Riya Bolander (they/them) is a senior from Marshfield, Wisconsin double majoring in
psychology and vocal performance. In their time at , they have been involved
in a wide range of areas on campus, from performing in operas to working as an orientation
advisor. Currently, they work as a peer mentor lead at the Q-Center, a TA in the choir
program, and as Soprano section leader at a local church. They are a part of the scholars
program, the Lim Lab, and serve as an eboard member for SA organization Sound of .
Outside of academics, they enjoy singing, reading, and spending time with their cats.
Yan Chen
Yan Chen
Yan Chen is a third-year PhD candidate of Industrial Engineering. She earned her bachelor's
degree in Safety Engineering from China University of Labor Relations in 2020 and
a master's degree in Industrial Engineering from in 2021. In
the fall of 2021, she started the PhD program, focussing on the biofabrication of
multiscale vasculature networks for tissue engineering. Leveraging cutting-edge techniques
such as 3D printing, bioprinting and electrospinning. Yan has published five first-author
papers and presented her research at three international conferences.
Madelyn Fried
Madelyn Fried
Madelyn Fried is a freshman at studying Integrative Neuroscience
in Harpur College. Originally from Bergen County, New Jersey, Madelyn was a Gold Award
Girl Scout in High School and a lifeguard during her summers. In addition, she loves
to listen to Taylor Swift and play with her cats. She is so excited to be this year’s
TEDx student speaker.
Erin ReedErin Reed
Erin Reed (she/her) is a transgender journalist based in Washington, D.C.. She tracks
LGBTQ+ legislation around the United States for her subscription newsletter, Erin
In The Morning. Her work has been cited by the AP, Reuters, The New York Times, The
Washington Post, and many more major media outlets.
Eden Read
Eden Robbins
Eden Robbins is a User Experience Design leader within the big tech industry, based
in NYC. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from , earning dual degrees:
a B.S. in Business and a B.A. in Fine Arts. With a distinguished career history, Eden
currently leads Design for the Venmo app at PayPal. This followed her impactful tenure
at Meta, where she contributed to the design of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp
apps. During her time at Avanade, a Microsoft and Accenture Joint Venture, Eden played
a pivotal role in delivering large-scale digital products, across over 12 diverse
industries, for esteemed Fortune 500 companies. Her work has impacted billions of
lives globally, fueled by her deep-seated desire to enact positive change in society.
Johnny Stanton IV
Johnny Stanton IV
Johnny Stanton IV (he/him) is a professional football player and Dungeons & Dragons
nerd. In his mission to be more than an athlete, Johnny uses his platform to shine
a light on causes he is passionate about, from breaking down the barriers of the “jock/nerd”
binary to uplifting LGBTQ+ athletes in the world of professional and collegiate sports.
