Keynote & Featured Speakers

 

Keynote Speakers

Asmeret Asefaw Berhe, PhD 

Professor of Soil Biogeochemistry & Ted and Jan Falasco Chair in Earth Sciences and Geology | University of California, Merced 

The Honorable Dr. Asmeret Asefaw Berhe, a Professor of Soil Biogeochemistry and Falasco Chair at the University of California, Merced, previously served as Director of the United States Department of Energy’s Office of Science. Dr. Berhe’s pioneering work bridges the disciplines of soil science, geochemistry, global change science, and political ecology. Her research aims to improve our understanding of the soil system’s role in regulating the Earth’s climate and the dynamic two-way relationship between soil and human communities. Dr. Berhe is a passionate advocate for inclusive excellence in science and education. She holds the distinction of being an elected member of the United States National Academy of Engineering and a Fellow of both the American Geophysical Union and the Geological Society of America.
 

Donna María Blancero, PhD 

Professor | Bentley University 

Donna María Blancero (she/ella) is a professor of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Management. She recently served as Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost at Bentley University, where she also held roles as Dean of Business and Dean of the Graduate School. Her work is grounded in a deep commitment to social justice, inclusive leadership, and equity. A Fellow of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Donna María has received numerous honors, including the Brillante Award for Hispanic Education, the National Black MBA Diversity Educator Award, and Bentley University’s MLK Leadership Award. She earned her PhD from Cornell University and has been a long-standing faculty member of The PhD Project. Since 2009, she has served as a facilitator and curriculum designer for the LPSLI Leadership Institute, helping shape underrepresented leaders in science. She is also the founding editor of The Business Journal of Hispanic Research and a national speaker on topics such as Hispanic leadership, unconscious bias, emotional and cultural intelligence, and DEIJ. She is the author of Hispanics at Work and is currently co-authoring a DEI textbook with Dr. Erin Kelley, under contract with Sage Publications.
 

Lt. Governor Joshua F. Tenorio 

Joshua "Josh" F. Tenorio is the 10th elected Lieutenant Governor of Guam and a driving force behind some of the island’s most transformative initiatives. Since taking office in 2019, he has led efforts to modernize government operations, revitalize village infrastructure, and invest in sustainable development. With a sharp focus on the future, Lt. Governor Tenorio is working to grow Guam’s economy with better-paying jobs, expand youth and treatment programs, and break the cycle of poverty and homelessness. A hands-on and solution-driven leader, he chairs the Islandwide Beautification Task Force, the Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Guam Hazard Mitigation Committee, and the Guam Product Seal Task Force. He also co-chairs the Guam Green Growth Steering Committee and oversees the Guam State Clearinghouse. His leadership has been recognized nationally with the Seven Seals Award and the Energy and Environmental Stewardship Award by the National Lieutenant Governors Association and Baker Hughes. Tenorio also represents Guam on the global stage, serving as Vice Chair of the Aerospace States Association and on the boards of the NLGA and the Global Island Partnership. As the first openly LGBTQ+ Lieutenant Governor in the U.S., he continues to be a visible advocate for inclusion, equality, and human rights.

 

Featured Speakers

Kevin M. Alicea-Torres, PhD 

Dr. Kevin Alicea-Torres, born and raised in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, is a cancer immunologist, principal investigator, and science communicator dedicated to advancing research and education on the island. A proud product of Puerto Rico’s public schools, he earned his B.S. in Microbiology from the University of Puerto Rico at Humacao and his Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Pennsylvania, where he conducted cancer immunology research at The Wistar Institute. Dr. Alicea-Torres has played a key role in establishing three SACNAS chapters—at both student and professional levels—and is an alum of the Linton-Poodry SACNAS Leadership Institute. His leadership reflects a long-standing commitment to building inclusive scientific communities. He currently leads a research lab at UPR Humacao focused on cancer immunology and science communication. He has held leadership roles in NSF- and HHMI-funded education programs and was the first scientist from Puerto Rico placed at El Nuevo Día through the AAAS Mass Media Fellowship. He also serves as president of the AAAS Caribbean Division and chairs the AACR Cancer Immunology Working Group’s Communication Committee. A cofounder of Caminos en Ciencia, he is dedicated to making science more accessible and expanding opportunities for future scientists from underserved communities.
 

Nicole Cabrera Salazar, PhD

Dra. Nicole Cabrera Salazar (she/they), is an astrophysicist turned social impact entrepreneur whose lived experience—as a queer, disabled, neurodivergent Latina and first-generation scholar—fuels her mission to dismantle barriers in STEM. As founder and CEO of Movement Consulting, she partners with universities and research labs to address systemic injustice through evidence-based interventions and human-centered design. Her services encompass strategic DEI consulting, leadership coaching, climate assessments, and immersive training programs that integrate social-emotional learning with anti-oppression frameworks. Her flagship course, From Intent to Impact (I2I), trains faculty and early career academics to recognize and mitigate microaggressions, cultivate authentic relationships, and design mentorship frameworks that uplift historically marginalized students. A prolific speaker and thought leader, Dra. Nicole has impacted thousands of academics on their journey of social consciousness. She has delivered invited talks, panels, interviews, and keynote speeches through platforms such as SXSW, TEDx, mitú, and her own podcast, The Daily Radical. Dra. Nicole’s interdisciplinary approach synthesizes organizational psychology, critical race theory, and evidence-based pedagogy to catalyze systemic transformation within academic institutions. Through Movement Consulting, she continues to advance equitable innovation by equipping leaders with the skills and mindset to create thriving, just communities.
 

Jessica Hernandez, PhD (Binnizá & Maya Ch'orti) 

Dr. Jessica Hernandez is an Indigenous scholar, environmental scientist, and community advocate based in the Pacific Northwest. Internationally recognized for bridging Indigenous science with Western research, she advances climate and environmental justice while centering Indigenous rights, sovereignty, and knowledge systems. Her work spans across Latin America and Eastern and Western Africa, where she champions Indigenous land rights and ecological stewardship. As the founder of Earth Daughters, an Indigenous-led nonprofit, Dr. Hernandez supports transnational Indigenous women and youth through mutual aid, climate justice, and grassroots organizing. She is the best-selling author of Fresh Banana Leaves: Healing Indigenous Landscapes through Indigenous Science, a groundbreaking book that uplifts Indigenous ecological knowledge. Her upcoming book, Growing Papaya Trees: Nurturing Indigenous Solutions for Climate Displacement, is set to be released in November 2025 and continues her mission to amplify Indigenous responses to global climate challenges. Dr. Hernandez’s visionary leadership at the intersection of science and advocacy has earned widespread acclaim. In recognition of her impact, Forbes named her one of the 100 most powerful and influential women in Central America. Her voice continues to shape policy, scholarship, and grassroots action around environmental justice and Indigenous self-determination.
 

Tim Ryan, Eminent Scholar (Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribes)

Tim Ryan grew up spending a great deal of time exploring the mountains and valleys in and around the Flathead Reservation and extended homelands of his tribes. Tim is currently employed as the department Chair of Culture and Language Studies and Indigenous STEM instructor for the Salish Kootenai College Native American Studies Division lending experiential learning on subjects of culture and science. Along with Tim’s fulltime position at the college he is Project Supervisor for the summer youth program called Mission Mountain Youth Crew performing forest restoration with career tract exposure in the natural resource fields. Previous to this position Tim was a business partner for 8 years in an archaeological firm called EthnoTech and was field supervisor of a crew of 8-10 persons. Before launching his archaeological firm Tim joined the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Historic Preservation Department as the supervisor of archaeological field survey. Tim’s experiences with his elder’s teachings, and his decades-long study of traditional ecological knowledge, ethnobotany, and indigenous sciences, combined with his extensive experience in field archaeology, brings a unique quality and perspectives to his teachings and outdoor experiential opportunities.

 

Emcee 

Priscila Nieves-Otero, PhD 

Priscila Nieves-Otero is a scientist with a diverse background in biology, policy, and science communication. Originally from Puerto Rico, Priscila traveled to Georgia to pursue a B.S. in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Middle Georgia State University. She completed her education at Kansas State University, obtaining a Ph.D. in Biology where she researched the effects of bacterial communication at the molecular, organismal, population, and ecosystem levels. Currently, she serves as a Manager of Innovation Readiness within Corporate Affairs at Eli Lilly and Company. She supports the Cardiometabolic Health team where she works at the intersection of research, policy, communication, and advocacy. Outside of work, Priscila enjoys engaging in STEM communication and community outreach, traveling, hiking, cooking, and exploring cuisines from around the world. She has been a SACNAS member for 7 years, having served as founder and vice-president for Kansas State’s K-SACNAS Chapter, presented her research at the NDiSTEM conference in 2019, is an alumnus of the Linton-Poodry SACNAS Leadership Institute in 2024, and was keynote speaker for SACNAS CareerCon in 2025.