KINGSTON, R.I. – Feb. 06, 2026 – “Funny” means different things to different people—from describing something humorous, to something odd, to a sensation. And opinions on what is, in fact, “funny” vary widely. But on Sunday, March 1, at the University of Rhode Island, nine individuals with different opinions on what’s funny will explore the topic.
Presenters will explore humor in all its forms as part of TEDxURI’s “Now That’s Funny.” The show begins at 2 p.m. inside Edwards Hall, 64 Upper College Road, on the Kingston Campus.Tickets can be purchased at the TEDxURI site.
This year’s speakers will challenge assumptions about humor and expand what we consider funny—forgoing stand-up routines and punchlines and, instead, bringing outside the box thinking to sharing illuminating stories and ideas that are insightful, entertaining, and deeply human.
The 2026 TEDxURI presenters and their topics are:
“When Was the Last Time You Did Something N.E.W.?”
Dawn Mattera Corsi ’84, of Providence, has spent more than two decades helping people over 40 build lives of purpose, passion, confidence, and connection. A former engineer, Corsi is also a best-selling author, certified coach, and an award-winning speaker. Corsi has also co-authored books with Jack Canfield and Lisa Nichols and has spoken for organizations including the American Cancer Society, Hallmark, and Weight Watchers. A frequent guest on outlets such as CBS and Fox News, Corsi is known for offering proven techniques, heartfelt empathy, and a dash of tough love.
“Humanizing History, One Mysterious Book at a Time”
Jess Stratton, of Charlestown, a technology coach, trainer, and productivity expert specializing in Google Workspace and Microsoft 365, will also take the stage. As a former senior staff instructor with LinkedIn Learning, her courses have appeared on multiple in‑flight entertainment systems. She’s working on the second edition of her book Copilot for Microsoft 365: Harness the Power of Generative AI in the Microsoft Apps You Use Everyday. People can also listen to her podcast Nerd Girl Jess Untangles Tech, where she demystifies technology for end users at nerdgirljess.com.
“Why Kids are the Funniest Philosophers You’ll Ever Meet”
Katrina Walier, of Holmdel, New Jersey, is a URI senior who’s pursuing a B.A. in psychology and a B.S. in human development and family science with a concentration in counseling and social services, along with a minor in philosophy. Walier is dedicated to supporting children and adolescents, particularly those affected by trauma or from marginalized communities. She’s in the process of publishing research on intergenerational mental health risks in child‑welfare‑involved families. Walier also works at the URI Child Development Center, where she applies her interest in hands-on fieldwork. After graduation, she plans to pursue a Ph.D. in counseling psychology, specializing in child and adolescent mental health.
“What Doesn’t Kill You Might Make You Laugh”
Brian Quilliam, Ph.D., of Narragansett, is an epidemiologist and pharmacist whose research focuses on medication safety in vulnerable populations, especially older adults, and is a professor in URI’s College of Pharmacy. He has a long-standing interest in using humor as a powerful form of communication in public health and by healthcare practitioners. In 2015, he co-coordinated the URI Honors Colloquium series on The Power of Humor, which explored the use of humor across many topics including medicine, politics, science, law, and disability. He regularly co-teaches a course in the URI Honors Program on humor communication. His recent work includes a book chapter on how humor helps patients, caregivers, and practitioners cope with death and dying. Through teaching and seminars, he helps others use humor to build resilience while navigating its complexities.
“When Laughing at Yourself Goes Too Far”
Regina Bartlett, of Charlestown, is a writer, speaker and crafter. She lost over 200 pounds, following 30 years of obesity. Now she shares faith‑centered talks and workshops that encourage authenticity and grace. She is the author of Food, Sweat, & Fears, which chronicles her 250‑pound weight loss through gastric bypass and her journey to running the New York City Marathon. Bartlett and her husband, Jeff, filled their empty nest from their combined family of six adult children with two Chihuahuas named Sid Vicious and Starling Estrella Betances.
“The Risk of Missing Mozart: Why We Need Neurodivergent Minds”
Shana Francesca, of Westampton, New Jersey, is a cult survivor, speaker, writer, and consultant. She believes we become infinitely more impactful as human beings and leaders when we understand our lives and organizations as an ecosystem where we are meant to foster as a bubble of life.
“How Laughter Saved a Church”
Father Spencer Reece of St. Paul’s in Wickford, is a Guggenheim Fellow and long-list nominee for the National Book Award. His poetry collection The Clerk’s Tale won the Bakeless Prize and inspired a film by James Franco. Reece completed seminary at Yale University and was ordained in Madrid in 2011. He later received a Fulbright scholarship to teach poetry at Our Little Roses in San Pedro, Honduras, where he lived and worked with girls at an orphanage. His writing from that experience, Voices Beyond the Wall: 12 Love Poems from the Murder Capital of the World, was adapted into an award-winning film. His third poetry collection, Acts, was published in 2024, and in 2025 he received the John Updike Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters for the “profound elegance” of his work.
“The Laughter Assignment: What Purple Lipstick Taught Me About Owning My Voice”
Tara Brown, of Nashville, Tennessee, will also present. At 45, Brown stepped onto a stage for the first time—a leap that launched her into a career as a headlining comedian performing around the world. Brown is an award-winning comedian, inspirational speaker and corporate emcee who’s known for clean, family‑friendly humor that resonates across generations. She won the Jeanne Robertson “Comedy with Class” Competition and was recognized by the Carolinas Chapter of the National Speakers Association. She was also named “Best Comedian” in 2019 by Queen City Nerve. Her work has appeared on Dry Bar Comedy, KLOVE On Demand, Stand Up Nashville and on Nateland. A Brooklyn native who has also lived in Charlotte and Nashville, she blends New York grit with Southern warmth to remind audiences that it’s never too late to chase a dream.
“What doesn’t kill you might make you laugh”
Rachel DiCioccio, of Pawtucket, is a professor of communication and the director of the Office of Innovation in General Education at the University of Rhode Island. Her research explores how and why people use humor and teasing communication and the ways in which these communication tools impact our sense of self and our relationship satisfaction. She has published multiple book chapters on using humor as a tool for resilience and coping with death and dying. She also edited the book Humor Communication: Theory, Impact, and Outcomes. DiCioccio teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on humor, conflict management, and family communication, helping students develop the skills needed to build healthy, meaningful relationships.
For more information or to view previous talks, visit the TEDx URI website.
What is TEDx?
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx, a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. URI’s event is called TEDxURI, where x = independently organized TED events. TED Talk videos and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including URI are self-organized.