Upper School Intersession 2025

Learn from activists across disciplines, from political leadership to social justice, as they reflect on their decades of experience and their perspectives on the future of social equity. If you’re interested in learning about grassroots organizing, community activism, or a career in public service, this panel is for you! Our speakers will include the executive director of Women’s Building SF, founder of FundHer Valerie McGinty, a local director of Public Allies (former collaborators with Michelle Obama), and other E&I leaders!

Join Nueva upper school alumni as they discuss life at Nueva. Topics to be covered include: advice on getting the most of your Nueva experience; classes or co-curriculars alumni wish they had taken/participated in; reflections on navigating senior year, transitioning to college and building a new network; and more. This is an interactive session—questions and audience participation encouraged!

Women represent only 25% of the workforce of major technology companies. Women were also disproportionately affected by pandemic-driven spikes in global unemployment and reductions in labor force participation. What does this mean for young women trying to enter the tech industry? What struggles do women face and how can leaders in the field make change to these inequities? This is a special opportunity to hear from three women who have spent their careers in tech. Topics to be covered include tips for getting started in the tech industry, obstacles that women may face, career advice; and more. Don't miss out on hearing from these industry leaders. Questions and audience participation encouraged!

Panelists:

• Monica Ea Chander – Senior Director of Product Marketing at Meta
• Deepa Diwakar – Director of Engineering at Meta
• Erica Lockheimer – Founder, Investor, Podcaster. Formerly: VP of Engineering of LinkedIn

Hear from New York Times-bestselling author Jasmine Guillory as she reads an excerpt from her latest book. After, she'll open up space for a Q&A.

From camouflage to prehensile tails, adaptations are essential for animals and humans to survive. The physical and behavioral characteristics of these amazing animal ambassadors are highlighted in this engaging program.

It takes an average of $1.3 billion and more than 10 years to bring a new medicine to the point of applying for FDA approval. After pursuing this long and often tortuous path, the prospects are risky, and the FDA faces a binary choice: Grant marketing authorization, or reject the application?

What does the drug development process entail, and why is it so long, expensive, and complex? What is FDA's role in protecting American consumers and the public? How are the concepts of "benefit" and "risk" used to provide a framework for these decisions?

In this interactive session, you will learn the basics of the drug development process, including the role of the FDA in deciding whether to allow access to new drugs. Students will work in groups to evaluate whether a new drug should be "approved", and, if so, under what conditions.