Theme: Important Connections

2016 is the first year Stockton will host a TEDx conference. Since Stockton has been designated by the Carnegie Foundation as a Community Engaged Institution, it was instinctive to include the local community in this opportunity.

To showcase Stockton's commitment to community engagement, the TEDxStocktonUniversity Organizing Committee decided on the theme of “important connections” for the 2016 conference. This theme encompasses a broad range of possible topics and perspectives. From connections between neurons in the brain to an institution’s impact on its local community; from the harmony that is an orchestral piece to the ins and outs of international economics. The conference speakers bring a variety of insights to this theme.

Stockton University Campus Center Theatre
101 Vera King Farris Dr.
Galloway, New Jersey, 08205
United States

Alexander Meyers

Undergraduate Student, Psychology major, Stockton University

Alexander Meyers, an undergraduate in his fourth semester at Stockton University, is pursuing a BA in Psychology, with a concentration in elementary education leading to teacher certification. Currently in the Honors program, Alex sits on the e-board for Stockton’s chapter of the student-lead mental health advocacy group, Active Minds. His TEDxStockton presentation was inspired by his struggle to overcome obsessive compulsive disorder and by his realization that connecting to the world around him opened up a path to psychological wellbeing.

Daniel Douglas

Director, William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy, Stockton University

Daniel J. Douglas is the Director of the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy. Prior to joining the Hughes Center, Mr. Douglas served as Policy Advisor to the Governor and as Assistant Commissioner of Personnel for the State of New Jersey. He has also worked at three universities, the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, an e-learning company, the New Jersey Legislature, a public interest association and a public opinion research firm. Mr. Douglas earned a BA and a MA from Rutgers University and was a Fellow at the Eagleton Institute of Politics. Teaching Literature with the

Donnetrice Allison

Associate Professor of Communication Studies, Stockton University

Dr. Donnetrice C. Allison, currently Associate Professor of both Communication Studies and Africana Studies at Stockton University in Galloway, New Jersey, teaches courses on topics of race and media. She has published articles on Black professors at Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs), hip hop culture, and media portrayals and is heavily involved in issues of diversity at Stockton. In 2016, Dr. Allison edited Black Women’s Portrayals on Reality Television: The New Sapphire, published by Rowman & Littlefield.

Elizabeth Lacey

Assistant Professor of Marine Science, Stockton University

Dr. Elizabeth Lacey, Assistant Professor of Marine Science at Stockton University, has a BS, MS, and PhD in Biological Sciences, with a concentration in Marine Science. Her research is on coastal ecosystem health and restoration, from coral reefs and seagrass beds to all the critters that inhabit them. Dr. Lacey teaches classes in marine biology, marine botany, and marine conservation at Stockton in addition to field courses in the Florida Keys and on a remote island off the coast of Panama.

Joel Caplan

Associate Professor, Rutgers University School fo Criminal Justice and Deputy Director, Rutgers Center on Public Safety

Dr. Joel Caplan is an Associate Professor at Rutgers University School of Criminal Justice and Deputy Director of the Rutgers Center on Public Security. As a professor, he melds the strengths of several disciplines to build new methods and techniques for the analysis of crime and criminal behaviors. Dr. Caplan earned a PhD in Social Welfare Policy from the University of Pennsylvania and has professional experience as a police officer, 911 dispatcher, and emergency medical technician, experience which gives him a unique and practical research perspective. He specializes in applying geospatial technology to actionable scholarship and, in partnership with agencies in the US and around the world, is leading cutting-edge research on matters of public safety and national security.

Lewis Leitner

Professor of Business Studies -- Management, Stockton University

Dr. Lewis Leitner has taught in Stockton University’s Psychology and Business Studies programs and served as Dean of the Schools of Social and Behavioral Sciences as well as Graduate and Continuing Studies. His teaching and research focus on leadership, strategic planning, organizational excellence, customer service, entrepreneurship, total quality management, stress and anxiety, and future trends. His TEDxStockton presentation examines forthcoming digital developments and their impact on our lives.

Lydia Fecteau

Adjunct Faculty Member, Stockton University and Atlantic Cape Community College

Lydia Fecteau has been an adjunct at Stockton University since completing her MA in 1996. She teaches writing and literature courses, specializing in the fields of Disability Studies and Pop Culture. Her interest in Disability Studies has led to a number of conference presentations. In addition to teaching writing and literature at Stockton, Ms. Fecteau also teaches English courses at Atlantic Cape Community College (ACCC). Recently, she was promoted to Senior Adjunct at ACCC, and her fellow Stockton professors nominated her a Distinguished Adjunct.

Nazia Kazi

Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Stockton University

Dr. Nazia Kazi is an anthropologist whose work focuses on race and difference in the United States. She earned her PhD at the City University of New York, her MA at Columbia University, and her BA at Northwestern University. Originally from Mumbai, India, she has lived in Dubai, Chicago, and New York City. Dr. Kazi has conducted ethnographic research on Muslim American advocacy groups, examining what it means for Muslims to ask for “legitimacy” – or the right to belong – in the heart of empire. She teaches courses on topics of race and inequality at Stockton University and currently lives in Philadelphia.

Sarah Roman

English Teacher, Raritan High School, Hazlet, New Jersey

Sarah Roman teaches Honors English and Advanced Placement Literature at Raritan High School in Hazlet, New Jersey. She currently runs a paperless classroom with the GAFE Suite and promotes a collaborative and rigorous atmosphere. In turn, she has introduced a wide variety of higher-level technology in her classes, elevating students’ goals and reinventing their approaches to literature.