TEDxUC Davis

Speakers

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

• Alice Dien

  Alice Dien grew up in Europe in a multicultural family before moving to California to pursue graduate studies at UC Davis. At a conference in Bali on the future of food, she became obsessed with one question: why are we working so hard to produce more food while losing a third of it before it ever reaches anyone? That question has shaped a career at the intersection of science and commercialization. She is a PhD candidate in Biological Systems Engineering, where she studies postharvest systems and low-energy drying methods for coffee, nuts, and staple crops. Alongside her research, she has worked across technology transfer and early-stage startups, helping translate scientific ideas into products and ventures. Alice believes that some of the biggest opportunities in food and agriculture are hiding in the “invisible middle” most people don’t see.

• Anthony Trucks

  Anthony Trucks is an 11 year Foster system survivor, former NFL athlete, Competitor on American Ninja Warrior, Bestselling Author, and the worlds #1 Dark Work coach. From challenging childhood to the NFL and now successful business owner, Anthony Trucks has accomplished what statistics would say is impossible. As a leader in the space of Identity Shifting and the founder of “Dark Work”, Anthony has created the “Dark Work Experience” where he teaches people how to access the power of their identity through Dark Work to tap into their full potential, and Make Shift Happen!

• Esin Aydingoz

  Esin Aydingoz is a composer and conductor working across film, television, and live performance. A Berklee College of Music alumna, she later served as Assistant Chair of the Screen Scoring Department. Her Grammy-nominated arrangement of The Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black” for Netflix’s Wednesday reached #1 on the Billboard Classical Charts, and her music can be heard on Apple TV+, Netflix, Hallmark, and Hulu. She specializes in live-to-film performances and has conducted productions and tours including Coco, The Lion King, La La Land, and Demon Slayer. Her concert works have been performed at prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall. Esin is a board member of the Society of Composers & Lyricists (SCL) and the Alliance for Women Film Composers (AWFC), and is committed to making a lasting impact on the world through both music and advocacy.

• Kenjiro Quides

  Kenji Quides is an Assistant Professor of Teaching at the University of California, Davis. He teaches Introductory Microbiology Lecture and Lab to hundreds of students every year. He also teaches a Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience that provides students with the opportunity to contribute to his research investigating the legume-rhizobium symbiosis. However, his primary scholarly work is focused on improving student learning outcomes through the development of engaging curricular activities.

• Le'Lani Walker

  Le’Lani Walker is a senior at the University of California, Davis studying African American and African Studies on the pre-medical track. Her academic and research interests center on the intersection of dermatology, public health, and health equity, particularly how race, culture, and structural inequality influence diagnosis and access to care. At UC Davis, Le’Lani conducts dermatology research at Shriners Hospital for Children Northern California through the UC Davis Department of Dermatology, studying wound healing and tissue regeneration. She is completing an Honor’s Thesis with the UC Davis Department of African American and African Studies intersecting structural inequality and diagnosis of Melanoma in the Black community. She also serves as a leader in Skin Deep, UC Davis’s dermatology interest organization, where she helps organize educational programming and public health initiatives focused on skin health and prevention. Le’Lani plans to pursue an MD/PhD, where she hopes to combine clinical medicine with research and advocacy to address inequities in dermatologic care and representation in medicine.

• Natasha Halevi

  Natasha Halevi is a filmmaker, actress, and a founder of Fatale Collective. Halevi is a driving force behind a global community of women in horror, dedicated to creating space, visibility, and opportunity within filmmaking. Her work spans both sides of the camera, with directing credits including Give Me An A and acting credits across film and television including Superman, Peacemaker, and Cottontail. She has built an international platform supporting female filmmakers, fostering collaboration and championing bold, original storytelling.