Assistant Professor of Teacher Education and Campus Director of the Call Me MiSTER Program, Honors College at SC State University Dr. Rashad Anderson serves as an Assistant Professor of Teacher Education, Campus Director of the Call Me MiSTER Program, and holds a teaching appointment in the Honors College at SC State University. Central to his work is engaging…
DetailsPoets Melania-Luisa Marte is a first generation American writer and performer. She was born in the Bronx and raised in the Lower East Side of New York City. Her multi-cultured upbringing inspires her to write about navigating the world as a native Spanish speaker of Black Dominican descent. She has performed in universities and venues across the country. Her…
DetailsLeader of Sun King Warriors and Assistant Professor at Saint Francis University Jim Donovan M.Ed., Leader of the band Sun King Warriors and Assistant Professor at Saint Francis University, is an inspirational performer and educator who believes in the power of music to bring people together. Over the past three decades, Donovan has performed thousands of concerts…
DetailsInternationally Known Speaker on Gender Equity, LGBTQ Advocacy and Human Understanding Dr. Paula Williams is an internationally known speaker on gender equity, LGBTQ advocacy and human understanding. She is the Pastor of Preaching and Worship at Left Hand Church in Longmont, Colorado. Paula has been featured in the New York Times, the Denver Post, New Scientist, Radio New…
DetailsWorld War II Veteran Sir Bill Engel is a knighted World War II veteran, whose family escaped from Nazi Germany before the war. Bill was the loving partner of Esther Bauer, a holocaust survivor who spoke around the country with Bill at her side. After her death at the age of 92 in November 2016, Bill discovered…
DetailsFounder of the iconic comedy empire The Onion; Public Relations and Marketing Authority With The Onion, Scott Dikkers created the original “fake news” platform and grew it into one of today’s most recognized comedy brands. He shares his experiences in how being committed to a unique vision—and standing firm in the face of seemingly impossible…
Cell Block Feminist, Hip Hop Artist & Co-founder of Initiate Justice Richard Edmond-Vargas, aka Richie Reseda, questions concepts of patriarchy while inspiring powerful conversation about topics in cellblock feminism, mass incarceration and restorative justice. In April 2018, Richard was featured in the CNN documentary The Feminist on Cellblock Y, which highlighted his unlikely but impactful…
Siddhi Shah Public Relations & Sponsorships Captain Siddhi is the PR Captain for the Mark Conference this year. She is a junior studying Computer Science with a minor in Statistics. Her main tech interests lie in working in Data Science or Artificial Intelligence. Although fairly new to the LEx Department, Siddhi became a part…
Shreeya Sawant Energizers & Fundraising Captain Shreeya is the Energizers Captain and Intern for the 2020 Mark Conference. A senior double majoring in Cell Biology and Neuroscience and Psychology, she hopes to fulfill her dream of becoming a physician after she graduates from Rutgers this year. Shreeya began her leadership journey as a Camp…
Michael Vinciguerra Human Resources Captain Michael Vinciguerra is a senior studying Mechanical Engineering with a double major in Computer Science. A child at heart but a diligent worker in the mind, Michael loves nothing more than to challenge friends to games and share a laugh over a meme. When Michael isn’t running around campus…
Kyle Comito Conference Logistics Captain Kyle is the Conference Logistics Captain of the 2020 Mark Conference. He is a junior in the School of Engineering at Rutgers studying Civil Engineering and minoring in Geography. Aside from the Mark Conference, Kyle has been an Assistant Director for the Rutgers University Programming Association (RUPA), a Scarlet…
Khadijah Azam Transformation of Space Captain Khadijah is one of the Conference Experience Captains for the 2020 Mark Conference. She is a sophomore in the Rutgers Business School majoring in Supply Chain Management and Marketing with a concentration in Global Business. Khadijah is also currently a Peer Mentor for the Leadership Living Learning Community…
Cristina Umanzor-Alvarado Digital Public Relations Captain Cristina is the Digital PR Captain for the 2020 Mark Conference. She is a junior majoring in Exercise Science with a minor in Health and Society. She has been involved with the Department of Leadership and Experiential Learning even before her freshman year started when she participated in…
Anthony Grosso Transformation of Space Captain Anthony is the Conference Experience captain for the 2020 Mark Conference. He is a junior majoring in Information Technology and Informatics with a Game Production and Innovation Specialization. He hopes to pursue a career focused around Game Design as video games is one of his passions. He was…
Alyssen Rivers Ignite Captain Alyssen Rivers is the ignite speaker captain for the 2020 Mark Conference. She is a senior Political Science and Communication double major. Along with being a McNair Scholar Alyssen has been part of the Leadership and Experiential Learning Department in different capacity’s specifically as a retreat leader, ambassador and intern.…
Aiza Nageeb Speaker Logistics Captain Aiza Nageeb is a senior double majoring in Public Health and Information Technology Informatics. She transferred from her local community college where she was the president of the international honors society, Phi Theta Kappa. Along with a team, she worked to eradicate food insecurity by opening Helping Hands, the…
Aja Monet Caribbean American Poet, Performer, and Educator Aja Monet’s poems are wise, lyrical, and courageous. She was awarded the legendary Nuyorican Poet’s Café Grand Slam title and has been internationally recognized for combining her spellbound voice and vivid poetic imagery on stage. In 2018, Aja Monet’s first full collection of poetry, My Mother Was A Freedom Fighter,…
John & Mark X. Cronin Founders of John’s Crazy Socks John’s Crazy Socks is a father-son venture inspired by co-founder John Lee Cronin, a young man with Down syndrome. John’s affinity for crazy socks paired with his love of making people smile made our mission clear: we want to spread happiness. They have a social…
Kate Sweeney is a Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor and founding partner of The Sweeney Group. As a top industry professional, Kate provides highly personalized advice to busy professionals and multi-generational families, with an emphasis on individuals experiencing sudden wealth, such as winning the lottery or selling a business. Her comprehensive approach includes a…
John Noltner John Noltner has been telling stories with words and images for twenty years for national magazines, Fortune 500 companies, and non-profit organizations. His work has appeared in National Geographic Traveler, Forbes Magazine, Midwest Living, and the New York Daily News, among other publications. Throughout his career, Noltner has managed logistics for editorial and commercial clients, both…
Kristina Wong Performer, Writer, Cultural Commentator and ‘Eco-Comedian’ Kristina Wong was recently featured in the New York Times’ Off Color series “highlighting artists of color who use humor to make smart social statements about the sometimes subtle, sometimes obvious ways that race plays out in America today.” She is a performance artist, comedian and writer…
John was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York by his single mother. At age 14, John was charged with the murder and attempted murder of two NYC Correction Officers in Brooklyn in 1991. He was convicted in a high-profile case at the time based upon the testimony of one eyewitness. John was released on…
Toshia Shaw was like an ordinary girl, until one night, her life completely changed. She was stopped in a parking lot outside of a club and later forced into sex slavery. Toshia’s story explains her life as a human trafficking victim, but more importantly, she talks about her life after. As a survivor of the…
Ken E. Nwadike, Jr. Ken E. Nwadike, Jr., is a peace activist, motivational speaker, and video journalist known as the Free Hugs Guy online. Nwadike Jr is the founder of the Free Hugs Project, which produces motivational videos to spread love, inspire change, and raise awareness of social issues. His ‘Free Hugs’ videos have reached…
Jim Donovan Jim Donovan M.Ed., Leader of the band Sun King Warriors, Assistant Professor at Saint Francis University, is an inspirational performer and educator who believes in the power of music to bring people together. Over the past three decades, Donovan has performed thousands of concerts and learning events across the US and Europe. As…
Chris Temple From living in a tent in a Syrian refugee camp to working as radish farmers and surviving on $1 a day in Guatemala, Chris Temple is an award-winning humanitarian, activist, and filmmaker. Alongside Zach Ingrasci, his co-founder of Living on One, Chris has received widespread acclaim as a bold storyteller and compassionate leader…
Monique Klitbo Human Resources & Sponsorships Captain Monique is the Human Resources and Sponsorships Captain and Intern for the 2019 Mark Conference. She is a senior majoring in Economics with a double minor in English and Philosophy and wants to go to law school. Monique was first introduced to the Department of Leadership and…
Jenna Kim Conference Experience Captain Jenna is the Conference Experience captain for the 2019 Mark Conference. She is a junior double majoring in Cognitive Science and Information Technology and Informatics. She hopes to work in technology either in User Experience Research or User Interface Design. She began her journey in the LEx Department…
Steven Hayes Ignite Captain Steven is a senior, studying Philosophy and Political Science, and is the Ignite Captain for the 2019 Mark Conference. He discovered the Department of Leadership through their summer retreats, Camp U-Knight and the Discovery Program, and over the next three years, has taken every chance he could get to experience…
Stefan Luong Conference Logistics Captain Stefan is the Conference Logistics Captain for the upcoming Mark Conference. He is a junior studying Industrial and Systems Engineering and minoring in Economics. On campus he is also involved with Engineers Without Borders, Habitat for Humanity, and the Learning Assistant program. While on breaks, Stefan loves to travel,…
Alyssa Rivers Speaker Logistics Captain Alyssa is the Speaker Logistics Captain for the 2019 Mark Conference. She is a junior majoring in Communications with a specialization in Public Relations, and minoring in International and Global Studies while learning French. She is also the Assistant Director for Dancer Relations for the 2019 Dance Marathon, a…
Bridget Zarych Conference Experience Captain Bridget is a Senior studying Communications with a specialization in Leadership in Organizations and Community and minoring in Psychology and Women and Gender Studies and is the co-Conference Experience Captain for the Mark Conference this year. Bridget is an Apartment Assistant on the College Avenue campus in the Sojourner…
Kate O’Keeffe Digital Public Relations Captain Kate is the Digital PR Captain for the 2019 Mark Conference. She is a sophomore at Rutgers Business School, majoring in Business Analytics and Information Technology. She was a member of the Leadership Living Learning Community as a freshman and is now a part of the Community’s Sophomore…
Gali Zaborowski Public Relations Captain Gali is the PR Captain for the Mark Conference this year. She a junior studying Psychology and Women’s & Gender Studies, and is part of the Douglass Residential College and the Honors College. Gali is excited to be teaching a FIGS course this Fall and continue her involvement in…
Emily Woods Energizers Captain Emily is a senior, studying Theater and Psychology and minoring in Women’s & Gender Studies, and the Energizers Captain for the Mark Conference this year. She has recently started to love cats, and is having problems with coping with that as a self-identified “dog person.” She also is active in…
Angelo Pinto Senior Attorney Angelo Pinto joined Advancement Project in 2016 to work on both the School to Jail House work as well as our emerging campaign on policing. With over ten years of experience working in the youth justice and criminal justice arenas, working directly with system impacted youth, conducting research and leading…
Tamika D. Mallory National Co-chair for the Women’s March Tamika D. Mallory is an esteemed social justice leader, advocate, activist and mother. A New York City native, this fiery, outspoken organizer has remained a consistent fixture in the civil rights movement for nearly 20 years. Tamika’s focus on civil and human rights issues includes…
Fraidy Reiss Founder and Executive Director of Unchained At Last Fraidy Reiss was 19 when her family arranged for her to marry a man who turned out to be violent. But with no education or job, in an insular religious community where only men have the right to grant a divorce, she felt trapped. Still…
Josh Rossi Commercial Photographer and Viral Philanthropist Josh has been named one of the top 200 best digital artists worldwide by Lurzer’s Archive and his clients include Warner Bros, Acura, Nickelodeon and Adobe. He has done work for Daymond John, Glenn Beck, the Bieber’s and Lindsey Stirling. In the last 18 months, his photo…
Rowaida Abdelaziz Journalist at Huffpost Rowaida Abdelaziz is a journalist at Huffpost, where she focuses on reporting on social justices issues within the Muslim community. Abdelaziz spearheads the coverage of Islamophobia and the rising anti-Muslim sentiment across the U.S at Huffpost. Her goal is to provide guidance for diverse coverage of the Muslim community in…
Patrice Banks Former Auto Airhead and Founder of Girls Auto Clinic Patrice Banks is disrupting the automotive industry with her inspiring and energetic message of “educating and empowering women through their cars!” Patrice an engineer and automotive technician, created a movement that inspires women, the #1 customer in the auto industry to change the…
Lexi & Alyse Scaffidi Creators of BiteSizedFitness & The Body Confident VS Fashion Show We are 2 sisters from NJ who love fitness, fashion and helping others. We created an online company called “BiteSizedFitness” to help promote body confidence through a healthy lifestyle. In October, we released a recreation of the popular Victoria’s Secret Fashion…
Nyle DiMarco Winner of America’s Next Top Model and Disability Rights Activist Nyle DiMarco, winner of “Dancing with the Stars” and “America’s Next Top Model,” empowers audiences to believe they can do and be anything they want in life, no matter the obstacle. He won the mirror ball trophy on ABC’s Dancing with…
Stephanie Klemons Stephanie is Associate Choreographer and an Original Cast Member of Broadway’s smash hit HAMILTON! Along with the company she helped lead the show to it’s record-breaking 16 Tony Nominations and 11 wins, including one for Best Choreography. The cast album also broke records, making it to #1 not only on the Musical chart,…
Griffin Matthews and Matt Gould Creators of Invisible Thread Invisible Thread takes place in 2005 Uganda when Matthews arrives as a volunteer from New York City to help build a village school and escape his church’s probing into his sexuality. But when he falls into a complicated relationship with a group of destitute, orphaned teenagers,…
Clint Smith Acclaimed Spoken Word Poet, Award-winning Educator Clint Smith is a writer, teacher, and doctoral candidate in Education at Harvard University with a concentration in Culture, Institutions, and Society. He is a recipient of the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship with research interests that include mass incarceration, the sociology of race, and the…
Dan Parris & David Peterka Traveling Documentarians Dan Parris and David Peterka created a documentary film What Matters?, a feature length documentary about three friends, two idealistic Christians and one skeptic Atheist, attempting to live in extreme poverty (on $1.25 a day) across 3 continents. The adventure takes a devastating turn when they survive a…
Kimberly A. Brown Founder of ManifestYourself.com Kimberly A. Brown is an entrepreneur, speaker, and career and leadership coach. Her personal and professional development company, Manifest Yourself, LLC, provides in-person and virtual workshops, trainings, and coaching to professionals looking to lead a dynamic career and life. Through her experience as a career development adviser in some…
Alex Rosado-Torres Alex Rosado-Torres is History major with a minor in Education and his hometown is Newark, New Jersey. Alex is a first-generation college student who has a passion for urban education and student development. Currently, he serves as an RA for the Latin Images LLC, works with the Leadership and Experiential Learning Department as…
Laura Zottarelli Laura Zottarelli is a proud alumni of Bergen Community College and successfully transferred to Rutgers University in the Fall of 2016. She describes the Department of Leadership and Experiential Learning as her Rutgers’ family. This department has not only helped her transition into Rutgers, but also influenced her personally and professionally. She is…
Nainika Paul Nainika Paul is a School of Arts and Sciences senior and Douglass woman majoring in Political Science and double-minoring in International and Global Studies and Women and Gender Studies. She is currently a member of RUSA Allocations, an Institute of Women’s Leadership Scholar, as well as an Eagleton Undergraduate Associate. She is also…
Farah Elattar Farah Elattar, School of Arts and Sciences ’19, is a Philosophy and Cinema Studies double major, with a minor in French. She is in the SAS Honors Program, and has been on the Dean’s list since her first year of school. She is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and…
Thalia Contreras Thalia Contreras is a fourth year student at Rutgers University majoring in Biology, and minoring in Nutrition and Africana Studies. Her pre-med track has her focused toward a future career as a Medical Examiner, which she plans to do autopsies for the FBI. Alongside her studies her activism on campus includes being the…
Angelica Flores-Valencia Angelica Flores-Valencia is a Junior and a transfer student at Rutgers University double majoring in Political Science and Planning and Public Policy. She is part of the Douglass Residential College and the RU Undocumented Club. Angelica plans to attend law school after finishing her undergraduate in order to pursue a career in immigration…
Christie Schweighardt Christie Schweighardt is majoring in Health Administration in Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy and minoring in Digital Communications, Information, and Media. She is currently Vice President of the Rutgers University Student Assembly and also helps plan Rutgers Relay For Life, which is a 14-hour fundraiser for the American Cancer…
Husein Jauhari Husein Jauhari is a junior majoring in Business Analytics and Information Technology and has a deep interest in the data/IT industries. On campus, he is involved in a diverse mix of organizations, including his role as Treasurer of the International Student Association and a Consultant for the Office of Information Technology. In his…
Allysa Kemraj Allysa Kemraj is a senior majoring in Cognitive Science and Minoring in Music. She is currently researching Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a rare disorder that afflicts her, and hopes to pursue an MD/PhD in order to devote her life to patients with rare diseases like herself. Her goal is to participate in as many organizations…
Ms. Iana J. Daniels An active duty Major in the U.S. Army who breaks the stigma of mental health Ms. Iana J. Daniels is an active duty Major in the United States Army with over 19 years of service. She is currently a Construction Program Manager at the United States Army Central Command, at Shaw…
Monti Washington Author and Motivational Speaker Monti travels across the nation speaking to college students on topics spanning from education to leadership, and diversity. As a speaker, Monti has spoken to and mentored thousands of students nationwide. He has delivered motivational presentations for high school assemblies, associations, and universities. Monti’s passion for helping students stems…
Ben Worobey Energizers Captain Ben is a senior, studying neuroscience and minoring in Spanish, and the Energizers Captain for the Mark Conference this year. When he’s not studying, Ben enjoys hiking, traveling, and trying out new recipes. He also conducts biomedical research pertaining to alcoholism, is the treasurer of the Rutgers Orthodox Christian Fellowship, and…
Stella Khezri Digital Public Relations Captain Stella is the Digital Public Relations Captain for the Mark Conference, and is double majoring in Psychology and Communication, and minoring in Statistics. She then hopes to earn an MBA in Marketing, to one day obtain a management role in an advertising agency. In addition to being a LEx…
Jasmine Renee Lopez Experience Captain Jasmine is a junior majoring in Biological Sciences in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS). In addition to being the Mark Conference Experience Captain, Jasmine works as a dental assistant and insurance coordinator at a pedodontist office, and is president of the Rutgers Pre-Dental Society. After completing her…
Ria Rungta Logistics Captain Ria is a senior majoring in Genetics and the LEx Conference Logistics Captain for the 2018 Mark Conference. Originally from India, she transferred to Rutgers in her sophomore year to pursue her passion in the field of genetics. She hopes to make a difference in people’s health-care by exploring and redefining…
Kristy Li Public Relations Captain Kristy is the Public Relations LEx Mark Captain. She is a senior majoring in Supply Chain Management and minoring in Labor Studies, specializing in Law and the Workplace. Being an strong introvert, she found it hard to succeed in leadership positions. Through the Department of Leadership and Experiential Learning, she…
Erika Rears Speaker Logistics Captain Erika is a senior majoring in German, hoping to pursue a career in Human Resource Management after graduation. She is the LEx Mark Captain in charge of Speaker Logistics for the 2018 Mark Conference. In addition to her involvement with the Department of Leadership and Experiential Learning, Erika founded Troop…
Tristen Wallace Captain Tristen is a junior currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in Marketing and is largely interested in the art of photography and managing businesses. With experience in many leadership roles around campus and in his career, he has already began to manage in many different facets and industries. Not only focused on school…
Anthony Tellez Resources Captain Anthony is a senior at Rutgers University double majoring in Psychology and Human Resource Management. In addition to serving as a LEx Mark Conference Captain, Anthony is also involved in the Rutgers University Student Assembly, New Student Orientation and serves as a resident assistant on the Livingston campus. Following graduation, Anthony…
