meet our speakers!
We have an incredible lineup of speakers who will be discussing a wide range of topics in relation to Cultural Exchange. Read on to learn all about them!
This information is also available on our Instagram in English and Spanish.
Cadence
Pentheny
Cadence Pentheny (they/them) is TCC’s passionate Community & Corporate Learning Coordinator, with a demonstrated commitment to supporting the LGBTQ community through training and education. They hold a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and a Graduate Certificate in Human Sexuality through the University of Minnesota. Upon graduating, they served two years with the AmeriCorps program City Year, where they supported students in an under-resourced elementary school. Before joining the team at TCC, they worked as Coordinator for LGBTQ+ Programming & Initiatives at the University of Mississippi, doing a wide variety of work involving intersectionality, diversity, equity, and education, especially around LGBTQ+ issues and sexual and gender justice. They enjoy thrifting, making art, writing, reading, listening to podcasts, and fussing over their plants in their free time.
Leia Lowery
Leia Lowery is the co-founder of The Climate Initiative, a national nonprofit aimed to empower youth voices for climate action, where she serves as the Deputy Executive Director and Head of Programs and Partnerships. Leia has over 25 years of experience in education, curriculum development, and community engagement. She has been a speaker and trainer at many national and state conferences. Her insight led to innovative programming, winning the Gulf of Maine Council Visionary Award in 2019 and the National Land Trust Alliance featuring some of these programs in their magazine. With a master's degree from Virginia Tech and a background in agriculture, Leia advocates building stronger communities by connecting people through their local landscape and shared history. To her, it is the key to inspiring action and building hope for solutions to the climate crisis.
Myles Henneghan
Myles Henneghan is a senior at the Center for Global Studies. He will be attending Westminster College in PA in the fall, with a Major in Accounting and a Minor in Music. Myles is the drumline captain for the school’s marching band, winning 2 state championships and 2 awards in Best Percussion. He also plays the drums for the drama club and the jazz ensemble. Aside from music, playing lacrosse is his other passion. In high school, Myles plays short-stick defensive midfield. He has committed to play at Westminster where he’ll be playing Long Stick Defense. He will be joining TEDxYouth@CGS both as a charismatic host and as a talented performer.
Rose Reyes
Rose Reyes is a Biliteracy Specialist for an elementary school in the Windham District in Connecticut and has been in bilingual education for over 20 years. She is a graduate of Cornell University; has studied at Columbia University and the University of Connecticut attaining a Masters Degree in Bilingual Curriculum and instruction and membership in Pi Lambda Theta, the professional honor society for educators. She was a part of the inaugural cohort of teachers participating in “Proyecto Cordero Belpre '', an immersive cultural education teachers’ institute in Puerto Rico. She is a Vice President of her local union chapter and an elected official on the Windham Town Council on her second term where she has advocated for equity and support for the community. She’s been an invited speaker and host for numerous rallies and special events across the state pertaining to education equity. She’s a founding member of Connecticut Public School Advocates and an invited leader for Connecticut BATs and a committee member for Uniting to Save Our Schools and United to Save Windham Hospital.
As a staunch supporter of bilingual education and equity she works to support the tenets through policy advocacy, community engagement and working directly with students in the classroom.
Sajak Upadhyahya
A talented software engineer currently working for Dynata, Sajak Upadhyahya has a strong background in computer science and programming with a Master of Science in Computer Science from the University of New Haven. His expertise extends across various domains, including web development, database management, and cloud computing. Interestingly, he grew up in a small town called Siraha in South Eastern Nepal with no access to computers until he was a teenager. He will be joining TEDxYouth@CGS to share the value of overcoming obstacles to pursue a career path you are passionate about, especially in a field where your voice adds to cultural diversity and reduces the potential for bias.