2026 Theme:
Everyone Can Innovate

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, project and volunteer opportunities with a focus on ocean, technology and business industry opportunities. The conference features dynamic keynote speakers, engaging panels and multiple chances for intimate and personalized networking with industry partners.

FEATURED ORGANIZATIONS (offering internships, externships, study abroad, valuable career connections)

• Courage Builder

• New England Marine Monitoring

• Jaia Robotics

• NautIQ Technologies

• Meditech

• Sea Education Association

• UMassD Offshore Wind Program

• UMassD Career Center

SCHEDULE (Subject to change)

• 12:30-1:00 pm: Registration, Networking, Career Expo, Light Refreshments
  

• 1:00-1:15 pm: Welcome

  • Nishita Roy-Pope, CEO, Courage Builder

  • Dr. Mark A. Fuller, Chancellor, UMass Dartmouth

  • Dr. Madan Annavarjula, Dean, UMass Dartmouth College of Business

  • Lauren Abad, UMassD Provost’s Office
    

• 1:15-1:40 pm: Keynote Speakers

  • Dr. Gaspard Baye, UMassD PhD ‘25, Co-Founder, ValixAI

  • Mariana Silva-Vinagre, Co-Founder, NautIQ
    

• 1:40-2:20 pm: Featured Mainstage Panel - “Building the Future of Ocean Tech, Tech & Business”

  • Mariana Silva Vinagre, Co-Founder, NautIQ

  • Dr. Gaspard Baye, UMassD PhD ‘25, Founder, ValixAI

  • Craig Santos, UMassD alum, Senior Director, Mathworks

  • Ian Estaphan Owen, CEO & Founder, Jaia Robotics

  • Michael Charest, UMassD alum, Senior Director, Dell Technologies

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

• 2:20-2:50: Career Expo, Networking & Light Refreshments
  

• 2:50-3:25 pm: Featured Mainstage Panel - “Everyone Can Innovate - Early Career Experiences”

  • Sherap Gurung, UMassD Computer Science Major, Courage Builder + UMD Blue Economy Intern, New England Marine Monitoring

  • Vraj Patel, UMassD Computer Science Major, Courage Builder + UMD Blue Economy Intern, Fleet Robotics

  • Mila Dafov, UMassD Civil Engineering Major, Courage Builder + UMD Blue Economy Intern, New Bedford Conservation Commission

  • Anthony Silva, UMassD Finance Major, Courage Builder + UMD Blue Economy Intern, New England Marine Monitoring

  • Augustine “Augie” Boadi, Bryant University ‘26 MBA ‘27, Social Impact Startup Founder

  • Vanessa Albino, UMassD Biomedical Engineering Major, Courage Builder + UMD Blue Economy Intern, UMassD Biology Lab (Moderator)
    

• 3:25-3:40 pm: Student Prizes, Closing & Group Photo

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

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

  • Nishita Roy-Pope, CEO, Courage Builder

  • Presentation of Student Leadership Excellence Award - Presented by Peggy Dias

  • Raffle Prize Winner Announcements
    

• 3:40-4:15: Career Expo, Networking & Light Refreshments