Gen Z with Mackenzie

Visual artist and Curator of the Edgar Allan Poe Museum, Chris Semtner has curated and designed critically acclaimed exhibits for museums and galleries across the country. Semtner has also written several books and chapters on topics including Poe, visual art, and crime fiction in addition to contributing articles to Biography.com, Crime Writers' Chronicle, and other publications. He has been interviewed for BBC4, PBS, and NPR and featured in publications including the New York Times and Forbes.com.

Patricia is an Award-winning International Contemporary Artist, Author and Visionary. She is represented by 13 th Street Gallery in St. Catharines, Artworld Fine Art in Toronto, Ontario, FACEC International in France, and Paul Fisher Gallery in Florida. Patricia previously exhibited with BB International Fine Arts in Geneva, Berlin, Korea, Austria, and Zurich. In 2018, Patricia won the Gold Medal in Photography at the SNBA at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris, France.

Felipe Tristan is known for bringing his musical prowess to the stage, whether conducting a symphony, opera, or musical theater. He has performed worldwide and currently is the Associate Conductor of the Brooklyn Symphony, and Conductor at the Manhattan School of Music. What is inspiring about Felipe is the entrepreneurial zeal that led him to collaborate with artists from the Met Opera, NY Philharmonic, and the GRAMMY® winning Afro Latin Jazz Alliance. 1st prize-winner in multiple conducting competitions, Felipe is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive performing arts industry.

Elizabeth Kriesten is an expert in misinformation and extremism, and how they relate to people's discomfort with the more than 30 vaccines, including those for Covid-19. After more than 20 years of studying pseudoscience, She helps people who are influenced by misinformation to understand how they are being psychologically coerced and manipulated, without dismissing their beliefs. She also works with anyone who wants to be able to talk to friends and family members about vaccines and other controversial topics without arguing.

In her role at DropLabs, Ange has led the brand to serve as a nexus for some of the most important conversations in technology: accessibility, individuality, justice. She has instituted partnerships with several voter equity campaigns, spearheaded programs to promote rising Black designers, dancers, filmmakers and activists. As a woman of color, Ange is passionate about diversity in fashion and technology, mission-forward brands and building authentic platforms that redress barriers for equity-seeking groups.

True to her name, Brooklyn-native, Karisma Jay is an honors graduate of LaGuardia High School (Dance) and New York University's Gallatin School (Performing Arts and Pre-Medicine).

She is a City College Mathematics Education Master's certificate Student. Teaching dance since the tender age of 11, she has honed her skills of working with children and adults to develop the confidence and charisma of even the shyest, youngest and/or oldest of students. She has performed/toured with prestigious dance companies such as Brooklyn Ballet, Deeply Rooted, Maimouna Keita, Creative Outlet, Asase Yaa, and Ronald K. Brown's Evidence. Most recently, she won the "Power Women in Business" award for her work as the Artistic Director and Founder of AbunDance Academy of the Arts. Annually, she writes, directs, produces and co-stars in musicals that AbunDance Academy presents.

Dr. Kimya Nuru Dennis is an activist, sociologist and criminologist, educator, trainer, evaluator, and founder and owner of 365 Diversity. 365 Diversity provides results-based services for K-12 schools and colleges-universities, medical-health professionals, businesses, and organizations. Specializations include identities and experiences such as race and ethnicity, gender, mental health, disability, sexual identity and sexuality. 365 Diversity focuses on informal social controls and preventive measures conducive to reducing reliance on police departments and emergency medical-health services.

Dimitri Vorontzov is a New York City-based narratologist (scholar of storytelling), with the main focus on stories for film and TV. A classically trained composer, conductor and pianist, Dimitri Vorontzov also works with select postgraduate-level music students, teaching musical composition, orchestration, advanced music theory, and jazz.

Dr. Sana Shaikh is an expert in organizational theory and behavior. She holds two Bachelors from the University of California, Berkeley in Political Science and Near Eastern Studies with a minor in Global Poverty and Practice. She has two Masters, one in Urban Studies from Johns Hopkins and one in Social Policy and Management from Brandeis University. Her PhD is in Social Policy and Management from the Heller School of Social Policy and Management. Dr. Shaikh has over ten years of experience working in education policy, research, and program management and operations. She is currently the Director of School Operations in Springfield Public Schools. She is also the founder of her diversity, equity, and inclusion company called TimeED - Taking Initiative, Making Equity in Education.

Dr. Katarzyna Tesmer is an award-winning Aesthetic Medicine Specialist and Board-certified Neonatologist with over 37 years of experience. She is the Medical Director of Visage Laser & Skin Care Center in Anaheim Hills, CA, one of the nation's most reputable laser & skincare clinics. Dr. Tesmer pushes the limits of the most advanced treatments on the market. She uses non-invasive, FDA-approved techniques to rejuvenate the skin producing miraculous results. Her mission is to find the most innovative ways to help her patients maintain healthy skin and reach their aesthetic goals. Dr. Tesmer has combined her intensive care background to create what she calls "intensive skin care"