Tuesday Mainstage

Nikole Blanchard is the director of innovation and technology for the Dunham School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and co-president of the ISTE Board of Directors. She’s also the co-founder of the Private School Colloquium, and a board member for Baton Rouge's Edcamp and Louisiana IT Symposium. A passionate digital innovator, Blanchard is a National Board Certified Teacher, Apple Distinguished Educator, Google Innovator, Apple Teacher, Swift Playground Teacher, Google Certified Trainer, PBS Learning Media Innovator and Microsoft Innovative Educator. A career highlight for Blanchard was sharing the stage with Apple CEO Tim Cook in 2018. She told her technology story, making history as the first non-Apple employee to speak during an Apple keynote. In 2003, Blanchard was part of a pilot program at Louisiana State University (LSU) where student teachers used laptops in the field. Blanchard was blown away by the way students' needs could be met with technology. Pursuing this interest, she graduated from Louisiana State University with a master’s in educational technology.

Matthew Mingle is the superintendent of Warren Township School District in New Jersey and the co-president of the ASCD + ISTE Board of Directors. He has also served as an adjunct professor at Seton Hall, Rutgers and Montclair State universities. Mingle's leadership and innovative approaches in education have been widely recognized. In 2023, he was named the Somerset County, New Jersey, Superintendent of the Year, a testament to his commitment to education and the impact of his work.

The Somerset County Association of School Administrators highlighted Mingle's dedication to the children, families and staff of Warren Township Schools. They particularly noted his effective leadership during the COVID pandemic, emphasizing his creative problem-solving skills and his efforts to prioritize in-person learning during a challenging period for educational institutions. Mingle has also been involved in various educational organizations and initiatives, significantly contributing to the field. He’s a member and the treasurer of the Somerset County Association of School Administrators and the former board president of the Morris-Union Jointure Commission and New Jersey ASCD.

In addition to his administrative and leadership roles, Mingle's contributions to the field of education include presenting at national and state conferences on topics related to whole child approaches in education and “Lessons From Gander.” This presentation uses the inspiring stories of how the people of Gander, Newfoundland, Canada, responded to the unexpected arrival of thousands of airline passengers on September 11, 2001, to emphasize the importance of empathy in schools and how times of adversity can provide the best opportunities for positive cultural development.

Ethan Mollick is an associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School where he studies and teaches innovation and entrepreneurship, and examines the effects of artificial intelligence (AI) on work and education. He also leads Wharton Interactive, an effort to democratize education using games, simulations and AI.

His academic papers have been published in top management journals, and his research has been covered by CNN, The New York Times and other leading publications. He has created numerous teaching games on a wide variety of topics. Prior to his time in academia, Mollick co-founded a startup company, and he currently advises a number of startups and organizations. Mollick received his Ph.D. and MBA from MIT’s Sloan School of Management, and his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University.

Ramesh Srinivasan speaks about the intersection of technology, innovation, politics, business and society. He’s a leading voice pointing the way toward a digital world that supports democracy, economic security and business interests.

He blends his skills as a leading academic, author, engineer, social scientist, storyteller, policy adviser and thought leader to shine a light on how technology and innovation, from all quarters and countries, will make a balanced world possible for all. His mission is to help repair the disconnect between designers and users, producers and consumers, tech elites and the rest of us – toward a more democratic internet. He’s a faculty member in UCLA’s Information Studies and Design|Media Arts departments, and the founder of the University of California’s Digital Cultures Lab, which offers a unique, people-focused analysis of new technologies working across every continent and dozens of countries across the world. The lab examines the means by which new media technologies impact businesses, economics, cultures, politics, labor and the environment through collaborations with global partners.

He explores the future of algorithms, artificial intelligence (AI), automation and cryptocurrencies with these themes in mind. He holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Stanford University, a master’s from the MIT Media Laboratory and a Ph.D. from Harvard. Srinivasan is the author of Whose Global Village? Rethinking How Technology Impacts Our World and After the Internet with Adam Fish. His most recent book, Beyond the Valley, outlines how the future of the internet still hasn’t been written. In it, Srinivasan argues that tech can be fairer and more democratic, while still serving business interests. While researching for the book, he explored technology’s economic, political and social impact across nearly 70 countries. Beyond the Valley was named among Forbes’ top 10 books in 2019. Srinivasan appears frequently on NPR, The Young Turks, MSNBC, BBC, CNN and other major media networks.

His articles and interviews have been published by the Washington Post, Wired, The Economist, Quartz, Financial Times, Forbes, The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times. This year, Srinivasan launched a podcast series called “Utopias” where he talks with well-known people interested in a more equal and just future.

Daniell "Danni" Washington is a marine science communicator, author, TV host and activist who is recognized as the first African American woman to host a TV science series. Currently in production, Washington is the on-camera host of a top secret National Geographic and Disney+ limited documentary series slated to be released in 2025.

She was also featured in a special for Discovery’s famed Shark Week called “Deadly Sharks of Brazil,” and is the host of “The Genius Generation,” a podcast focused on the young people behind incredible inventions, entrepreneurial pursuits and scientific discoveries. Washington was a featured correspondent for the nationally syndicated CBS series “Mission Unstoppable,” hosted and executive produced by Miranda Cosgrove and Geena Davis.

She also hosted “Xploration Nature Knows Best” on Fox and Amazon Prime, a STEM educational series featuring the latest bio-inspired technology and design advancements. Washington has also worked on a number of STEM-focused shows, including “Science the $#!* Out Of It” for Facebook Watch, “Strange Evidence” on the Science Channel, “Untamed Science” for Pearson and “Ocean GEMS” A Miami native of Jamaican descent, Washington holds a bachelor’s degree in marine science/biology from the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science, and a doctorate of sustainability science from Unity College. At age 21, she and her mother co-founded the Big Blue & You, a nonprofit dedicated to inspiring and educating youth about marine science through the arts and media. She also served as a naturalist at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center for four years, helping educate thousands of South Florida children about local marine ecosystems.

Her children’s book, Bold Women In Science, tells the inspiring stories of 15 women who changed the course of science. In 2018, Washington was the spokesperson and host for the USA Science & Engineering Festival, which attracted over 300,000 attendees. She was the celebrity host for the Indianapolis Prize for animal conservation, and was a judge for the 2021 Tom Ford Plastic Innovation Prize. She’s a proud member of the board of directors for the North American Association of Environmental Education. When she’s not hosting, traveling, or on location for a production, Washington is an avid scuba diver, a stand-up paddleboarding enthusiast and a social media influencer. Washington makes appearances worldwide as her alter ego, the "Mocha Mermaid," educating children about conservation and the magnificence of our oceans.