Theme: (Un)Knowing

Our theme this year is Unknowing. We associate the following with our theme: the unknown, uncharted, undiscovered, or unlearned. The unprecedented events of 2020 made it clear to us the importance of innovation and adaptation in such an uncertain future. We are looking for our speakers to share ideas from a variety of fields that bring us closer to that place of unknowing.

Ring Family Performing Arts Hall (Tentative)
45 Wyllys Ave
Middletown, Connecticut, 06459
United States

Abby Govindan

Stand-up Comedian, Writer

Abby Govindan was in her junior year at Fordham University when she launched her comedy career by making her debut at Caroline’s on Broadway in New York City in December 2017. Since then, she has performed stand-up all over the country and toured internationally, including headlining a national college tour at the age of 21. She has also performed on various renowned stages, such as Carolines on Broadway, Eastville Comedy Club, Stand Up New York, and Dynasty Typewriter.

Alford Young

Professor of Sociology, Afroamerican and African Studies, and Public Policy at University of Michigan

Professor of Sociology, Afroamerican and African Studies, and Public Policy at University of Michigan. Professor Young received a degree in Sociology, Psychology, and African American Studies (with honors) at Wesleyan University in 1988. With a primary interest in urban poverty and social hierarchy, Professor Young has pursued research on low-income, urban-based African Americans and African American scholars and intellectuals. Employing an ethnographic interview method to collect data, his principal scholarly objective has been to explore how the social experiences of African Americans shape the emergence of worldviews, belief systems, and ideologies.

Candace Nelson

Pastry chef, TV personality from Cupcake Wars and Sugar Rush, angel investor

Candace Nelson is an entrepreneur, angel investor, pastry chef, TV personality and NYT best selling author. Candace created a new category of food retail with Sprinkles Cupcakes and emerged as America’s sweetheart on Food Network’s Cupcake Wars and Netflix’s Sugar Rush.

Doug Berman

Award winning producer of Wait Wait Don't Tell Me and Car Talk

Two-time Peabody Award winning producer Doug Berman led NPR’s expansion into comedy, creating shows enjoyed by millions of listeners over many decades. Starting with Car Talk in 1980’s, and later with Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, he created a style of entertainment he calls “not a complete waste of time.” He started his career working for NPR News, editing for NPR All Things Considered and NPR Morning Edition, and launched Car Talk on NPR while serving as News Director at WBUR 90.9 FM in Boston. He lives in Oakland, California.

Emily McEvoy

2021 Student Speaker Competition Winner

Emily is a passionate student of social theory and an organizer with Middletown Mutual Aid Collective and in Connecticut at large. She works for the Middletown Youth Services Bureau and is a student coordinator of the Wesleyan community service program, Wesleyan x North End Action Team (WesNEAT). Emily is committed to combating elitism and insularity in the University setting, and building solidarity between University students and the surrounding town. Having grown up in Waterbury, CT, and currently living in Middletown, Emily is committed to making her state a place where people have the resources to lead and create for themselves and their own communities. In her free time she enjoys contemporary and hip hop choreography, studying music production, taking care of plants, and traveling to hidden gems around the state with friends!

Eugene "Gato" Nsengamungu

2020 Student Speaker Competition Winner

Gato Nsengamungu Eugene is a sophomore (’23). I grew up in Songorero--a small village in the northern part of Rwanda--in a family of 4 children. I am the third child of my family though technically I am the second (I have an elder sister, had a twin brother, and a younger sister. I am the younger one of the twins, making me the third child). In my early education, I went to different schools both in Rwanda and Uganda, but the current ones are Ecole Des Science de Musanze and Bridge2Rwanda, both in Rwanda. At Wesleyan, I am a prospective major in Physics and Government with a certificate in Applied Data Science.

Field Yates

NFL insider for ESPN and Host of Fantasy Football Now

NFL insider for ESPN and Host of Fantasy Football Now Field Yates was a two-sport athlete and psychology major at Wesleyan. Mr. Yates helps lead ESPN’s NFL and fantasy sports coverage as an NFL Insider for ESPN and is the co-host of the network’s Fantasy Focus Football podcast. In his current role, Mr. Yates focuses on poring over and interpreting players’ statistics, which he described as "central arteries of fantasy football”. While it is hard to project matches due to the inherent difference between predictions and results, Mr. Yates’ keen insight into sports and interpersonal skills motivate him to keep a positive mindset and to face the long odds.

Fitzroy "Pablo" Wickham

Jamaican Rhodes Scholar 2021 & 2021 Student Speaker Competition Winner

Fitzroy ‘Pablo’ Wickham is a Jamaican-born Wesleyan undergraduate double majoring in Neuroscience and Theatre with a minor in Chemistry. He is a research assistant in the Naegele Lab at the Wesleyan University conducting stem cell research to treat temporal lobe epilepsy in mice. On campus, he also serves as a Head Resident for Residential Life, Senior Class President, Honor Board/Community Standards Board member and is also involved in the Basal Gang, Wesleyan Minority Association of Premedical Students (WesMAPS), student theatre and the Jamaican Heritage Club, YAADI. His aspirations are to become a neurosurgeon, researcher and actor. He is the Jamaican Rhodes Scholar for 2021.

Rob King

Senior Vice President and Editor-At-Large ESPN Content

Rob King majored in English at Wesleyan, where he also ran track and was on the basketball team. After joining ESPN for 16 years, Rob was named Senior Vice President and Editor-At-Large ESPN Content in March 2020. In this new role, Rob acts as an advisor to ESPN’s leadership team and coordinates complex editorial issues. He also ensures ESPN’s journalistic excellence through the development of company-wide content projects and leading the content division’s journalistic direction.