Theme: All Hands on Deck

In today’s social climate, we need “all hands on deck” to address the vast number of issues that have been exacerbated by the Pandemic, including racial injustice, climate change, socioeconomic inequalities, and more. In order to rebuild and make progress on these challenges, many of which have hit home at UConn, we need inspirational individuals from diverse backgrounds to synthesize their different skill sets. Substantial change doesn’t come from one individual, it comes from collective community engagement. Sharing insights regarding how individuals display leadership will provide context into how our community can make these changes and move forward – but it requires “all hands on deck.”

Oak Hall, Rm #101
363-367 Fairfield Way
Storrs, Connecticut, 06269
United States

Frank Mruk

Founder and Executive Director of the NY Center for Strategic Innovation

Frank Mruk is an architect and technology strategist. He is a founder and executive director of the NY Center for Strategic Innovation, the Boston Center for Smart Building Technology and is a Senior Director of Building Innovations at NRMCA. He was educated at Pratt Institute, Pace University and at the University of Oxford. He has taught Architecture at the School of Visual Arts, the Rhode Island School of Design, Roger Williams University, the Parsons School of Design, New York University, and at the New York Institute of Technology where he served as associate dean for the School of Architecture and Design and has been a visiting critic at the United Nations, Oxford Brooks University, the University of Chile, the Fashion Institute of Technology, Columbia University, Yale University and at MIT. He also taught at RISD, NYU, Parsons, SVA, and RWU.

Matthew Dicks

Elementary School Teacher

international bestselling author of novels. When not hunched over a computer screen, he fills his days as an elementary school teacher, storyteller, blogger, wedding DJ, minister, and marketing and speaking consultant. He has been teaching for 24 years and is a former West Hartford Teacher of the Year and a finalist for Connecticut Teacher of the Year. Matthew is a record 56-time Moth StorySLAM champion and 9-time GrandSLAM champion whose stories have been featured on their nationally syndicated Moth Radio Hour and their weekly podcast. Matthew is also the founder and artistic director of Speak Up, a Hartford-based storytelling organization that produces shows throughout New England and Speak Up Storytelling, a podcast on storytelling.

Nicole Muthoni

Educational Technology Consultant

Nicole Julie Muthoni is an aspiring educational technology consultant, a social entrepreneur, and social impact advocate. Born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, Nicole came to the United States five years ago to pursue her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a focus in Infant and Child Research.

Nidhi Nair

Student at the University of Connecticut

Nidhi Nair is a senior at the University of Connecticut pursuing a dual degree in Economics and Mathematics-Statistics. She is passionate about studying the complex dynamics of socioeconomic mobility in the United States, and using these determinants to understand the declining American Dream. In the past, Nidhi has conducted economic analysis at the Brookings Institution, the Cato Institute and the UC Berkeley Labor Center. As the first Schwarzman Scholar from the University of Connecticut, Nidhi will spend a year in Beijing exploring Chinese intergenerational mobility.

Samuel Kocurek

Student at the University of Connecticut

Sam Kocurek is a senior from Shelton, Connecticut pursuing a dual degree in Mathematics and Environmental Science and a dual minor in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies. He is the president and founder of the Soil and Water Conservation Society UConn Chapter, the treasurer of EcoGarden, a UConn@COP27 Fellow, a research aide with Dr. Davis in EEB and Dr. Kuzovkina in PSLA, and the Senior Resident Assistant at Charter Oak Apartments. (etc)