TEDx Arcadia University 

For 33 years, Garreth Heidt has designed classes at the middle, high school, and college level. He engages his students through instructional approaches employing Design Thinking Project-Based Learning as means to a liberal education.

Mr. Heidt’s classes blend traditional and progressive methods to develop learner’s skills in mindful observation, critical viewing, civil discussion, and problem solving.

A 1990 Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Temple University, Mr Heidt holds a BA in English, a Masters in Curriculum and Instructional Design, and has completed numerous classes with Bard College’s Institute for Writing and Thinking.

In addition to his work in the classroom, Mr. Heidt spent 27 years coaching speech and debate, developing regional and national champions in various competitions. He has also helped start his district’s Robotics and Esports Teams. Mr. Heidt blogs (infrequently) at www.onlyconnects.wordpress.com and pvhsnovalab.com.

Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD, CPE, DFAPA, FACP, FACLP

Dr. Muhamad Aly Rifai is a physician entrepreneur, board certified psychiatrist, internist, and addiction medicine specialist, and CEO of Blue Mountain Psychiatry. A first-generation immigrant who was raised in Aleppo, Syria, he survived civil war and learned early what fear does to the human mind.

Trained at the University of Virginia and the National Institute of Mental Health, he became a national voice for telehealth, precision psychiatry, and neurotechnology that measures brain activity in real time. His clinical work pairs rigorous medicine with deep humanity, including advanced care for people living with severe depression and trauma. After facing a public federal prosecution and earning full acquittal at trial, he turned pain into advocacy for due process, ethical leadership, and protection of professionals under pressure.

Dr. Rifai brings a message built on courage, truth, and action, and calls audiences to move toward more through discipline, integrity, and service.

Ava Betson (she/her) is a senior Psychology major and Public Health minor as well as a member of Arcadia University’s Honors Program and Psi Chi, the national Psychology Honors Society. As a future health professional, Ava is passionate about bridging health inequities for marginalized communities, particularly women, LGBTQ+ individuals, disabled individuals, and racial minorities. At Arcadia, Ava has served as a Teaching Assistant for Experimental Psychology I under the supervision of Dr Logan Fields for approximately 2 years, helping students gain an understanding of experimental procedures, scientific writing, and preparing them to run their own experiments. Ava had implemented her own IRB-approved experimental study on the well-documented bias of pain perception for women and people of color, and is currently writing a literature review-based thesis on fandom involvement and social well-being for autistic women. Additionally, Ava worked at Arcadia’s Learning Resource Network for 2 years, helping administer exams to students with academic accommodations, further emphasizing her desire to improve equitable access for underserved populations.

Aside from her professional and research experience at Arcadia, Ava served as an Intern at Lakeside Girls Academy, a therapeutic, trauma-informed high school for girls with significant life stressors. Under the supervision of a licensed professional counselor, Ava was responsible for a caseload of six students, administered one-on-one therapy sessions, individual and group life and career skills training, and participated in clinical meetings with Lakeside’s therapeutic, social work, and teaching staff.

Outside of academics, Ava is passionate about an eclectic array of hobbies and interests, from antique doll collecting, sculpting, jewelry making, sustainable fashion, collecting tea and attending tearooms, tattoos, alternative rock music from the 80s and 90s, animation, renaissance fairs, and being a self-proclaimed horror movie enthusiast. She is a strong believer in the power of the arts and self expression in enhancing and engaging communities, fighting for social justice causes, and uniting people across cultures, and hopes to open her own small business selling her art in the near future.

Payton Goltz is a Senior in Arcadia's Honors Program majoring in International Relations, Diplomacy and Law and double minoring in French and Law and Public Policy with a 4.0 GPA.

She currently serves as The Editor-in-Chief of The Compass, Arcadia's Scholarly Journal. Last year, she co-founded Arcadia's Pre Law Association and currently serves as The President. She is a member of The Pi Sigma Alpha and Sigma Iota Rho Honors Societies, and will be inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi and Pi Delta Phi Honors Societies this Spring. She is a French tutor at Arcadia's Learning Resource Network and a member of Arcadia's Model United Nations Team.

This year, she was selected as the recipient of The Maude A. Farran '38 and William Benner Farran Award for the senior who is most proficient in pre-law studies. She was also nominated for the Senior Golden Disc Award. After graduating from Arcadia, Payton plans to take at least one gap year to gain professional experience and then attend law school.

Ethan Piperno is a student in the Honors Program at Arcadia University, majoring in Biology.

He is a member of Arcadia’s Esports Team, where he competes in Overwatch as part of a nationally ranked #18 team.

Outside of academics, Ethan enjoys playing piano and participating in recreational sports, including soccer at Arcadia. He is also involved in the Astronomy Club, reflecting his broader interest in science beyond the classroom.