Speaker Bio and Talk

Eitan Ezor is a computer science student originating from Long Island, New York. Possessing incredible creativity, Eitan dreams of becoming a video game developer to share his ideas with the world. He also dabbles in other artistic pursuits such as writing, drawing, acting, and most recently, live-action roleplaying. After struggling with debilitating social anxiety for many years, Eitan found roleplay to be an exceptional outlet to express himself and meet new people. He hopes to share his experiences with others struggling in these trying times.

Michael is a senior at Binghamton University studying business administration with a concentration in entrepreneurship. He is also an avid member of the Bing Ideas Club, Mafia Club, and Cheese Club. As a Binghamton local, hailing from Endicott NY, he enjoys nights out on the town (usually ending with the 3 for $10 at Chili’s), karaoke, and playing board games with friends. Outside of leisure and academics, Michael works hard as the student coordinator for Launch Pad GBSC, a local high school entrepreneurship competition. He hopes to inspire young minds to follow their ideas & dreams. Michael aspires to one day run his own business, and will soon be working towards his MBA.

A light-hearted individual with an intense passion for advocating for all people of color, Elisse Howard uses her voice as a Black, Afro-Latinx woman in higher education. As a member of the Latin American Student Union at Binghamton University, she fights for equity and justice in her local community and fellow students. She hopes to become a therapist and eventually have her own foster home.

Amid a global environmental crisis, Ivo Kennedy reflects on his seemingly incompatible love for both the natural world and the vibrant character of city life. A graduate student studying Public Health, he considers how urban agriculture can turn gray skylines green and help us reach environmental sustainability in energy demanding cityscapes.

Humza Khan is a Binghamton University junior from Lynbrook, Long Island studying mathematics. Fascinated by the inner workings of the human experience, his primary goal at the moment is to attend medical school, although he is never one to limit himself in his ambitions. Khan hopes to one day use his voice to become a leader in the field of medicine and makes it a point to leave his own original mark in all his endeavors, whatever they may be. As a TEDx speaker, Khan is excited to share some remarkable psychological insights from his team's research regarding productivity that can directly help many, many people (and debunk a commonly held belief in the process).

Sara McCann is a researcher on the Binghamton Student Managed Adderall Research Team (BSMART). She has a keen interest in learning the effects that illicit drug use has on the brain. Through BSMART, McCann works to educate others on the dangers of illicit Adderall use, which primarily involves discrediting the misconception that Adderall increases academic performance. Post-graduation, McCann hopes to continue pursuing her passion for healthcare research while working as an RN. She is especially passionate about providing equity of patient care regardless of socioeconomic status or access to resources, and hopes to address these issues upon entering the healthcare field. While being heavily involved in science-based organizations on campus, McCann tends to her creative side through writing, and she is a news writer for Pipe Dream. In her spare time, McCann loves playing the piano, and has also taken to teaching herself how to play the ukulele during quarantine.

Yiqing Lu is an international student from China studying linguistics. Bringing a bright smile and warm personality wherever she goes, Yiqing has ambitions of becoming an interpreter. She is very enthusiastic about various voluntary activities, as well as maintaining her autobiographical website in China. With a long-term struggle of overcoming eating and psychological disorders, she is currently finding internal peace with the support of others and her own strength. Hoping to become someone who loves and enjoys life on a day to day basis, Yiqing intends to eventually speak for China on the international stage.

Rachel Murat has been an educator at Maine-Endwell High School for 25 years and is the 2020 New York State Teacher of the Year. Throughout those years she has taught classes in grades 9-12, including AP Government and Politics, Digital Citizenship, Digital Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Economics, Global History, US History GSuite, Sociology and Psychology. She earned her Bachelor’s from Ohio University in 1995 and her Master’s from Binghamton University in 2001. She has been featured in several publications, including Ozy Media, for her work in the field of Digital Citizenship. She is a co-author of DigCitKids: Lessons Learning Side-by-Side, to Empower Others Around the World. She is very active on social media and views it as a way to break down the traditional limitations of professional development and a means to connect both her students and classroom to the world. She is the Founder and President of M-EALS and Leadership, a federally recognized 501c3 nonprofit district food pantry system that feeds over 100 district families with weekly home deliveries of food.

Kaly Otero is a passionate scholar, poet, feminist, mother, and advocate for change. In the face of controversy, she generally finds quite a lot to talk about. Simultaneously navigating between ideals and experience, Kaly desires an authentic reevaluation and representation of women, sex and tradition. She lives by the saying, “If I can, I must.”