Theme: The Pursuit of the Common Good

Speaker applications are now being accepted for TEDxCNU. Please apply using the link below. Applications must be submitted by November 1, 2025 for full consideration
https://forms.gle/xGu4UENiBTWfHdFw6

Torggler Fine Arts Center
1 Avenue of the Arts
Newport News, Virginia, 23602
United States

Arquella Hargrove

Arquella Hargrove, MBA, is the CEO of Alchemy Consulting Group, helping business leaders build stronger, more effective teams and companies. She is valued for helping teams think strategically and engage in meaningful conversations that allow for reflection and inquiry that lead to change. Before owning her consulting firm, Arquella achieved a senior-level 20+ year corporate career in various industries, serving in senior management roles. She has been “dubbed” a change management agent based on her facilitating visioning, strategic planning, board development, customer service improvement, and performance management sessions. These sessions helped organizations align with their values, clarify goals, and identify obstacles to change. In her role as mediator and coach, she helps people identify the interests behind their positions and identify common ground—coaching senior managers on performance management and effective communication.

Dan Walsh

Dan Walsh Dan Walsh is a two-time Olympian and bronze medalist in rowing, known for his journey from underdog to champion. Growing up in Norwalk, CT, he faced significant challenges as an at-risk youth but transformed his life through determination and a love for competition. His experiences in high school wrestling, where he became a back-to-back FCIAC Champion, set the stage for his collegiate success at Northeastern University. Walsh played an integral role on the Northeastern Huskies rowing team, leading them to impressive finishes against Ivy League rivals. He earned the Most Valuable Oarsman Award three times and was inducted into the Northeastern Varsity Club Hall of Fame. As a member of the U.S. National Team for 12 years, he won several National Championships and competed in the Athens and Beijing Olympics, securing a bronze medal in the men’s eight. Beyond athletics, Dan is the founder of Mettle Factory, focusing on aspirational high-performance content, and is involved with Myrmidon Expeditions, emphasizing personal development through adventure. His commitment to mentoring is evident in his coaching at Maritime Rowing Club, where he led the team to its first National Championship in the Lightweight 4. Dan inspires others to embrace challenges and seek failure as a pathway to self-discovery. His life motto, “Seek out failure—that is where you meet your true self and really discover what you are capable of,” reflects his belief in the transformative power of perseverance."

Daniel Corcoran

Daniel is a recent graduate from Christopher Newport University with a degree in computer science with minors in business administration and leadership studies. Technology has been a huge part of his life since he was a kid rebuilding computers and learning to code at the age of 12. He hopes to use his education to create something beneficial for the world.

Dr. Jess Hench

Dr. Jess Hench began her career teaching elementary school, and she is now a professor of Leadership Studies at CNU. She has presented at conferences, led study abroad, and teaches several courses per semester. She has traveled throughout the world and gotten to know incredible people from all walks of life.

Michael Messeh

Michael Messeh is a current student at Christopher Newport University studying finance, and he hails from Annandale, Virginia

Owen Growney

Owen Growney is a student at Christopher Newport University completing a double major in Finance and Accounting with a minor in Leadership Studies, coming from the PLP program. His professional goal is to become a financial advisor so I can help people/families set themselves up for long-term success.

Paola Zamora

Paola Zamora is an educator and musician with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Kansas State University. She grew up in Kansas and spent two years teaching elementary music while also serving as a marching band assistant. Currently, she works at Soundscapes as a Level One Teacher and Grant Writer, where she combines her passion for music and education to make a meaningful impact.

Savannah Dunn

Savannah Dunn is a senior at Christopher Newport University majoring in Communication Studies with a minor in Digital Humanities Journalism.