Natacha Poggio is a social impact design educator, TEDx speaker, and advocate of design for social change. In her teaching at the University of Houston-Downtown, she concentrates on the role nature plays in our lives and encourages students to find solutions that will inspire positive change in society. She is the founding director of Design Global Change, which focuses on designing planet-centered solutions to address global health, environmental, and social justice problems. She has over two decades of professional practice, and her work has reached hundreds of communities in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, garnering recognition as a two-time recipient of the Sappi “Ideas that Matter” award. Natacha lectures on social impact design, judges competitions, and volunteers her expertise on the Winterhouse Institute Advisory Council and AIGA. She earned a B.F.A. in Graphic Design from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and an M.F.A. in Experience Design from The University of Texas at Austin, United States. Natacha is a native of Argentina but considers herself a citizen of the world.

Melanie Uribe is a Venezuelan creative director, designer, and Associate Professor of Art and Design at Southern Connecticut State University, where she teaches interactive design and professional practice. Her career bridges higher education and the commercial design industry, including extensive work in sports licensing and merchandise development. She has created and directed licensed products for major organizations and brands, including the NBA in Latin America, Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, and other internationally recognized sports and entertainment properties.

Her teaching combines creative exploration with industry relevance, fostering an inclusive and socially conscious learning environment. Melanie’s research examines immigrant narratives, design education, and the use of exhibition spaces and emerging technologies—such as augmented and immersive reality—as tools for storytelling, accessibility, and advocacy. Her creative work has been featured in national and international exhibitions and presented at conferences including ATypI, FATE, and SECAC.

Beyond the classroom, Melanie is committed to strengthening connections among students, educators, and design professionals. Through her leadership with AIGA Connecticut, she has developed mentorship opportunities, networking events, and design-for-good initiatives. She has received grants and fellowships supporting her work in digital equity and creative pedagogy and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, with a focus on expanding access, equity, and innovation in design and technology education.