Beautiful Minds Conference
Keynotes, personal stories, student research, partner presentations, and performances from the University of Michigan Neurodiversity Project's Beautiful Minds Conferences (2024, 2025, and 2026).
Conference year
Session type
Provost Lori McCauley, Vice Provost Angela Dillard & Dr. Michelle Perez (UROP)
The 2026 Beautiful Minds Conference opens with a land acknowledgement and welcome addresses on masking, institutional responsibility, access with support, and neuroinclusion as a core part of academic excellence. Dr. Michelle Perez sets the stage for a day of student research and community dialogue.
Jesse Sanchez, President, Neurodiversity Alliance
Keynote on elevating neurodivergent voices, supporting mental health and well-being, and finding belonging by stepping out of hiding. Jesse shares his journey through masking, academic struggle, community with the Neurodiversity Alliance, and intergenerational healing as a parent advocate.
Jessica Wynne, Head Coach, U-M Wheelchair Basketball (introduced by Zach Damon)
Jessica Wynne shares her journey as a neurodivergent leader, from growing up different in Ann Arbor to coaching U-M Wheelchair Basketball, including the record-setting 2025 Crisler Center game. She explores coaching with empathy, team building, and actively celebrating small wins.
Dr. Adam Hazlett
A humanities professor shares his journey as a late-diagnosed autistic and ADHD individual in higher education. He reframes institutional struggles as environment mismatches, introduces micro-accommodations beyond UDL, and presents the PB&J framework: Predictability, Balance, and Joy.
Michael Metzger, Ross School of Business
A professor shares their personal journey of discovering they are on the autism spectrum, beginning with their daughter's diagnosis. They reflect on strengths such as deep focus and seeking truth, challenges in university social settings, and the relief and self-acceptance that came with understanding their experiences.
Moderated by Lydia Pinto, Neurodiversity Alliance
Five neurodivergent undergraduate and graduate students share strengths, accommodations, and what success means on their own terms. The panel explores inclusive environments beyond otherizing, relational support from mentors, and advice for younger neurodivergent students on embracing difference and authentic representation.
Michael Metzger, Ross School of Business
Professor Michael Metzger shares his journey of being diagnosed on the autism spectrum later in life, beginning with his daughter Kate's diagnosis at 18. He reflects on masking abroad, workplace dynamics, breaking stigma through open advocacy, and researching neurodivergence and entrepreneurship.
Elvis Valier & Nicholas Gonzalez
Student researchers present on reframing autism through a neurodiversity lens, the impact of stigma and masking, and structured gaming interventions to reduce loneliness. Nicholas shares immersive gaming research tracking stress levels through the Game On project.
Biella Gomez, Andrea Eiland & Corrine Baker (UROP)
U-M undergraduate researchers present findings on how standard interview formats disadvantage neurodivergent students. Based on 23 mock interviews, they identify patterns in eye contact, processing time, and question structure, and propose an AI simulation module for mentors.
Matt Harrison, University of Melbourne Neurodiversity Project (hosted by Sandy Zalmout)
Associate Professor Matt Harrison shares the University of Melbourne neurodiversity project across education, policy, research, and community, including HENN and the Community of Inclusive Learning, followed by Q&A on intersectionality and staff accommodations.
Lydia Pinto, Neurodiversity Alliance
Lydia Pinto introduces the Neurodiversity Alliance and its 180+ campus chapters, covering confidence, leadership, advocacy, internships, scholarships, and the official launch of a new student-led chapter at the University of Michigan.
Chris Robbins & Sally Burton Hoyle, Eastern Michigan University
Chris Robbins and Sally Burton Hoyle discuss the Michigan Higher Education Neurodiversity Network (Mi-HEN), bringing together U-M, UM-Dearborn, EMU, and Washtenaw Community College to build neurodiversity-affirming communities across Michigan.
Not Even Really Drama Students (NERDS)
Student theater group NERDS shares how they build accessible, inclusive spaces and center queer and neurodivergent perspectives, with live excerpts from their original musical The NPC's Guide to Raising Your Party.
Sandy Zalmout, President Santa J. Ono, Provost Laurie McCauley & VP Tabbye Chavous
Day 1 opening of the 2025 Beautiful Minds Conference. Sandy Zalmout welcomes attendees and highlights UROP research across policy, AI, VR, adaptive sports, and arts advocacy. President Ono, Provost McCauley, and Vice Provost Chavous speak on Vision 2034, inclusive curricula, and centering neurodiversity in DEI.
Carly Priest, Neurodiversity Alliance
Director Carly Priest introduces the Neurodiversity Alliance and core concepts of neurodiversity and neurodivergence. Covers common identities including dyslexia, dysgraphia, autism, and ADHD, plus supporting college students through disclosure, universal design, sensory access, executive functioning, and clear communication.
UROP student teams (introduced by Dr. Michelle Perez)
Day 1 student presentations from UROP teams exploring neuroinclusive pathways at the University of Michigan. Covers workplace neurodiversity policy, a campus survey on staff and faculty experiences, and AI and digital accessibility research including Healing Blue, text-to-speech for dyslexia, and personalized learning feedback.
Greg King, TeamNILO & Jessica Wynne, U-M Wheelchair Basketball
Day 2 keynote on adaptive sports, NIL storytelling, and neurodiversity advocacy. Greg King shares his journey with TeamNILO and leading a neurodivergent family. Jessica Wynne discusses wheelchair basketball, media representation, and authentic athlete narratives, followed by Q&A on coaching, disability resources, and avoiding inspiration narratives.
Jessica McQuade, Stephanie Pek & Annie Hensler, LSA Disability Navigators
Part 1 of a two-part LSA workshop on neurodiversity in the workplace. Covers key terminology, medical and social models of disability, a history of autism research, executive functioning and cognitive overload, and coping mechanisms including masking, stimming, and neurodivergent burnout.
Matt Harrison, University of Melbourne & Erik Robeznieks, U-M Adaptive Sports and Fitness
Day 2 presentations on neurodiversity-affirming programs. Matt Harrison shares how cooperative video games build social skills for neurodivergent youth through Next Level Collaboration. Erik Robeznieks discusses universal design in adaptive sports, physical literacy, and bridging varsity and adaptive athletes at the University of Michigan.
Tamour & Amelia, Dexter High School
Dexter High School SNAP pairs neurotypical volunteers with neurodivergent peers to build community and leadership. Student advocates Tamour and Amelia share lived experiences with autism, coping tools, unified sports, sensory advocacy, and the annual Autism Acceptance Walk.
UROP student teams
Day 2 UROP presentations on neuroinclusive campus support. Teams cover collaborative gaming and VR in the Duderstadt Center, sports and mindfulness for ADHD and dyspraxia, and music therapy sessions that significantly reduced student stress across neurotypical and neurodivergent participants.
Moderated by Carly Priest; Chloe Ma & Ryan Blackwell, Neurodiversity Alliance
Day 2 panel with Neurodiversity Alliance public speaking ambassadors on identity development, self-advocacy, and transitioning from education to the workforce. Covers stigma, accommodations, rejection sensitivity, intergenerational mentorship, and building flexibility into workplace culture.
Michigan Medicine panel: Jessimine Westler Marilander, Paige Huta, Quinnland & Kendra Davis, Bree Commons, Dr. Barbara Felt
Day 2 panel on neurodiversity-affirming care at Michigan Medicine. Covers process improvement across hospital units, OT principles for pediatric patients, family peer mentorship, sensory kits at hospital entrances, ambulatory care integration, and Q&A on ER environments, ARFID pathways, and inpatient school coordination.
Sandy Zalmout, U-M leadership, UROP students, Michigan Medicine, Stanford & Melbourne partners
Full 2024 Beautiful Minds Conference broadcast featuring institutional welcomes, UROP student research on K-12 trends and campus surveys, Dr. Megan Pesh on reframing pathology, Dr. Shanna Kattari on neurophobia, the Stanford Neurodiversity Project, sensory architecture research, global HENN partners, ECRT accommodations, and the Healing Blue app.