Meet Our Speakers

Dr. Shaakira Abdullah

Sexologist and Family Nurse Practitioner

Dr. Shaakira Abdullah, also known as The Halal Sexpert, is a Sexologist with a Ph.D. in Human Sexuality and a Family Nurse Practitioner with a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. She is passionate about providing sexuality education to the Muslim community from an Islamic Perspective based on their religious beliefs and values. Dr. Abdullah teaches courses for couples, singles, and parents and facilitates life-changing international retreats. Her goal is to help Muslims and people of faith learn how to maintain a comfortable balance between their spirituality and sexuality.

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WATCH: Embracing our Best Spiritual and Sexual Selves

Dr. Carla Barqueiro

Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Widener University

Carla Barqueiro is an assistant professor of political science and international relations at Widener University, a first-generation college graduate, and a proud immigrant to the United States. While growing up in the multicultural city of Montreal, her diverse family and community inspired a passion and interest in global politics. She became increasingly interested throughout her undergraduate degree in understanding under what conditions states use violence against their own citizens, and how the international community can play a key role in curtailing state repression. Barqueiro developed a burgeoning interest throughout her graduate studies in understanding human insecurity, and the means through which diverse voices, those that are often marginalized in political discourse, can contribute to a deeper understanding of the politics of harm.

In addition to her work in academia, Barqueiro has worked in government in a multilateral setting for the Permanent Mission of Canada to the Organization of American States on issues related to citizen security and hemispheric security in Latin America and the Caribbean. She also worked in the non-profit sector on human rights advocacy and the prevention of mass atrocities at the Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (MIGS). Barqueiro draws heavily on her multisectoral professional experience in her teaching and research.

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WATCH: Humanizing Immigration Discourse and Policy in the USA

Dr. Loyd Bastin

Associate Dean of Science, Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Coordinator of Undergraduate Research at Widener University

Dr. Loyd Bastin holds a B.A. in Chemistry and a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry. He is currently the Associate Dean of Science, a Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Coordinator of Undergraduate Research at Widener University where he has taught Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Sustainability since 2004. He has engaged more than 50 undergraduates in research projects related to the development of greener methods for synthesizing pharmaceuticals and the development of new greener laboratory experiments for the undergraduate chemistry curriculum. Dr. Bastin has dedicated his academic career to the incorporation of sustainability and research into the undergraduate curriculum. He has several peer-reviewed articles and book chapters discussing the incorporation of sustainability, environmental justice, political advocacy, and green chemistry into the curriculum. He has co-edited the book Integration of Green and Sustainability Chemistry Principles into Education and two special issues on Advances in Green Chemistry Education in Green Chemistry Letters and Reviews.

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WATCH: Green Chemistry, Sustainability, and Environmental Impact

Dante DiBattista

Community Servant, Leadership Coach, and Inspirational Speaker

Dante DiBattista is an award-winning community servant, leadership coach, and inspirational speaker who has worked with clients ranging from schools to nonprofits to global Fortune 500 companies. An emerging pioneer in the art and science of leadership development, Dante challenges the prevailing ideas of authority and how they are applied in the workforce today.

A leading voice on the future of work and the emerging challenges that come with it, Dante is uniquely positioned to coach leaders on how to leverage emotional intelligence and psychology research to drive company performance without sacrificing the well-being of team members. The most recent project resulted in generating an increase of over $11.16 million in net profit margins by building a transformational leadership development training program that increased employee engagement, reduced turnover, and maximized productivity. Dante leverages his graduate-school education in Organizational Leadership, the findings from his own research, and over seven years’ experience to help solve complex business challenges.

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WATCH: Conflict is the Contagion of Leadership 

Kendall Gordon

Producer, Editor, and Videographer for CoastLife TV and Widener University Communication Studies Graduate

Kendall Gordon is a producer, editor, and videographer for CoastLife TV in Milton, Delaware. An accomplished communication studies graduate from Widener University, she completed her degree magna cum laude in May 2024. With a strong academic background, Kendall earned multiple honors, including the Dean’s List and membership in the National Society of Leadership and Success, Lambda Pi Eta, and Phi Eta Sigma honor societies.

Drawing from a transformative four-month study experience in Hawaii, Kendall’s TED Talk explores strategies for staying present and mindful in a fast-paced world. The serene and immersive environment of Hawaii provided Kendall with profound insights into the importance of mindfulness, which she now shares to help others cultivate focus and presence in their daily lives.

WATCH: Finding Presence: Lessons on Mindfulness and Slowing Down

Dr. Michelle Lyttle Storrod

Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at Widener University

Michelle Lyttle Storrod is an assistant professor of criminal justice at Widener University, where her scholarly pursuits center on the intricate intersection of youth, social media, and crime. Specifically, her research delves into how young individuals utilize social media platforms and mobile devices within the context of victimization and criminal activities. Her focus extends to understanding the multifaceted ways in which gangs leverage social media, encompassing both expressive aspects of gang culture and the instrumental facets of gang operations such as drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and the orchestration of violence.

Drawing from over a decade of practical experience working with gangs in London, Storrod’s research direction is deeply rooted in a commitment to supporting young people. Her aim is to meticulously identify the harms they face and to develop evidence-based interventions aimed at disrupting cycles of violence. Through this lens, Storrod’s scholarly endeavors are not merely academic pursuits but a dedicated effort to empower communities and mitigate the adverse impacts of crime and victimization on vulnerable youth.

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WATCH: How Gangs Utilize Smartphones for Digital Harm

Dr. Lise Deguire

Psychologist and Author of Flashback Girl

Dr. Lise Deguire is a psychologist, author, and burn survivor. After being severely burned as a four-year-old, she spent years in the hospital, undergoing reconstruction surgeries. Dr. Deguire is the author of her multiple award-winning book Flashback Girl: Lessons on Resilience from a Burn Survivor. Dr. Deguire graduated from Tufts University, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa. She earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from Widener University. Dr. Deguire has appeared on NPR, NBC, ABC, and FOX. She has presented for The World Burn Congress, The Security and Exchange Commission, The American Burn Association, and the New Jersey Psychological Association. 

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WATCH: SCARRED Not Scary

Dr. Amy Franzini

Associate Professor of Communication Studies and Digital Media Informatics at Widener University

Dr. Amy Franzini studies the representations of children, childhood, parents, and parenting in popular media. She has presented her research regularly at the Popular Culture/American Culture Association national conferences and Mid-Atlantic Popular Culture/American Culture Association conferences. Dr. Franzini’s work has been published in the Journal of Children and Media and the Journal of Sex Research, and she has chapters included in Common Sense: Intelligence as Presented on Popular Television and Fleeting Images: Portrayals of Children in Popular Culture. She has recently finished writing a book, Secret Identities and Double Lives on Tween TV, that explores how the trope of secret identities on live-action sitcoms targeted to tweens provides a space for characters to explore identity and relationship issues, which in turn enables tween audiences to consider those same subjects. Dr. Franzini incorporates her research into her teaching in courses such as Media & Children, Visual Literacy, and Communication Theory.

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WATCH: Should You Watch TV with Your Child?

Mr. Anthony Pompilii

Communication Studies Senior at Widener University

Anthony Pompilii is a communication studies major in his senior year. He also serves as the social media manager for Widener Admissions, the president of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) at Widener, and a student worker for University Relations. He is a member of the Widener Film Society, and he works for Widener athletic communications as a freelance photographer. He serves as the head coach of men’s tennis and the head coach for the 9th-grade boys’ basketball team at Sun Valley High School. In addition, he works as the head live streamer for St. John’s Chrysostom Church. His passions include fitness, theology, philosophy, education, and sports.

WATCH: A Call for Struggling Athletes to Seek Help

Dr. Brent Satterly

Professor of Social Work and Human Sexuality Education at Widener University

Dr. Brent Satterly is a professor of social work at Widener's Center for Social Work Education. Dr. Satterly was awarded the prestigious Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching in 2016 and the Widener Faculty Institutional Leadership Award in 2017. He teaches family therapy, human sexuality studies, pedagogy, trauma, and anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI) courses in the BSW, MSW, and PhD programs. He has 30 years of clinical and educational experience as a Pennsylvania-licensed clinical social worker, and his expertise includes human sexuality and social work pedagogies, clinical work with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) populations, family therapy, and the use of pop culture in teaching social justice. He is well-published, including his recent 2020 co-authored textbook Sexuality Concepts for Social Workers (2nd ed.). Dr. Satterly’s ability to connect with students and passionately inspire transformations on an individual and societal level is the hallmark of his work at Widener.

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WATCH: Teaching Is a Drag: Lipstick, Learning, and Liberation

Ms. Geeta (Gigi) Tewari

Assistant Professor of Law at Widener University Delaware Law School

Gigi Tewari teaches contract and business law at Widener University Delaware Law School through an interdisciplinary lens—she holds a master of fine arts from Columbia University, a law degree from Fordham Law School, and a bachelor of arts from Cornell University. Tewari’s short stories and poetry have been published in literary magazines such as Granta, Epiphany Magazine, New England Review, The Southern Review, and she was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Her writing captures identity conflicts that many marginalized communities face, along with a myriad of life issues such as professionalism, gender equality, and domestic violence. Gigi Tewari lives in New York, and she is a Margins Fellow with the Asian American Writers’ Workshop.

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WATCH: How Money Keeps You Trapped in Toxic Relationships