Theme: Emergence - From Insight to Impact

The theme of our 2026 event 'Emergence: From Insight to Impact' challenges you to explore the moments when something new begins to take shape. New ideas, identities, and innovations arise around us every day. From scientific breakthroughs to cultural shifts to personal transformation, emergence happens constantly, but often quietly and unexpectedly. This year’s theme celebrates the surprising ways new possibilities form. Join us and share stories, ideas, and initiatives that will help our community see the early sparks of change and stay open to what might grow next.

Cemex Auditorium
Stanford University
Stanford, California, 94305
United States

Alma Cooper

Former Miss USA

Alma Cooper is a Knight-Hennessy Scholar and Stanford master’s student in Data Science with a concentration in statistics, focused on using data and technology to expand access and opportunity. A West Point graduate and the 73rd Miss USA, she is a nationally recognized leader who has spoken to over 30,000 students nationwide and has built an engaged social community of more than 60,000 followers. As a woman in STEM, she has shared her expertise at SXSW and other national forums, using her platform to demystify technical fields and expand who sees themselves as belonging in them.

Anagali Duncan

Indigenous Rights Activist

Anagali Duncan is a Stanford University senior studying Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity, graduating with honors in Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law. Born and raised on the Cherokee Reservation in Oklahoma, he specializes in Indigenous law, climate justice, and public policy, and has spoken at the United Nations and the White House Tribal Forum. He has conducted climate and environmental research at Harvard University and is the co-founder of 7 Ravens, a Native-led nonprofit advancing Indigenous youth leadership, environmental justice, and tribal sovereignty.

Andy Chu

Physician & Filmmaker

Dr. Andy Chu is a Harvard-trained emergency physician, filmmaker, and assistant professor at Stanford University. He has spent the past decade leading multidisciplinary teams to design and launch award-winning healthcare technologies that provide life-saving care in the emergency department, while turning to the arts and humanities to better understand the emotional impact of those decisions. His short film Life Support has been accepted to dozens of film festivals and has won multiple jury awards for Best Short Film, reflecting this blend of innovation and storytelling.

Beatriz Stix-Brunell

Former Professional Ballerina

Prior to coming to Stanford to pursue her undergraduate degree in Symbolic Systems, Beatriz had an 11-year career as a professional ballerina with The Royal Ballet in London. For over two decades, her day-to-day consisted of rigorous training in a high performance environment. Having transitioned from ballet to academia, Beatriz understands firsthand the demands of mastering a discipline and navigating a major career transition; she has leveraged the rigor and skills honed through dance to pursue a new direction.

Celine Qin

Youth Activist

Celine Qin is a globally-recognized, award-winning youth activist, public speaker, and community organizer for racial justice, immigrant rights, and anti-carceral youth development. At 13, she founded The Reclamation Project, a non-profit social justice organization spearheading youth-led movements for systemic change, now mobilizing and educating 400,000+ youth across 171+ countries worldwide. A first-generation college student at Stanford University and proud daughter of immigrants, Celine is additionally an Alexander Hamilton Scholar, Brandon Harrison Legacy Award Winner for Youth Leadership and Youth Organizing, and 1 of 20 top U.S. female founders named a Grassroots Voices Fellow by Vital Voices Global Partnership, advancing bold solutions towards justice.

Kris Evans

Stanford PhD candidate in Social Psychology

Kris Evans is a PhD candidate in social psychology at Stanford University, where his research focuses on how mindsets, awareness, and holistic mind–body practices shape health, well-being, and performance. His work bridges psychology, education, and applied interventions, integrating rigorous research with real-world impact across academic, athletic, and professional settings.

Michael Chaleff

Storytelling and Influence Strategist

Michael Chaleff is a former U.S. Navy Surface Warfare Officer and Gulf War veteran who became a federal prosecutor and trial attorney, then spent decades helping others communicate in high-stakes environments. He is the founder of Practical Influence, a consultancy devoted to helping individuals communicate with confidence, negotiate with purpose, and use storytelling to move people and shape outcomes. A magician and mentalist for over four decades, he brings a rare mix of stagecraft, psychology, and lived experience to help people speak with clarity, credibility, and courage.