STEM Talks
Two Days. Endless Inspiration.
Debuting at the 2025 Conference, these inspiring and interactive short-form lectures and/or moderated panel discussions give sponsors a platform to feature individual or groups of engineers, scientists or technology professionals and showcase their personal stories, professional journeys or technical research. This is also a valuable medium to highlight opportunities within their companies or industries, and offer expert insights on topics relevant to the audience of mostly college students.
STEM Talks have already been confirmed by Sandia National Laboratories, Cohere, Conectado, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Disney.
Confirmed STEM Talk Presenters
*As of August 18. More Announced Every Day!
Nathan Brown is a Senior Member of the Technical Staff at Sandia National Laboratories. He joined Sandia’s Advanced AI Applications team after completing his PhD in Mechanical engineering from Clemson University in 2023. Nathan’s work focuses on the creation and implementation of AI agents to accelerate engineering design, simulation, and optimization workflows. He is deeply involved in the DOE’s Genesis Mission AI initiative, which tasks the US National Laboratories to combine their decades of scientific data, high-performance computing, and emerging AI technologies to accelerate the pace of scientific discovery and engineering innovation. Beyond Generative AI, Nathan’s work also explores classical machine learning approaches for material and structural design, discovery, and characterization.
Guillermo Diaz, Jr. is a transformative global business leader and the Founder and CEO of Conectado Inc., an innovative Immersive AI digital education platform. Conectado’s mission is to accelerate access for all—especially historically underrepresented communities—to opportunities and increased representation in AI and STEAM fields.
Previously, he was a transformational innovator across Cisco Systems, serving as Global Chief Information Officer responsible for the global IT organization, strategy, and services. Never forgetting where he came from, Guillermo also championed equity and connection as an active leader and sponsor for Cisco’s Hispanic and Veteran Employee Resource Groups. His technology career began with a U.S. Navy scholarship leading to a B.S. in Business Administration from Regis University in Denver, Colorado, followed by leadership roles at respected Silicon Valley companies including Silicon Graphics, Ingram Micro, and Alza Corporation.
Deeply committed to fostering a community of inclusion and growth, Guillermo is the immediate past Chairman of the Hispanic Technology Executive Council (HITEC). In the boardroom, he currently serves on the boards of Blue Shield of California, Stellarus, Jack in the Box, and the University of California, Santa Cruz. Furthermore, he continues to drive innovation as an active advisor and investor to fast-growing tech startups and small businesses.
Rafael is a visionary executive leader directing Infrastructure Operations with stewardship over a $200 million annual budget and a workforce of 850 workers. Rafael’s leadership drives operational excellence and modernization initiatives that ensure Sandia’s infrastructure remains resilient and agile. Prior to his current role, Rafael held senior leadership positions as Senior Manager of Performance Assurance and Engineered Safety and R&D Manager for the Microsystems & Engineering Science Applications (MESA) complex. Before joining Sandia, Rafael built a distinguished 12-year career at Intel Corporation, where he led multi-disciplinary teams managing $500 million in R&D and manufacturing operations. Rafael’s expertise spans the full spectrum of microelectronics—from R&D and technology development to manufacturing, quality assurance, and mission-critical operations in high-consequence environments. He is recognized for his strategic acumen in integrating operations and mission to rapidly advance national security objectives to outpace our adversaries.
Michael Descour is a Manager at Sandia National Laboratories.
Nicolás Morales is a Global Customer Experience executive with 20+ years of experience across Silicon Valley. At Cohere, he’s the Vice President of Customer Experience, leading an organization helping enterprises activate, adopt, and scale AI across critical business workflows. He’s previously served as a senior vice president at Alteryx where he led all post-sales functions through the company’s growth to $1B in annual revenue. Earlier, he led Sales Engineering and Customer Success at ClearStory Data, reporting directly to the CEO and contributing to the company’s acquisition by Alteryx. He began his career at IBM. Outside of work, he’s a frequent speaker on enterprise AI adoption, strategy, and the future of AI in business, contributing to industry conversations on how organizations can build scalable AI programs.
Joeletta Patrick is the Founder and CEO of JD Patrick and Associates LLC, a Greensboro, NC-based leadership development and STEM engagement firm. A retired NASA civil servant with 28 years in the NASA ecosystem, she began her career as an ISS Flight Controller at Johnson Space Center before transitioning to STEM Engagement Program Manager roles across multiple NASA centers. A systems thinker and opportunity revealer, Dr. Patrick now translates high-stakes decision-making frameworks from Mission Control into practical leadership tools for professionals and organizations. She holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from NC A&T State University and both an MBA and Doctorate in Business Administration from the University of Maryland Global Campus.