Theme: Miracles in the Spirit

Each year, TEDxBU hosts an interdisciplinary event to unite speakers and attendees across the BU community to discuss ideas, wherever they may stem from. This year’s theme, continuing from a partnership with the Howard Thurman Center, is Miracles in the Spirit.

Howard Thurman Center
808 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts, 02215
United States

Addison Cummings

Undergraduate Student at Boston University

Addison Cummings is a journalist and media entrepreneur dedicated to making news more accessible and engaging for Gen Z. A Boston University and Kilachand Honors College student with a degree in Communications and a minor in Innovation & Entrepreneurship, she is passionate about bridging the gap between traditional journalism and the digital era. With experience at Fox News, Channel 9 News, and as Co-Executive General Manager of BU’s student television network, Addison has covered politics, culture, and technology, focusing on how media can better serve young audiences. She has produced news segments, interviewed industry leaders, and explored new ways to tell stories that inform and inspire. She is also involved in Fello, a startup that connects people through shared experiences, furthering her interest in community-driven storytelling. Her TED Talk examines the future of journalism, the power of storytelling, and how the next generation can reclaim truth in an era of misinformation.

Andrea Catania

Graduate Student at Boston University

Andrea is a food justice advocate and culinary creative working to build food systems that are truly equitable for people and the planet. She was born, bred, and buttered in Central New York and is a proud, first-generation graduate of The Culinary Institute of America. Since then, she has spent her career working across a variety of food and beverage operations positions in the Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Denver areas. Most recently she completed a master’s degree in Gastronomy at Boston University where she concentrated in Food Policy. Her roles in activism, research, and community engagement have allowed her to contribute to several social impact projects related to farmers’ market reform, urban food access, and environmental sustainability in university dining halls. When she’s not busy spotting fellow left-handers in TV and movies, she can likely be found reading, hiking, or trying regional dishes throughout her travels.

Bermina Chery

Undergraduate Student at Boston University

Bermina M Chery is an undergraduate senior at Boston University studying Political Science and African American and Black Diaspora Studies. Born in Boston and raised in Mattapan, she demonstrates great pride in the coalescence of her identities as a Black Bostonian of Haitian descent. As an adolescent, Chery constantly toiled with conceptualizing the manifestation of injustices and why they occur. It was this constant struggle that cemented her entry into local youth political activism, particularly within the environmental sector. From her participation in climate protests to her past role as the Director of the Climate Action committee on the Boston Mayor’s Youth Council, Chery found hope for the future in advocating for marginalized communities. Today, she hopes to inspire others, especially young people, to use civic engagement and activism as their weapon against incomprehensible unjust realities.

Bridget Stuger

UX Designer

Bridget Stuger is a user-experience professional who designs educational technologies. She draws upon her M.S. in media science from Boston University to create inclusive, data-driven products. As an avid reader, activist, and lifelong learner, Bridget infuses curiosity into every aspect of her life, from writing to traveling. Her works combine universal design practices with her B.A. in political science, also from Boston University, to better understand how the online world shapes our day-to-day lives.

Frank Possemato

English Instructor

Frank Possemato is a writer and teacher at Cosumnes River College and Boston University. He is the first generation of his family to attend college, and has taught at some of the nation's most diverse community colleges. He writes poetry and fiction and loves having fun with his wife and young daughter, hanging out with his brother and being outside. He grew up in Boston.

Gemma del Carmen

Law Student at Boston University

Gemma del Carmen is a third year law student at Boston University School of Law. Gemma is originally from Arlington, Texas and received her Bachelors in Political Science and Psychology from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. While in D.C., Gemma interned on Capitol Hill, worked in political opposition research, and served as Student Body Vice President. Since attending law school, Gemma has worked in-house for a fashion company, worked in health law litigation, and worked at the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. After graduating in May and (hopefully) passing the bar exam, Gemma will clerk on the First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston and then join a big law firm in its litigation department. In her free time, Gemma throws at her local pottery studio, sews, needlepoints, and spends time with her friends thrifting throughout Massachusetts.

Guadalupe Torres

Undergraduate Student at Boston University

Guadalupe Torres is a senior studying political science and psychology on the pre-law track. Raised in Texas as a first-generation student, she frequently translated legal documents, medical notes, and leases for her community, shaping her understanding of language as a tool for access and empowerment. This passion led her to teach ESL, support bilingual education, translate immigration cases, coach oratory through the National Hispanic Institute, and lead constitutional law lessons as president of her university’s Moot Court team. Now, her research focuses on Chicano languages as a form of resistance, exploring how language shapes identity and advocacy.

Leena Sarhan

Undergraduate Student at Boston University

Leena Sarhan is a junior at Boston University pursuing a dual degree in Human Physiology and Journalism with plans to attend medical school. A first-generation Palestinian-American, she is passionate about trauma-informed care and advocating for marginalized communities affected by systemic inequities. She aims to combine clinical practice with storytelling to amplify underrepresented voices and promote health equity and patient-centered care. Currently, Leena is a research assistant at Boston Medical Center, focusing on health disparities. Alongside her academic and professional work, she is an avid reader and a tatreez practitioner, engaging in the traditional Palestinian art of embroidery as a meaningful connection to her heritage.