2025 Theme:
Build Your Future Career

The Courage Builder Early Career Conference brings together 150 students and leading regional organizations to focus on the skills of today and tomorrow. This year’s event will feature externship, internship, research and volunteer opportunities with a focus on technology and ocean-related opportunities. The conference features 5 dynamic keynote speakers, two engaging panels and multiple chances for intimate and personalized networking with industry partners.

SCHEDULE (Subject to change)

• 1:00-1:30 pm: Registration, Networking, Career Expo, Resume Help, Headshots, Light Refreshments
  

• 1:30-1:45 pm: Welcome

  • Nishita Roy-Pope, CEO, Courage Builder

  • Peggy Dias, Executive Director of IT Assurance, CITS, UMass Dartmouth

  • Dr. Mark A. Fuller, Chancellor UMass Dartmouth

  • Dr. Kimberly Scott, Vice Chancellor Student Affairs, UMass Dartmouth

  • Dr. Kevin Stokesbury, Dean, School of Marine Science & Technology, UMass Dartmouth
    

• 1:45-2:15 pm: Keynote Speakers

  • Dr. Cinda P. Scott, Co-Director of Ocean Nexus, Marine Biologist, Educator, Ocean Equity Advocate

  • Akintoye “Toye” Onikoyi, CEO, The Bubbler VR

  • Monsurat Ottun, Esq., CEO, MOCCA Strategic Consulting & Cyber/AI Integration Strategist
    

• 2:15-2:45 pm: Featured Mainstage Panel - “Build Your Future Ocean Career”

  • Silvana Mercado, Resiliency Manager, RI Commerce

  • Dr. Anjali Boyd, Fleet Robotics

  • Kanz Giwa, Intern, Jaia Robotics & Courage Builder Participant, URI Computer Science Student

  • Dr. Cinda P. Scott, Co-Director of Ocean Nexus, Marine Biologist, Educator, Ocean Equity Advocate

  • Dr. Alanna Mnich, Faculty & Researcher, UMass Dartmouth SMAST

  • Nishita Roy-Pope, Founder & CEO, Courage Builder (Moderator)
    

• 2:45-3:15 pm: Networking, Career Expo, Headshots, Resume Help, Refreshments
  

• 3:15-3:45 pm: Featured Mainstage Panel - “Build Your Future Tech Career”

  • Hampton Clarkson, Dell Technologies

  • Melanie Luperon, Dell Technologies

  • Dante Cady, Kuduu Platforms

  • Abhishek Shankar, Mathworks

  • Damien Johnson, Former Intern - AWS, Accenture, John Deere, URI Computer Science Student

  • Sam Riley, UMass Dartmouth Marketing Student & Courage Builder Participant (Moderator)
    

• 3:45-3:55 pm: Courage Builder - Student Spotlights

  • Separa Berhanu Hilemariame, UMass Dartmouth Biomedical Engineering Student & Courage Builder Participant

  • Valencia Jean-Louis, UMass Dartmouth Biology Student & Courage Builder Participant

• 3:55-4:15 pm: Networking, Career Expo, Headshots, Resume Help, Refreshments
  

• 4:15-4:30: Keynote Speakers

  • Nishita Roy-Pope, CEO, Courage Builder

  • Craig Santos, Senior Director, Mathworks

  • Dean Robert Griffin, UMass Dartmouth College of Engineering - Special Remarks
    

• 4:30-4:40 pm: Closing, Student Prizes, Group Photo

  • David A. Gomes, Esq, Chief Civil Rights Officer / Title IX Coordinator, Office of Civil Rights, UMass Dartmouth

  • Nishita Roy-Pope, Founder & CEO, Courage Builder
    

• 4:40-5:00: Networking, Light Refreshments