Nic Laconico is the Associate Director for Business Engagement in the Division of Development & Alumni Relations, where he leverages his higher education experiences and industry knowledge to increase philanthropic support for the university community. He earned a Master of Education from the Mary Frances Early College of Education and previously served as Director of New Student Orientation and Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions. Nic believes we should overcome societal pressures tied to the concept of dream jobs. His talk challenges the audience to separate their self-worth from their career and encourages them to redefine success by focusing on dream experiences, relationships, skillsets, and beyond.

As a licensed psychologist, business consultant, facilitator, and speaker, Dr. Reuben Faloughi is dedicated to empowering emerging leaders to unlock their full potential.
He received his bachelor’s degree from the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences while starring on the Georgia football team. He went on to earn a PhD in psychology at the University of Missouri, where he gained national notoriety for his student activism on campus.
People-pleasing tendencies often hinder us from living our lives to their full potential. Instead, imagine a world where more people love themselves selfishly as a means to serve others selflessly.

Dr. Abby Sterling serves as the Director of Manomet’s Georgia Bight Shorebird Conservation Initiative, dedicated to preserving shorebird populations along the Atlantic Flyway by increasing public attention to the Southeast. She earned her PhD studying shorebirds from the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. As one of the world’s most migratory groups of animals, shorebirds play a vital role in coastal protection and connecting us to a global ecosystem. With an eye for conservation, Dr. Sterling challenges our choices and how they impact the habitats that surround us.

As a legally blind photojournalism student, Samantha Hurley has brought a unique perspective to the field that redefines perception and proves that there is no singular way of seeing the world. She has brought new perspectives to various publications, including her coverage of the Paris Paralympics for the Associated Press and contributions to The New York Times and The Guardian.
Samantha takes the stage to share how photography enabled her to embrace the power of her unique perspective, inspiring others to do the same. Her talk encourages us to imagine what is possible when we act as experts in our own stories, shaping our narratives around our experience over expectations.

As an Ecology and Environmental Law student, Michael Rainwater researches sacrifice zones, Indigenous ecology, water sustainability, the water-energy nexus, and environmental ethics. Inspired by his aunt’s experience with groundwater contamination in Nassau County, NY, Michael is committed to revealing how pollution affects vulnerable communities and advocating for their resilience. He aspires to become an environmental attorney to join the fight against climate change and ensure every community thrives with dignity and respect. Michael takes the TEDxUGA stage to shed light on Environmental Justice Zones that suffer from severe pollution and neglect, and to emphasize the need to support these areas to achieve net-zero emissions and enhance climate resilience.

After breaking free from addiction, Chanda Santana used her lived experience to establish the DIVAS Who Win Freedom Center. As a non-profit organization based in Athens, GA, DIVAS is dedicated to supporting women overcoming addiction, sex work, and trafficking. Every day, Chanda and the Divas team advocate for creating systemic, collective change that ensures survivors don’t just survive but truly thrive. With nearly two decades of personal transformation and professional excellence, Chanda uses her time on the TEDxUGA stage to explore how recovery from trauma and exploitation can be transformed by reclaiming joy as a path to healing, empowerment, and meaningful change.