TEDxUMiami

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Adriana de Moura

  Adriana de Moura is best known as the “Brazilian bombshell” on the Bravo’s hit television show— The Real Housewives of Miami. However, Adriana’s true passion is her career as an art dealer. From a very tender age, Adriana was introduced to art by her grandmother who was a painter. After being influenced by her grandmother’s artwork, the Brazilian native pursued her education to study abroad in Paris at the Sorbonne University, studying French art and Civilization. Additionally, she studied Italian art in Florence and Rome in Italy. Adriana has traveled to more than 58 countries, visiting renowned museums and galleries around the world. De Moura has represented many international artists and has worked on several art events in Rome, Monte Carlo, Stockholm, and London. Adriana is also fluent in five languages; Portuguese, English, Spanish, French and Italian. She also sings in all five languages and has a bilingual new single titled “Fyah” out on Spotify. This new song will be her fourth recorded song. She has composed and sung the theme song for The Real Housewives of Miami’s television show, as well. The song, “Feel the Rush” is now available on iTunes. Adriana is currently recording a new song with the iconic latin music producer and 22 time grammy-winner Emllio Estefan - who has produced the biggest names of latin music such as Shakira, J.Lo, Rick Martin, and his wife Gloria Estefan. Classical music is another passion of hers as she attended a classical piano conservatory while growing up in Brazil. She is also a philanthropist and next month Adriana will perform a classical piano concert to raise funds for her charity of choice— Angels for Humanity— an organization that helps impoverished children through health and education. As an avid learner, she is a firm believer in the power of education and is pursuing her third degree; a Masters in Psychology at Harvard. “My grandmother always said: “The needs of your spirit are greater than material needs; always choose love over money and peace over greed." Adriana will be filming the her 8th season of the Real Housewives of Miami this Fall.

• Charmaine Mukurazhizha

  Charmaine Mukurazhizha is a Zimbabwean-born journalist, storyteller, and media creative passionate about elevating narratives at the intersection of culture, faith, women’s empowerment, food, and sports. Born and raised in Harare, she brings a global perspective shaped by her journey from Zimbabwe to Miami. A graduate of the University of Miami’s Master of Journalism program, she now works at WSVN-TV Channel 7 as a writer and previously reported for UMTV’s Sports Desk, News Break, and Pulse. A two-time published author, Charmaine is devoted to stories of resilience, community, and hope. She is deeply committed to advocating for women, especially survivors of domestic violence. A proud member of the National Association of Black Journalists, she is also a Wine Spectator Scholar and Dewight Lauderdale Scholarship recipient. Charmaine ultimately aims to become a CNN correspondent and New York Times bestselling author. She loves golf, Formula 1, and spending time with family

• Etienne Atangana

  Etienne Atangana is a senior neuroscience major at the University of Miami. He has conducted neuroscience research at prestigious institutions such as Yale and Caltech and has presented his work at national and international conferences. He runs a TikTok page that has received millions of views through his video series that breaks down scientific papers for a general audience. Etienne values mentorship, having spoken at multiple events to offer guidance to younger students and provided one-on-one mentorship to several neuroscience students. He is currently applying to PhD programs with aspirations of becoming a university professor and leading his own research lab.

• Marizú Weller Rios

  Marizú Weller Rios is a passionate and purpose-driven second-year student at the University of Miami, originally from Guatemala City, Guatemala. After graduating high school, Marizú immediately focused her energy on service initiatives. Having found her passion for serving others since a young age, she wanted to share her love for service with others who had not experienced the impact it creates. She founded her own non-profit, Service Central Guatemala, which organizes monthly volunteering activities to promote civic engagement and volunteerism among youth in Guatemala. Service Central has now organized over 2 dozen volunteerings, with over 200 youth volunteers from multiple schools and universities. Her major service initiatives include founding the weeklong yearly recurring Service Camp, being co-founder of school service fairs, and collaborating in a Service Learning program at the school she graduated from. Marizú is also a servant leader locally, through her university involvements. She currently serves as External Co-Chair for the Miami Day of Service, Co-Involvement Chair for the Committee on Student Organizations (COSO), Outreach Liaison in Student Government, Editor for Pi Sigma Alpha, and is part of the Civic Scholars program. You can always find her at the William R. Butler Center for Volunteer Service and Leadership’s activities. She believes she can only do so much serving as an individual, and hopes that through her work and initiatives she can plant the seed of service in other’s hearts in order to multiply the impact on the communities around her. Marizú's dedication to servant leadership shines through her impactful work, aiming to be a beacon of positive change in her community and beyond.

• Messiah Godfried Majid

  Messiah Godfred Majid is a Stamps Scholar and international student from Accra, Ghana, studying Mathematics, Computer Science, and Biology at the University of Miami. His academic work focuses on the intersection of computational biology and biotechnology, particularly how emerging technologies can accelerate drug discovery and improve the efficacy of existing treatments. On campus, Messiah founded and serves as President of ColorStack UM, a chapter of the national organization dedicated to empowering students of color in tech through community building, professional development, and access to technical and career-building resources. He also serves as a First Year Fellow and facilitates the university's First Year U leadership development program, is Assistant Director for the Student Government Academic Liaison Council, and coordinates Miami Day of Service, the university's largest service initiative. His commitment to fostering peer growth and expanding volunteer opportunities earned him the 2025 Robert Bates Cole Award for Volunteer Leadership.

• Naz Usman

  Naz Usman is an architectural designer and visual thinker exploring the intersection of design, culture, and human experience. With a foundation in fine arts, she approaches architecture as a narrative practice—one that shapes identity, behavior, and the emotional texture of everyday life. Her work focuses on contemporary architecture, spatial storytelling, and the transformative potential of curated environments. Through research, drawing, and material exploration, she seeks to understand how spaces communicate and how design can foster connection, clarity, and well-being. Naz is passionate about reimagining the role of architecture in a rapidly shifting world and is committed to creating spaces that feel both culturally resonant and deeply human. She continues to expand her practice through interdisciplinary collaboration and a belief in design’s power to spark change.

• Nicole Lopez-Alvar

  Nicole Lopez-Alvar is a Miami-born journalist and cultural storyteller known for spotlighting the people, restaurants, and communities shaping South Florida. She is the Food Editor at Miami New Times, where she covers dining, chefs, and the city’s evolving food identity. Prior to that role, she worked as a digital journalist with WPLG Local 10 News and WSVN 7 News, reporting on breaking news and culture across the region. A University of Miami School of Communication alumna, Nicole brings a sharp editorial voice, deep local perspective, and a true love for the stories behind what we consume.

• Olga Lykova

  Olga Lykova is a partnerships executive, keynote speaker, and podcast host known for helping businesses scale through strategic partner ecosystems. She serves as Head of Partnerships, North America at monday.com, where she leads growth and go-to-market strategy through alliances. Over the last decade, Olga has built and managed global partner teams that contributed 50–80% of revenue across multiple organizations, including extensive experience within the Salesforce ecosystem and partner-led acquisitions. She is also a contributor to Forbes Business Development Council and the founder of the Rules to Thrive platform, where she shares practical frameworks for performance, resilience, and modern leadership.

• Ronald L. Jackson II

  Dr. Ronald L. Jackson II is Professor and Chair of the Department of Communication Studies at University of Miami, and former Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at University of Cincinnati. He is currently Director of the Communication PhD Pipeline Program, a national mentoring initiative developed to diversify the communication professoriate. Additionally, he is Past President of the National Communication Association. Besides being a recipient of International Comic-Con’s Will Eisner Award for Distinguished Scholarship, Dr. Jackson is an International Communication Association Fellow and National Communication Association Distinguished Scholar. Dr. J, as students affectionately know him, is an award-winning author of 19 books and more than 90 publications related to the study of masculinity, identity negotiation, race, and culture. Dr. Jackson earned his B.A. and M.A. from University of Cincinnati, and a Ph.D. from Howard University, and has previously held faculty appointments at Penn State University, University of Illinois, and University of Cincinnati prior to joining the faculty at University of Miami in 2024

• Sam Heft

  Sam Heft is a sophomore Foote Fellow Honors student from Wynnewood, Pennsylvania studying Psychology and Economics. His work explores how worldviews, culture, and behavior shape mental health and meaning, drawing from neuroscience, anthropology, philosophy, and theology. On campus, he mentors first-year students and tutors calculus at the Camner Center. Sam intends to pursue graduate training in clinical psychology, with particular interest in cognitive-behavioral approaches and humanistic–existential frameworks

• Zanolee Grant

  Zanolee Grant is an independent filmmaker and researcher from Roatán, Honduras, currently based in South Florida. In her work, Grant utilizes oral history, family archives, and community-owned vernacular photography to explore themes such as migration, collective memory, and identity.