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Meet The Team
CHRISTIE CORREA RUIZ
Director of Media & Marketing
Christie is a Macaulay Honors Sophomore at Brooklyn College with a major in Business Administration (Marketing) and minor in Film. They are excited to be a part of the TEDxCUNY team and work with an amazing group. In their free time, Christie is always finding new music/artists/genres, tv shows, or reading poetry books.
SAJIDA AHMED
Speakers & Programming Curator
Sajida Ahmed is a Macaulay Honors freshman at Hunter College majoring in English Literature (concentration Creative Writing) with a blossoming interest in Art History and Arabic. She is passionate about amplifying the voices of Muslim women as well as community-building. In her free time, Sajida enjoys reading through interior design blogs and practicing calligraphy!
MAYA DEMCHAK-GOTTLIEB
Speakers & Programming Curator
Maya is a freshman at Macaulay Baruch. She is double majoring in English and Journalism/Creative Writing and minoring in Business Law. She is passionate about words, both using them and reading them. In her free time, she enjoys writing articles, poetry and fiction; drawing and debating.
SANJANA AHMED
Logistics & Engagement Curator
Sanjana Ahmed is Hunter College student with a major in human biology and minor in journalism. She currently is involved with neuroscience research and writes for her school's Bioethics and Medicine Blog. She also founded a club called Mother Nature's Gift at her home campus and is striving to assist students in getting free menstrual products.

EMILY MADRAY
Co-Director of Speakers & Programming
Emily Madray is an undergraduate student at the Macaulay Honors College at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, who is majoring in Sociology. She is passionate about cultivating positive change and advocating for justice in every situation she is in. In her free time, she enjoys reading mystery and thriller novels, watching crime TV shows, and practicing her faith.
ANLING CHEN
Co-Director of Speakers & Programming
Anling Chen is a sophomore at the Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College majoring in Economics and Computer Science with a special interest in finance. She joined TEDxCUNY in her freshman year and hasn't looked back since. She loves collaborating with her team to find the best speakers with innovative and new ideas to share with the world. In her free time, she enjoys whistling, playing American handball, and watching figure skating.
KATHERINE GRIVKOV
Speakers & Programming Curator
Katherine is currently a first-year undergraduate at the Macaulay Honors College at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, majoring in political science. She is passionate about education policy and enjoys playing the alto saxophone, reading, and trying different cuisines!
MICHELLE DEL VILLAR
Speakers & Programming Curator
Michelle is currently a sophomore at Macaulay Honors at the City College of New York, majoring in Biology on the pre-med track. She is passionate about humanizing social conflicts, specifically the interconnection between marginalized groups and disparities in healthcare. This passion has been cultivated through endless hours of watching TED talks about the topic. During her free time, Michelle enjoys learning new languages, journaling, and sharing about her Spanish culture.
BASMALLA ATTTIA
Logistics & Engagement Curator
Basmalla is a Macaulay Honors Sophomore at Baruch College with a major in Economics and Political Science and minor in New York City Studies. She is interested in international affairs and community service. She enjoys travelling, jogging, reading and exploring new interests and fields. TED is a passion of hers and she is thrilled to contribute to the team.
MARYAM OGUNTOLA
Logistics & Engagement Curator
Maryam attends John Jay College of Criminal Justice and is studying Law and Society. She aspires to attend law to achieve her goal of becoming an attorney. Maryam is passionate about the well-being of the immigrants community and hopes to serve the community with her career. Maryam loves to read fiction books and write in her free time. She also hopes to pursue her dream of becoming a writer one day.
JUSTIN CHOW
Media & Marketing Curator
Justin is a Macaulay Honors student at Brooklyn College. He is currently majoring in Chemistry and minoring in philosophy. Photography has one his favorite hobbies for the longest time. Photography has taught Justin to enjoy and appreciate art while allowing him to have a medium to express myself.
OLUTOYOSI AJANLEKOKO
Media & Marketing Curator
Olutoyosi Ajanlekoko is a sophomore at Queens College majoring in Psychology. She is passionate about social media, especially the way in which it shapes our individual lives. Apart from social media, Olutoyosi enjoys spending quality getting to know people and watching TikToks.