SMALL FISH, BIG POND

2024 conference speakers

MIKE YAM

Host of NFL Total Access on the NFL Network and author of the children’s book Fried Rice and Marinara. Also served as an ESPN anchor, as well as a lead studio host for Pac-12 Network. Growing up with a Chinese immigrant father from Hong Kong and an Italian mother, he has always been fascinated by diverse cultures and is a passionate advocate for social issues, leading him to author op-eds on immigration and the Asian American community.

Anahit Baghshetsyan

Cofounder and Director of Business Development for Toon, a social enterprise that helps children from vulnerable backgrounds internationally by selling merchandise featuring art made by them. An avid traveler, lover of numbers, and current student at UCI, her passion for analysis has led her to study chaos theory as a topic of intrigue.

Sina tadeyon

A devoted actor, screenwriter, and advocate for those suffering from OCD and other anxiety-related disorders. As a compassionate advocate, he dedicates time to raising OCD awareness and reducing stigma,
believing in the power of education to illuminate what living with OCD truly means. He comes to the stage this year to share his experience, along with the challenges it imposes on others, as a story that deserves to be heard.

Pyet DeSpain
(Pyetwetmokwe)

First winner of Gordon Ramsay's new groundbreaking TV show, Next Level Chef, award winning global private chef, and a member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Tribe. Her life's work is dedicated to Indigenous Fusion Cuisine, where she combines her Native American and Mexican heritage in her cooking—earning her a spot as one of the Top 25 best private chefs in Los Angeles by Entrepreneur Magazine.

Dr. Andres de
los reyes

Professor of Psychology at University of Maryland, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, and Chair of the Coalition for Psychology in Schools and Education. Seeks to understand why any two mental health studies often yield discrepant results, and bridging the gap to ensure better mental wellness.

Dr.Arnel calvario ripkens

Founder of UC Irvine’s dance teams Kaba Modern and Kaba Modern Legacy and former Board President of international 501c3 non-profit dance organization, Culture Shock International, from 2016-2023. Having managed several award-winning teams, including world-renowned dance crew “the KINJAZ.” he’s now piloted a dance therapy program for neurodivergent youth with Culture Shock Los Angeles.

BETH ELLEN NASH

Founder of Wings to Soar Online Academy, an individualized online school that offers K-12th intervention as well as full-time school options, as well as the author of Amazon #1 bestselling book, Dyslexia Outside-the-Box. She believes that every child deserves a personalized education and should be empowered with the skills needed to soar as out-of-the-box thinkers.