Theme: Innovation

TEDx New River is a celebration of innovation and the human drive to solve complex problems. Our speakers come from diverse disciplines and bring fresh perspectives on how ideas are born, refined, and transformed into real-world impact. This event invites us to examine the habits, mindsets, and breakthroughs that fuel progress—and challenges us to rethink what’s possible in our own work and communities.

NSU MUSEUM OF ART
1 E Las Olas Blvd
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 33301
United States

Kevin Parry

Stop-Motion Animator & Video Wizard

Kevin Parry is a Canadian stop-motion animator, magician, and visual effects creator with 15+ years in the film industry. Born in Northern Ontario, he graduated from Sheridan College's Animation program in 2010, where his short film "The Arctic Circle" won Best Character Animation and was praised by Tim Burton. He animated at LAIKA on Oscar-nominated films including "Kubo and the Two Strings," "The Boxtrolls," and "Missing Link." Now based in Toronto, Kevin has built a social media following of 9+ million across platforms, creating viral stop-motion content and "mind-bending illusions." He produces scroll-stopping ads for major brands like Listerine and Malibu Rum, teaches animation courses, and runs YouTube tutorials. His innovative approach combines traditional stop-motion with digital post-production, earning recognition as a leading creator in contemporary animation and social media content.

Loren DiGiorgi

Pianist

Loren DiGiorgi is a pianist, humorist, and composer who began classical training at age five. Known for musical antics like playing songs in reverse, blending melodies, and reimagining classical pieces in jazz styles, he delights audiences by weaving random song requests into harmonious medleys. With hundreds of thousands of followers across TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube, Loren has composed hundreds of songs since writing his first at age seven and securing his first copyright at twelve. His production tracks appear in music libraries across the US, UK, Canada, and Australian television. He consistently releases new music on streaming platforms and Bandcamp, with sheet music available for purchase. His journey exemplifies creativity, dedication, and the joy of sharing music with the world.

Nancy Segal

Professor of Psychology

Dr. Nancy L. Segal is Psychology Professor and Director of the Twin Studies Center at California State University, Fullerton. She holds degrees from Boston University (B.A.) and University of Chicago (M.A., Ph.D.). Author of 300+ scholarly articles and 11 books, including award-winning "Born Together-Reared Apart" and recent works "The Twin Children of the Holocaust" and "Gay Fathers, Twin Sons." Her research has been featured in major media including NYT, Atlantic Monthly, Oprah, CNN, and NPR. She received the 2005 James Shields Award for Lifetime Contributions to Twin Research and was named one of Orange County's 100 Most Influential People. She appears in Netflix's "The Accidental Twins" (2024) and serves as consultant to twin research in Brazil. Currently writing books on twin relationships and career narrative.

Pascale van Kipnis Caplow

Ballerina

Pascale van Kipnis was born in New York and began ballet training at age eight with the School of American Ballet, performing in children's roles with New York City Opera and four years in Balanchine's The Nutcracker. She became an NYCB apprentice in 1991, joined the corps in 1992, and was promoted to soloist in 1999. Chosen by Jerome Robbins for her first principal role in 1992, she danced principal and soloist parts in numerous Balanchine and Robbins ballets including Apollo, Midsummer Night's Dream, Dances at a Gathering, and Symphony in C. After retiring in 2007 following 15 years with NYCB, she moved to Miami where she raises four children including triplets. She teaches at Miami City Ballet School, Belvoir Ballet summer intensive, and maintains a home studio.

Phyllis Dennery

Physician

Dr. Phyllis A. Dennery is the Sylvia Kay Hassenfeld Chair of Pediatrics at Brown University's Warren Alpert School of Medicine and Pediatrician-in-Chief at Rhode Island Hospital/Medical Director at Hasbro Children's Hospital. She holds a B.S. from McGill University, M.D. from Howard University, completed pediatric residency at Children's Hospital National Medical Center, and neonatal-perinatal fellowship at Case Western Reserve. Elected to the National Academy of Medicine (2014) and Association of American Physicians (2015), she served as President of Society for Pediatric Research and International Pediatric Research Foundation. Her research focuses on neonatal lung injury mechanisms, with clinical interests in jaundice, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, prematurity consequences, and perinatal health disparities. She leads an NIH-funded pediatric clinical trials network.

Rick Guidotti

Photographer

Rick Guidotti is an award-winning photographer who worked in NYC, Milan, Paris, and London for high-profile clients including Yves St Laurent, Revlon, and L'Oreal. His work has appeared in GQ, People, American Journal of Medical Genetics, The Lancet, Washington Post, Atlantic Monthly, and LIFE Magazine. In 1997, a chance encounter with a young woman with albinism at a NYC bus stop changed his artistic direction. Struck by her beauty but appalled by dehumanizing medical textbook images of genetic conditions, Rick founded POSITIVE EXPOSURE to challenge traditional beauty standards and celebrate human diversity. For over 25 years, he has collaborated internationally with advocacy organizations, NGOs, medical schools, and universities to transform societal attitudes toward individuals with genetic, physical, behavioral, or intellectual differences.