Erica Moretti holds a Ph.D. in Italian studies and her research interests include modern Italian intellectual and social history, biopolitics, gender studies, and modern and contemporary Italian literature. 
 
Moretti’s book, The Best Weapon for Peace: Maria Montessori, Education, and Children’s Rights reframes Montessori’s pacifism as the foundation of her educational activism, emphasizing her singular vision of the classroom as a springboard to reshaping society.  This title was awarded the American Association for Italian Studies (AAIS) and the International Standing Committee for the History of Education (ISCHE) first-book prizes and is shortlisted for the Laura Shannon Prize in Contemporary European Studies.

Nelson, who is known on social media as “Black Forager,” grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she attended The New School Montessori–a fitting foundation for someone whose curiosity and hands-on approach to the world have shaped her career. Montessori education fosters independence, exploration, and a deep respect for nature, all of which shine through in Nelson’s passion for foraging. Long before she became a viral educator, she was a Montessori child, learning by doing and engaging with her environment in a way that would eventually captivate millions

Charles Terranova is a veteran Montessori educator with more than 55 years of experience as a teacher, school leader, teacher-educator, and consultant. A founding force behind several Montessori schools and training programs, Charles is widely recognized for his deep commitment to authentic Montessori practice, adult development, and child-centered learning. He is the American Montessori Society’s 2025 Living Legacy.

Early Childhood Development expert with a demonstrated history of working in Toy Research & Development, in the higher education industry, and Early Care & Education. Skilled in Curriculum Development, Pre-Service Teacher Education, Early Childhood Development, Classroom Management, Lesson Planning, Educational Technology, and Learning Disabilities. Strong business development professional with a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) focused in Elementary Education from University at Buffalo

Dominique, a business owner, advocate, and member of the gold-medal-winning "Magnificent Seven" team at the 1996 Summer Olympics, has made an incredible impact across sports, entertainment, and culture. As the owner of Dominique Dawes Gymnastics & Ninja Academies, Dominique is committed to fostering a healthy, compassionate culture in gymnastics. Dominique’s journey, from opening her first academy during the global pandemic in 2020 to recently expanding with a third location in 2024, is a testament to her dedication to empowering the next generation.

Award-winning educator, spoken word poet, and creator of the viral Harvard speech Lift Off, shares how culture and community can transform student success. Now director of College Thriving at UNC - Chapel Hill, Livingston bridges music, equity, and education to help students find their voice and their place.

Dr. Lisa Damour is a prominent clinical psychologist, New York Times best-selling author, and researcher specializing in adolescent development and family mental health. She hosts the Ask Lisa podcast, contributes to The New York Times and CBS News, and advises UNICEF and Pixar. She is a renowned expert on teen anxiety and development. 

Dr. Ned Hallowell is a world-renowned psychiatrist, bestselling author, and leading authority on ADHD. A graduate of Harvard College and Tulane Medical School, he has dedicated his career to helping children and adults understand attention differences through a strengths-based approach. Dr. Hallowell is the founder of The Hallowell Centers and the author of numerous influential books, including Driven to Distraction, which helped transform public understanding of ADHD worldwide.

Nicholas Mian teaches courses related to clinical and child psychology, as well as core psychology courses. He also oversees the Internship course in Psychology. His research focuses on understanding anxiety in young children and how this knowledge can inform the design and implementation of early intervention and prevention programs. In addition to teaching and research, Mian is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist specializing in the treatment of child anxiety. In his spare time, he enjoys fly fishing, gardening, home improvement, and hiking with his family.

Eric Rodriguez, MBA, is an advisor and mentor for Change Maker LLC. He was recognized on Arizona’s 40 Under 40 list, is a Young Hispanic Corporate Achiever, and is touted as an education speaker and workshop facilitator. In addition, Eric is the parent of two Montessori children.

Erik Wahl is a keynote speaker, artist, and author known for his unique blend of creativity and business acumen, particularly his "Art of Vision" presentation style. He was a keynote speaker at The Montessori Event presented by the American Montessori Society (AMS). His presentation, "The Art of Vision for Educators," uses art as a metaphor to inspire educators to develop a vision for the future of learning. Wahl's work emphasizes the importance of embracing creativity and disruption in both education and business. 

Frank Leto is a Montessori educator and music specialist with tremendous sensitivity to the needs of young children and a hand-crafted approach to early-childhood music education. He is a professional musician, Orff music teacher and steel band composer and director who brilliantly combines his skills as both teacher and musician to create a sound that your children will love! Frank also travels to schools sharing his unique "Method to Music" in teacher training workshops around the world.

Garrard Conley is an American author and LGBTQ advocate best known for his memoir Boy Erased, which recounts his experience growing up in a fundamentalist family in Arkansas and being enrolled in conversion therapy. His powerful story was adapted into the 2018 feature film Boy Erased, bringing greater awareness to the harms of conversion therapy and the complexities of identity, faith, and family.

Governor Josh Green is Hawai‘i’s ninth Governor, a physician, and a longtime public servant committed to improving the well-being of Hawai‘i’s people. Raised in Pittsburgh, he earned degrees in biology and anthropology from Swarthmore College and an M.D. from Penn State, later serving underserved communities on Hawai‘i Island as a National Health Service Corps physician. His experience in rural medicine shaped a public service career that includes service in the Hawai‘i House, State Senate, and as Lieutenant Governor, where he led the state’s COVID-19 response. Elected Governor in 2022, he has prioritized affordability, housing, healthcare, and climate action, advancing historic tax relief, expanding affordable housing, strengthening the healthcare workforce, and leading recovery efforts following the Maui wildfires.

Michael G. Thompson, Ph.D., is a psychologist, consultant, and author who specializes in child and family development and has worked with more than 700 schools across the United States and internationally. He is best known as the co-author of the New York Times bestseller Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys and has written several other influential books on parenting, boys’ development, and children’s social and academic lives. A frequent media contributor, he has appeared on major programs including The Today Show, Oprah, and 60 Minutes, and hosted the PBS documentary Raising Cain. Dr. Thompson continues to speak globally on parenting and education and lives in Arlington, Massachusetts with his wife, Dr. Theresa McNally.

Phil Hansen, known as “the Artist for the People,” is an internationally recognized multimedia artist and speaker celebrated for transforming limitations into creativity. After developing a hand tremor that nearly ended his career, he embraced it—discovering that constraints can fuel innovation. His TED Talk on this journey earned a global audience, inspiring millions to see art as action, not just result. Featured by major media outlets and sought after by brands like Disney and the Grammy Awards, Phil now brings his message of reinvention and creativity to stages worldwide.

Suneel Gupta is the founding CEO of RISE, a breakthrough wellness company named App of the Year by Apple. Suneel is a bestselling author, speaker, Harvard Medical School visiting scholar, and host of a global documentary series who studies leaders around the world to discover and share simple, actionable habits that lift our performance and deepen our state of well-being. Through his writing Suneel harnesses a mix of neuroscience, research, and personal stories, and helps readers build high-quality habits, teaching us how to take action to move ideas forward, improve our emotional well-being and resilience, and transform the world of work.