Cornell Tech Public Interest Technology (PiTech) Showcase
October 24, 2025 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM | Verizon Executive Education Center Room 325
Event Details
We are delighted to host the Cornell Tech Public Interest Technology (PiTech) Showcase on Friday, October 24, 2025, from 9:00am to 1:00pm at the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island.
This half-day event celebrates the innovative work accomplished through the 2025 PiTech PhD Impact Fellowship. The program will feature lightning talks from PiTech PhD Impact Fellows, panel discussions, and a special fireside chat featuring Josh Elder, Vice President and Head of Grantmaking at Siegel Family Endowment, in conversation with Dr. Deborah Estrin, Professor of Computer Science and Associate Dean for Impact at Cornell Tech.
The program will conclude with a networking reception, bringing together Siegel and Rubinstein PiTech PhD Impact Fellows, their host organizations, and leaders from nonprofits and public sector institutions.
RSVP: Due to limited capacity, we are not sending out additional invites at this time. To request consideration for attendance, please email the Cornell Tech Public Interest Tech Initiative at pitech-info@tech.cornell.edu.
Agenda
9:00 AM
Check-in, Coffee and Light Breakfast
Welcoming Remarks
9:30 AM
Fireside Chat featuring Josh Elder, Vice President and Head of Grantmaking at Siegel Family Endowment, in conversation with Dr. Deborah Estrin
9:40 AM
Siegel & Rubinstein PiTech PhD Impact Fellow Lightning Talks
10:00 AM
Panel Discussion: From Challenge to Project, Partnering with PiTech
Juan-Pablo Velez, Switchbox
Sarah Sachs, Block Party
Sarah Rankin, NY Public Library
Renata Gerecke, NYC OTI Research & Collaboration
10:30 AM
Siegel & Rubinstein PiTech PhD Impact Fellow Lightning Talks
10:55 AM
Panel Discussion: From Concept to Implementation, Collaborating with PiTech
Hayley Elszasz, Mayors Office of Climate and Environmental Justice
Luke Boyce, NYC Office of Emergency Management
Judith Bailey Hung, Young Adults Institute
11:25 AM
11:50 AM
Meet and Greet Lunch Reception
1:00 PM
Closing Remarks
12:00 PM
End
Speakers
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Luke Boyce
Strategy & Innovation, NYC Office of Emergency Management
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Joshua Elder
Vice President and Head of Grantmaking at Siegel Family Endowment
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Hayley Elszasz
Climate Science Advisor, Mayors Office of Climate and Environmental Justice
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Deborah Estrin
Professor of Computer Science and Associate Dean for Impact at Cornell Tech
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Renata Gerecke
AI Policymaker for NYC, NYC OTI Research & Collaboration
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Judith Bailey Hung
Technology & Innovation Expert, Behavior Intervention Specialist Coordinator, YAI
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Kate Nicholson
Description goes here -
Sarah Rankin
Senior Qualitative Researcher in Strategy and Public Impact, NY Public Library (NYPL)
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Daniella Raposo
Manager of Programs & Partnerships, Consumer Reports
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Sarah Sachs
Data Scientist, Block party
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Juan-Pablo Velez
Executive Director, former staff AI engineer at Spotify, Switchbox
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Nikhil
Description goes here
Location
Verizon Executive Education Center, Room 325
34 N Loop Rd, New York, NY 10044