Speakers from 2026

Vida's mission is to ensure that innovation does not leave humanity behind. As a data scientist, she has learned that data is merely the digitization, the virtualization, of human lives and their systems. It is temptingly easy to allow "math to do the math" all the while forgetting that math is that one universal language we all understand. It is the one medium through which humanity can tell its universal story and perhaps comprehend our universal truths. Therefore, we need for data scientists and technologists to demystify what we do and contribute to the hard discussions about how what we do increasingly undergirds and directly affects the human experience.

Raiza Martin is the creator of NotebookLM, one of the most talked-about AI products of the last few years. As a Product Lead at Google Labs, she led the small team that built NotebookLM from a side experiment into a tool used by millions of people worldwide — including students, researchers, and professionals who use it every day to learn faster and understand complex information. You've probably seen NotebookLM's "Audio Overviews" feature go viral: that's the one that turns any document, video, or PDF into a realistic two-host podcast. That was Raiza's team. The product became so popular it was called "Google's ChatGPT moment." Before Google, Raiza worked at startups across payments, ads, and technology. She graduated from Harvard and has spent her career at the intersection of AI and everyday human needs — asking the question: how do we make powerful technology actually useful for real people? After her time at Google, Raiza left at the height of NotebookLM's success to start her own company, Huxe, focused on building the next generation of AI-powered experiences.

Caroline Bell, PMP, is a Software Engineer at Capital One. She is a 2020 graduate of Deep Run’s Center for Information Technology (CIT) program and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Music from the University of Virginia (2024). In addition to her work at Capital One, Caroline is currently pursuing a Master’s in Data Analytics at Georgia Tech.

Roman is the co-founder and CEO of SkillBit (formerly MetaCTF), a cybersecurity startup that offers hands-on training and helps organizations assess and upskill cyber talent. Since 2014, Roman has overseen more than 500 cybersecurity competitions across academia, government, and industry. The company started while the founders were CIT students.

M Charity is an assistant professor in the Computer Science department at the University of Richmond. They received their bachelor's from VCU and PhD from NYU — both in computer science. At UofR, they currently teach courses on game design and development, introduction to computing with Python, and software development in C++. Their research focuses on the application of artificial intelligence to game design and content generation through the use of online tools. M is also a CIT alumni (Class of 2016) and first got involved with computer science research and academia through the Senior Capstone project where they made a chatbot named GRAM.

Peyton Cooper is a DRHS CIT alumna, U.S. Air Force Academy graduate, and Space Force veteran with degrees in Computer Science and Space Systems Engineering, currently serving as an AI and Data Science Engineer and Delivery Consultant at IBM Technology Expert Labs. She brings experience in fast-paced space operations, technical program management, and the application of AI/ML to enhance space situational awareness and mission-critical decision-making. Passionate about advancing aerospace and emerging technologies, she is dedicated to applying AI to complex challenges and actively advocates for NASA funding and space science initiatives.

Danielle Griffing is a communications and marketing strategist with over 25 years of experience driving brand communications, organizational transformation, and marketing campaigns for Fortune 500 companies and non-profits. As a Product Marketing Advisor for the Federal Reserve System, she develops messaging and launch strategies for IT products and services. She helps product teams position technical solutions through a customer lens and design marketing that improves tech adoption and user experience. Previously, Danielle led workplace communications and change management for Dominion Energy, where she guided thousands of employees through office moves and cultural change as part of a transformative initiative to modernize workspaces across the company. This employee engagement work earned awards from the Public Relations Society of America. Known for her ability to combine creative design and technical to deliver people-focused communications, Danielle’s expertise includes web development, content strategy, and corporate communications. She holds a BA in Communications from Boston College.

Theresa is a Senior Accessibility Advisor for Federal Reserve IT, with over 20 years of experience in digital products, leading web teams, and promoting accessibility. She collaborates with and educates creative, IT, and product teams, and tests websites and apps to identify commonly overlooked gaps in digital accessibility. Outside of work, Theresa enjoys oil painting, reading, and watching foreign TV shows. She also balances crocheting and weaving with skiing, hiking with her dog, and yoga. A Drexel graduate who grew up at the beach in NJ, she has lived in Richmond for 14 years.

Purnam is a Data Engineer at Samsara working on modeling fuel efficiency and driver safety data. He previously worked at Meta where he supported WhatsApp calling quality and the Central Integrity teams. Purnam's work focuses on improving data quality while making it easier for teams to quickly get value from their data. Outside of work, he performs improv comedy at Coalition Theater and spends quality time with his cats.

Raised in Henrico County and a graduate of George Mason University, Nevin Joyce brings a uniquely cross-functional perspective shaped by leadership roles in Engineering, Insurance, Banking, Management Consulting, and UX/CX. His diverse background enables him to bridge strategy, technology, and human experience to drive meaningful results. A passionate advocate for user and customer experience, he believes that understanding and practicing UX/CX principles makes every aspect of business—and life—better. Outside of his professional work, he’s a proud father of two sons who swim for the Twin Hickory summer swim team, and he draws inspiration from family life, including his wife’s leadership role guiding the American operations of a European software firm.

As an experienced UX professional with strong analytical and creative problem-solving skills, Theresa McMurdo has lead UX strategy, research and design engagements for a wide variety of private and public sector clients, including Fortune 500 companies, startups and a variety of federal government agencies. She has a B.A. in American Studies and a Master's degree in Instructional Technology with a focus in Interactive Multimedia from the University of Virginia. Theresa lives in Richmond and works with the Federal Reserve Board in Washington D.C.. In her free time, she enjoys travel, being in nature and garden design.

Nikhil Menon is Senior Vice President of Software Engineering at Experian, leading the Direct-to-Consumer engineering organization serving more than 80 million U.S. consumers. With deep experience across financial services and healthcare, he has led enterprise-wide technology transformations that modernize platforms, enable innovation, and expand access to critical financial and health-related services. A builder at heart, Nikhil aligns strategy with disciplined execution while cultivating leaders who multiply impact across complex organizations.

Elizabeth Papile is a Solutions Architect at MAXX Potential, an IT consulting firm that delivers real-world client projects through a paid apprenticeship model, giving people of all backgrounds hands-on training to launch their tech careers. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Virginia Tech and lived in Seoul, South Korea, working as a math teacher prior to entering the tech industry. Drawing on this background, she applies foundational design principles to complex IT environments while supporting the development of emerging technologists.

Yadu is a CIT Alumni, class of 2017. He currently works as a Software Engineer at Automox. In college, he dived into cybersecurity research, specifically with kernel level networking. He then worked on instrumenting and getting observability into various Linux systems and Kubernetes clusters. He currently works on building endpoint agents for Mac/Windows and maintaining the Kubernetes clusters that support them. He has worked with many languages and tools, especially in the field of cloud computing, and likes to experiment with open source cloud technologies.

Evan is an Analytics Engineer with 10 years of experience in consulting, startups, and technology. He majored in Systems Engineering at UVA and holds a Master's in Analytics from Georgia Tech. When he's not building data pipelines, he's probably in over his head on a DIY home project, or hanging out with his wife and 2 kids.

Aman is a 2019 graduate of the CIT, where he focused on cybersecurity and served as president of the Cybersecurity Club his senior year. He now lives in New York City, where he is building Jungl, a startup focused on automatic, context-driven remediation for cloud misconfigurations.

Hannah graduated from the Center for Information Technology in 2016 and is currently a Senior Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft where she supports Federal agencies in modernizing and securing their cloud environments. She earned her B.S. in Data Science from William & Mary in 2020 and is completing her Master of Liberal Arts at the University of Richmond, graduating in May. Her academic and professional path reflects her belief that technology and the liberal arts are not opposing paths, but complementary forces. On the Alumni Education Panel, she will share how combining technical expertise with critical thinking and communication has shaped her career and educational path.

Kenton Vizdos, alumni of the CIT, is a software engineer and co-founder of EdVizion, a platform built to modernize how K-12 schools operate. He works closely with school systems to streamline enrollment, data management, and day-to-day workflows through thoughtful technology. Kenton is passionate about reducing manual processes, improving transparency, and giving school leaders clearer visibility into their operations. His work focuses on building reliable systems that make complex school operations feel simple and intuitive.