Julia Jordan-Lake

Julia Jordan-Lake, MA, LCPC, is a mental health therapist in Forest Park, IL. Julia works with a range of ages and developmental levels and particularly specializes in child and adolescent mental health. In her Talk, "The Power of LGBTQ+ Allyship for Mental Health Care," Julia explores how social support - or informal support outside of the therapy room - is more important now than ever for LGBTQIA+ adults and youth.

Shanta N. Kanukollu, Ph.D.

Shanta N. Kanukollu, Ph.D. (a.k.a “Dr. K”) is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and has over a decade of clinical experience working with clients of diverse backgrounds in the forensic and medical settings. Her Talk, "Thriving vs. Surviving in the South Asian community," considers an important question: when Can we stop being in survival mode? When are we allowed to take space in ALL arenas, ask for more and question norms that are outdated?

Edcel Javier Cintron-Gonzalez

Edcel Javier Cintron-Gonzalez is a proud Puerto Rican, scholar, and graduate worker who is pursuing a Ph.D. in English Studies with a focus in Children and Young Adult Literature with a graduate certificate in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. In his Talk, "George, Maria, and Me: Hurricane Narratives and Poetry as Trauma Healing," Edcel explores how surviving hurricanes alongside his community has built an unbreakable resilience. He will also delve into how poetry became his sanctuary, helping process trauma and find strength in vulnerability.

Isha Gollapudi

Isha Gollapudi, a senior at Normal Community High School, is an enterprise technology intern at State Farm. After being selected for her school's Associate's Degree Program through Heartland Community College, Isha's passion for computer science and cybersecurity grew exponentially. Her Talk, "Energy Usages and Sustainability of Manufacturing in Computing" looks at solutions and critical findings on the ramifications of virtualization on environmental sustainability and energy consumption, emphasize the crucial role of virtualization in advancing green computing, advocate for sustainable computing practices, and provide recommendations for policy formulation and technological innovation, and industry collaboration.

Jenette Jurczyk

Jenette Jurczyk is The National Director of The She Said Project, producing and directing live shows called "That's What She Said". She works with women to help them find their voice and share their story. In her Talk, "Two Words That Changed Everything," Jenette shares the vulnerable moment that she learned how finding your "Two Word Mission Statement" can create a sense of clarity and purpose in your life. When she left her dreams behind in Los Angeles to build her family in Central Illinois, she had to face her own sense of failure and learn to rewrite her success story.

Sivanujan Suthaharan

Sivanujan (Sivanu) Suthaharan is a Toastmaster, innovator, and graduate research scholar at Illinois State University. His research focus is on quantum mechanical (QM) simulations in conjunction with atomic level imaging to formulate a theory describing energetics and cooperativity at ordered surfaces. His Talk, "Simulation and Chemistry Lab: Love or Strife?" asks an important scientific question for the 21st century: do simulations survive in a chemistry-reality?

Karen Jenkins

Karen V. Jenkins is a visionary leader at the intersection of education, technology, and social change. As the Founder and CEO of KidAlytics, she harnesses the power of data science and digital literacy to empower the next generation with critical skills for the digital age. In her Talk, "Beyond Connectivity: From Information to Action," Karen will take you on a journey to the intersection of digital knowledge and health, demonstrating how every click and search has the power to not only inform but transform our health decisions.

Meghan Reha

Meghan Reha is a renewable energy consultant working in the wind sector. After traveling the world from Seattle to Bangladesh, she returned to Bloomington, Illinois. Meghan is currently restoring a historic residence on Bloomington's west side and serves as Secretary of the Mennonite Central Committee Great Lakes, viewing both as actions that support her commitment to community. Her Talk, "Choosing a Home for the Climate Crisis," is a story in three parts 1) the climate crisis is real, 2) those changes are not evenly distributed around the globe, and 3) to make the most of this potential, we must grapple honestly with uncomfortable truths about needs, wants and capacities.

Erica Orrison

As a leader in emerging technology, Erica Orrison has seen the power of information in an explosive era of digital transformation. In her Talk, "Level Up on the Learning Curve," Erica asks, "what are the best ways to grow and expand our intellectual property to stay ahead of the curve? She'll discuss the best ways to train our brains to maximize our personal and professional lives.

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