Christina's commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Justice (DEIBJ) alongside her extensive professional experience in education positions her as a qualified expert to address the role of poverty in education. Her dedication to DEIBJ principles is evidenced by her proactive engagement in initiatives aimed at reducing disparities and promoting inclusivity within educational systems. Christina's work often focuses on identifying and dismantling the barriers that socio-economically disadvantaged students face, highlighting how systemic inequalities affect educational outcomes. This commitment ensures that her approach to discussing poverty in education is deeply informed by a desire to create equitable learning environments. Moreover, Christina's professional background, which includes roles such as educator, policy advisor, and consultant, provides her with a comprehensive understanding of the educational landscape. Her firsthand experiences with diverse learning communities enable her to offer insightful analyses and practical solutions aimed at enhancing educational access and quality for all students, particularly those from impoverished backgrounds. Her presentations are enriched by real-world examples and data-driven strategies, making her a respected voice in discussions on how poverty intersects with educational opportunities and outcomes. This blend of passion for DEIBJ and empirical knowledge makes Christina an authoritative speaker on the complex relationship between poverty and education.

Ms. Riddell is an epidemiologist specializing in poverty. Writing about and presenting brain science concepts has been a focal point for her work. From her years working as an epidemiologist and specializing in poverty, she created “gettin’ by”, a training program to help professionals work more effectively with low-income people. The centerpiece of the program is a game that puts the players’ brains through the same changes that happen to a person living in poverty. In 2019, after five years of testing and development, she brought the program to national and regional conferences. She is an experienced and enthusiastic public speaker. She speaks at several events each year and gets positive reviews. Her undergraduate degree is in English from the University of Cincinnati. She earned her master’s degree in health policy and management at the University of Southern Maine, Muskie School for Public Service. She has also completed courses at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in social epidemiology and biostatistics.