SPEAKERS
The Purpose in Daydreaming
Emily Lago Anderson
Engineer and Educational Equity Activist
Emily Lago Anderson is a computer engineer and educator with a passion for eradicating the racial equity gap in tech. She is pursuing her M.Ed. in Learning Sciences and Human Development at UW to develop equitable tech education. In her work, Emily is a Support Escalation Engineer at Microsoft and Founder of Evo Learning Academy.
What AI Could, Should, and Would Do
Chirag Shah, PhD
Professor in Information School
Chirag Shah is a Professor at the University of Washington. He is the Founding Director of InfoSeeking Lab and Founding Co-Director of the Center for Responsibility in AI Systems & Experiences (RAISE). His research focuses on building, auditing, and correcting intelligent information access systems. Shah is a Distinguished Member of ACM.
Recognizing the Weight Bias Within
Noha Polack, MD, FAAP
Pediatrician
Dr. Noha Polack is a board-certified pediatrician who specializes in helping teens and pre-teens with body image and weight issues. She empowers them to help them love their bodies and take control of their health journey. She teaches professionals/parents to communicate positive messages about health instead of focusing on weight.
Unlocking the Magic to Providing Better Emotional Support
Nash Fung
Keystone Speaker & Magician
Nash Fung is a keynote speaker & magician who empowers his audiences through his engaging keynotes. Drawing from his 16+ years of experience as a crisis line volunteer, he now unveils the curtain on the magic of empathetic communication, teaching leaders how to lead with empathy and make others feel heard, understood, valued, and empowered.
Finding Clarity: Navigating Your North Star
Jeff Nguyen
Founder @ BobaTalks
Jeff Nguyen is most known for his work with BobaTalks, a nonprofit that helps students navigate the early career ambiguities of their lives. He spends most of my time taking photos, planning weddings, and helping students figure out their lives, one boba chat at a time.
Four Words That Can Protect You From Burnout
Zarya Rubin, MD
Functional Medicine Physician
Dr. Zarya Rubin is a Harvard-educated functional medicine physician, keynote speaker, and burnout expert. She helps high-achieving women get to the root cause of chronic symptoms and stress so they can heal from the inside out and truly thrive. She is the founder and CEO of Dr. Zarya, a boutique functional medicine practice in Portland, OR.
PERFORMER
Traditional Chinese Dance at UW
Traditional Chinese Dance at UW was founded in 2021 with the mission to spread Chinese culture in the UW and Seattle communities through dance performances and events! Follow them on Instagram at @tcduw to follow their journey throughout the year as they hold quarterly free workshops and perform at other events until their very own end-of-year showcase in May! At the TEDxUofW conference, they will be performing a piece called "Heavenly Shower." The style and story behind this dance originates from Tibet, a region in China known as the "roof of the world" because it is the highest region on Earth. In Tibetan culture, there is a traditional bathing custom called the Heavenly Shower. According to legend, this shower helps get rid of filth, diseases, and sins on the body, because the spring water on the high mountains represent peace, happiness, and a blessing from the gods. In this Heavenly Shower, men and women bathe together facing Buddha and the gods, and everyone is free, open, and harmonious with nature. It really is a beautiful rendition of human and nature living in harmony. We hope you enjoy this dance!