her voice, suppressing her fire, and choosing restraint over visibility.

• Deepti Pandita

  Clinical AI Officer

  Deepti Pandita MD is the VP of Informatics, Clinical AI officer and Chief Medical Information officer at University of California Irvine Health, and Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at UCI. She leads AI governance for UCI and has implemented several solutions to drive Clinician proficiency using AI .Her organization is a founding member for CHAI (coalition for health AI) which is the largest public-private entity leading health AI landscape in the US. Deepti has a passion for using innovation and technology to improve care delivery for the underserved and marginalized populations and participates in health disparities research, more specifically on bridging digital disparities and has published on this topic. She most recently coauthored the position paper from the American college of Physicians on AI in the provision of healthcare. She was named as “top 50 CMIO’s to know” by Beckers in 2025.

• Linh Truc Tran

  Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

  Linh Trúc Trần is a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and proud alumna of the UCI Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing. She returns to campus today to speak about youth mental health and the quiet struggles many young people carry. Specializing in early intervention, suicide prevention, and trauma-informed care, Dr. Trần draws on the spirit of kintsugi, to remind us that healing doesn’t erase our cracks; it helps us integrate them with strength.

• Makiah Eustice

  Materials Engineer

  Makiah Eustice is an engineer and officer in the U.S. Air Force driven by a deep passion for human spaceflight. She has served as a flight test engineer planning and executing aircraft modification tests on platforms like the C-130 Hercules, and now works as a program integrator supporting space contract surveillance. As an analog astronaut, Makiah has lived and conducted research for a total of 41 days in simulated space missions. In 2025, she was competitively selected to crew Lunares in Poland during the inaugural World’s Biggest Analog, serving as mission engineer alongside an international, all-women research team. Makiah is entering the next decade of her life committed to innovating at the intersection of space, materials, human performance, and art—continually choosing discovery and community over stagnation.

• Tammy Tresor

  Gemologist & Jeweler

  Tammy Tresor is a gemologist and jewelry designer who is determined to leave the world a better place. Her passions intersect with contribution, and she works to create educational opportunities internationally, in the communities where she responsibly sources her gemstones.

• Tony Crisp

  Brand Strategist

  I am a veteran brand strategist, entrepreneur, and the Founder and CEO of CRISPx. As a proud UC Irvine alumnus, I’ve dedicated my career to helping build high-growth brands, working with everyone from early-stage tech startups to Fortune 500 companies. I believe that effective marketing is rooted in strategy over tactics, which is why I developed the human-centric "DOSE" method to help businesses build deeply resonant, authentic brands. Outside of running my agency, I stay highly active in the innovation community by mentoring and judging top-tier tech competitions. I am thrilled to return to the UCI campus to share my journey and ideas at TEDx.