Current Speakers

Christine McCarthy Clark

Christine McCarthy Clark is a registered dietitian and certified intuitive eating counselor. She works at Boston Children’s Hospital and is an adjunct instructor at Northeastern University, College of Professional Studies. Before joining the hospital, Christine worked for many years at Northeastern University, counseling and educating students through Health and Counseling Services and Dining Services. Christine earned a Bachelor of Science in Food and Nutrition from Framingham State College. She completed her dietetic internship and Master of Science in Human Nutrition from the University of Delaware. Her professional work focuses on meeting people where they are in their journey and supporting them in developing a healthy relationship with food, their body, and exercise/movement.

Chelsea Cohen

Chelsea Cohen is a Masters student in the Urban Affairs & Public Policy program. She graduated this past spring from UD with degrees in Public Policy and Sociology, officially becoming a proud first-generation college graduate. She’s worked with the Department of Student Diversity & Inclusion, the Career Center’s Career Access & Mobility Initiative, and completed research on sex education as a McNair Scholar. Chelsea is a sister, a daughter, a student, an activist, and now a TEDxUniversity of Delaware speaker!

Chase Dunlap

Chase Dunlap, a 2023 UD graduate, has had a strong passion for public speaking and empowering audiences since the age of 11. Whether it was his fifth grade declamation and oral interpretation performances, the talk show he hosted or the commencement speech he delivered at his high school alma mater, St. Elizabeth, or his presentations about UDance Dance Marathon all over campus and beyond, Chase has had the great honor to speak to (and with) some amazing audiences. He excitedly awaits to continue spreading messages he cares about through TEDx!

Kanmani Duraikkannan

Kanmani Duaikkannan has a passion for fostering connection, understanding, and awareness. 

She was most recently an intern for the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities and hopes to have a career in International Human Rights, using her cultural competence and interdisciplinary knowledge to facilitate global connections and advocate for human dignity on a global scale. They are thrilled to share part of their journey and vision for a more connected and understanding world.

Ryan Jupin

Ryan Jupin is currently a North America IT Financial Analyst at Chubb Insurance, where he helps manage financial operations within the IT sector of the North America. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware, where he earned his degree majoring in finance and minoring in economics, which help lay a solid foundation for his career in finance. At the University of Delaware, Ryan was an active participant in the Blue Hens Leadership Program, an experience that significantly shaped his approach to leadership and teamwork. This program not only enhanced his academic journey but also instilled a deep commitment to community engagement and personal development, which continues to influence his professional and personal life. Outside of his professional life, Ryan is passionate about giving back to his community, where he volunteers weekly at his local food pantry. Additionally, he is an enthusiastic powerlifter, with aspirations to compete on a global stage. Ryan’s diverse pursuits reflect his commitment to excellence, whether in his career, community service, or personal goals.

Jess Monahan

Jess Monahan is a neurodivergent researcher and advocate, who is excited to grace the TEDx University of Delaware stage for the first time! As a first-generation, lower middle-class college student, Jess drove a campus bus full-time, while maintaining excellent grades– with undiagnosed ADHD and Complex Post-Traumatic Stress (C-PTS). She now collaborates with neurodivergent college students to unpack environmental and systemic barriers to success and identify ways to push back on the systems that we exist in. She is excited to share her story of navigating college, inviting the audience to rethink what we consider mental health disorders.

Latoya Watson, Ed.D, M.P.A.

Latoya Watson, Ed.D., M.P.A. is a scholar-practitioner who conducts research in systemic change and education equity. She has over 20 years of experience in higher education and education policy. She currently serves as Sr. Assistant Dean for Co-Curricular Coaching in the College of Arts and Sciences at University of Delaware. She also conducts workshops and conference presentations to empower attendees to lead change in their lives and others.  

Dr. Watson earned her Doctor of Educational Leadership and Master of Public Administration degrees from the University of Delaware. Her research as a master’s student was used each year to apply for federal funding in high needs areas and ultimately used to attain Race to the Top funding for the state of Delaware. Her doctoral research, Equity Mindedness in Academic Advising, informed key changes to University of Delaware’s Associate in Arts Program. In 2019, she was honored by the Delaware ACE Women’s Network with a Rising Star Award. In 2023, she was awarded a Fulbright IEA Fellowship to Germany.

Alyssa Wentzel

Alyssa is an undergraduate honors student studying marine science and public policy at the University of Delaware. As a researcher, Alyssa focuses their work on environmental pollution and environmental/climate justice. Through research and advocacy, they use the lens of intersectionality in order t0 amplify the voices of underrepresented communities in order to help inform a more inclusive environmentalist movement.