2021 Student Organizers
Serena Riback
President
From Chatham NJ, Serena is a junior Computer Science Engineering major minoring in Math and Spanish. Besides being involved in TEDxUConn, she is a member of the service group Honors Across State Borders (HASB), works as a physics tutor at the Q-Center on campus, and plays the violin in the UConn Symphony Orchestra. Serena can’t wait for the 2021 salon events and is so excited to see what the club will accomplish this year.
Joanna Liang
Vice President
Joanna Liang is a New England Scholar from Montville, CT pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering. She is a mentor for the Asian/Asian American Mentoring Program (AMP). Joanna joined TEDx because she felt inspired by TED talks and wished to play a role in organizing TEDx conferences at the University of Connecticut. She will be serving as VP for TEDxUConn for 2021.
Sucika Perumalla
Treasurer
Sucika is a sophomore from Acton, MA. She is a STEM Scholar pursuing her degree in Physiology and Neurobiology with a Bioinformatics minor. In the future, Sucika aspires to become a neurosurgeon after medical school or neuropsychological clinical researcher. Aside from school, she is a Children’s Rights intern for the Student Coalition for Human Rights, a Social Engagement leader for the STEM Scholar board, a PATH mentor, and a regional tutor coordinator/English tutor for young adults in Syrian refugees at Paper Airplanes.
Lili Romann
Secretary
Lili Romann is a student in CLAS, majoring in Psychology and Communications with a minor in Cognitive Science. She joined TEDxUConn after spending years in grade school so drawn to the talks she was shown – watching them turned into a bit of a hobby. Otherwise on campus, Lili takes part in Alpha Lambda Delta, Psychology Club, and the Nathan Hale Homework Club. She looks to do research in the future regarding the effects social media and technology have on human development.
Vivian Tang
Curation Chair
From Norwich, CT, Vivian Tang is pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Pathobiology in the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources. She is expecting to graduate in Spring 2021. She works as a student technician in the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory. Vivian joined TEDx because she loves to watch TED Talks in her free time.
Ava Zawadzki
Design Chair
From Cromwell, CT, Ava is pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology in the College of Liberal Arts and Science, expected to graduate in the Spring of 2024. In the future, Ava aspires to be a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist. Ava is also a member of UConn Psych Club, UConn Outing Club and Knit for NICU. Ava joined TEDxUConn because she has always enjoyed watching TED Talks, and has a bucket list goal of being a speaker at a TED event based on research she has done in her field post-graduation.
Tara O’reilly
Funding Chair
From Queens, NYC, Tara is pursuing her dual Bachelor’s degree in Speech-Language and Hearing Sciences and Human Development and Family Sciences. In the future, she aspires to be a Speech Pathologist. She has worked closely with children for five years and currently tutors adolescents in her home state. Tara is super excited for the rest of the year in TEDxUConn and the 2021 salon events.
Christian Chlebowski
Social Media/Outreach Chair
Christian is a Nutmeg Scholar in the School of Business pursuing a Bachelor’s degree with a major in Accounting, expecting to graduate in Spring 2024. After graduation, Christian hopes to pursue a career working with the United States government as an accountant or policy analyst. In addition to his work with TEDxUConn, he is a producer of the My First Year Story Podcast and an author with UConn’s Undergraduate Political Review. His love of hearing new ideas and unique stories fed his love of TED talks, and a desire to share those stories with the community led to his decision to join TEDxUConn!
Abby Petrsoric
Design Committee
Abby is a freshman majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology in the College of Liberals Arts and Science. She hopes to work in medicine after college. She joined TEDxUConn because she has always enjoyed watching TED Talks in school and wanted to play a role in spreading great ideas.