TEDxVCU Ripple brought together VCU community members with a range of experiences and interests to explore fascinating ideas worth spreading. This event provided an interdisciplinary look at the changing world around us through varied TEDx Talks, alongside a dance performance and a video art piece, and built lasting connections in our community.
Dr. Somaya Albhaisi is a Palestinian Physician-Scientist-Social Entrepreneur with interests in the study of liver diseases, public health and innovation. She is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine and currently serves as the Interim Associate Chief of Research in the Division of Hospital Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). Dr. Albhaisi is the Founding Director of the VCU Registry of SARS-CoV-2 (VCU-RS). She is also the Founder of Research4Life (R4L) scholar program in the Department of Internal Medicine; an initiative to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in academic medicine. Named a ‘Gazan Sunbird of New Palestine’, Dr. Albhaisi seeks to advance science in Palestine and advocate for Palestinian physicians and scientists from Gaza.
Isabel Dingus is currently pursuing her undergraduate studies at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she is on the verge of completing her degrees in both Anthropology and Interior Design. As a designer, she believes that the built environment serves as a tangible reflection of a society's ethos, values, and socio-political narratives. For her, the interaction between space and cultural principles is a key element in understanding the complex relationship between design and cultural identities. With this understanding she is dedicated to creating design solutions that authentically resonate with users, ensuring both functionality and cultural relevance.
Dr. Rebecca Gibson is an Assistant Professor in the Anthropology unit of the School of World Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University. Her research interests vary widely from corseting and skeletons, to robot/human romance and sex, to zombies and gender, and she is particularly proud of her original course on the anthropology of tea. After a dozen years of trying to connect disparate symptoms, she was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a genetic collagen production disorder. She is glad to be able to share her disability journey with the TEDxVCU community, but considers her disability to be the least interesting thing about her. When not teaching or writing, she can be found reading mystery and sci-fi novels on a pile of stuffed animals.
Vivian Johns is an undergraduate student at VCU studying Biology and Psychology, intending to enter the medical field. She is a research assistant for the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study at VCU, where she works with twins in health studies. When she isn’t scribing or volunteering at her rescue squad, she’s singing in the Cathedral choir on campus or volunteering for elementary school kids. She forever appreciates the support of her Richmond community!
Shruti Syal is a systems researcher with 12 years of research experience and 10 years of teaching and advising students on human-environment interactions in India, U.S., Canada, and Oman. She found her way to Systems research via Biology, Environmental Studies, and Planning. Her research expanded from studying the intersection of WaSH infrastructure, institutions, and ‘informality’ in an Indian megacity to the study of cities as systems and universal infrastructure access as key to enhancing their resilience.
Sherwood is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, ordained minister and alum of both VCU and Virginia Union University seeking to bring about change by bridging the gap between spirituality and behavioral health. He currently serves as the Clinical Director of Developmental Pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, community-embedded (adjunct) faculty for the VCU School of Social Work and an Associate Minister at the Cedar Street Baptist Church of God. Sherwood prioritizes the power to be found in community in which he enjoys membership in the National Association of Black Social Workers - Richmond chapter, National Association of Social Work, the VCU African American Alumni Council mentoring circle. Sherwood, a Richmond native, proud husband, father and son expresses great interest in the study of intergenerational trauma and looks forward to every opportunity to aid in both social and spiritual development across the generations. Two of the greatest lessons gleaned during Sherwood’s journey in which he seeks to pass forward are to trust the process and the African philosophy of Ubuntu - I am because we are!
Yasmine is a multimedia artist from Northern Virginia specializing in animation and video. She graduated from VCUarts Kinetic Imaging in 2023. She uses both traditional and experimental techniques in her work, oftentimes utilizing color, music and humor to connect with her audience.
Nira earned her Master’s and B.S. in Economics and B.A. in Political Science at VCU. She is currently a Senior Research Assistant at the Federal Reserve Board of Governors in the International Finance division. Nira is a Bharatanatyam dancer under the tutelage of Dr. Janaki Rangarajan since 2009 and has been a classically trained dancer for 18 years. She is also a classically trained Carnatic vocalist and alumnus of national award-winning A Cappella group the Notochords of VCU. During her time on the Notochords, she won Best Choreographer and Best Videographer at the 2021 Mid-Atlantic Quarterfinals of the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA). Throughout every progressive step of life, art has been a constant presence and passion she hopes to continuously foster.
