Theme: IGNITE

Ideas ignite. Ideas inspire. Ideas invigorate. Ideas push us to reimagine. Ideas change everything.

Innovations large and small, technological advancements, social movements, personal transformations, political change, solutions to complex problems, human achievements – all start with ideas.

TEDxSHSU is designed to IGNITE ideas. Through hearing new ideas, engaging in conversations, and imagining anew the world around us, we invite you to ignite your curiosity and join together with others in our community to ignite change.

Here’s our vision for ways that TEDxSHSU can ignite us.

Ignite individuals. How will the ideas you gain from TEDxSHSU change you as an individual and spark personal change?

Ignite passion. How will the ideas ignite new motivation for exploring and changing the world?

Ignite innovation. How will the ideas spark different ways of thinking about old and new problems?

Ignite relationships. How will the ideas spark new dialogues, open new networks, and forge new partnerships?

Ignite organizations. How will the ideas change your work, teams, and organizations?

Ignite communities. How will the ideas spark communal dialogues, shifts, and perspectives?

Ignite new ideas. What new ideas will emerge from TEDxSHSU and our collective dialogues?

Ignite change. How will the ideas inspire change – in our ways of being, knowing, thinking, and acting? What change will these ideas inspire?

Through TEDxSHSU 2024, you are an essential part of igniting ideas that change everything.

TEDxSHSU is the beginning. Join us to IGNITE your imagination, IGNITE your passion, and IGNITE ideas that transform.

Come for the spark. Leave igniting the world toward new and different tomorrows.

Sam Houston State University - Lowman Student Center
1717 Avenue J
Huntsville, Texas, 77340
United States

Benjamin Mitchell-Yellin

AI and the Good Life

Benjamin Mitchell-Yellin, Ph.D., is Director of the Teaching and Learning Center and Associate Professor of Philosophy at Sam Houston State University. Dr. Mitchell-Yellin has published a book, Near-Death Experiences: Understanding Visions of the Afterlife, and dozens of articles for academic and general audiences on a variety of topics, including meaning in life, values, agency, racism, and teaching in the age of generative AI. He received a B.A. in Creative Writing and Literature from the Residential College at the University of Michigan, M.A. in Philosophy from Boston College, and Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of California, Riverside, where he also served as a postdoc on the Immortality Project

Bradford Harris

Redesigning the Tech Table: Amplifying Black Voices in Technology, Gaming, and Esports

Bradford Harris is an experienced education technology consultant with over 14 years of experience transforming education through technology. He is currently a doctoral candidate in the Instructional Design and Systems Technology program at Sam Houston State University. He creates innovative learning solutions and champions technology to enhance learning. Committed to digital literacy, fluency, and inclusivity, Bradford integrates esports, STEM, and digital learning to prepare educators and students for the future workplace. He’s known for his strategic initiatives in promoting diversity and engaging learners. Offering services from professional development to curriculum design, Bradford aims to prepare a community of educators and learners for future challenges. Connect with him at link.space/@edtechtinker for innovative educational strategies.

Chinasa Elue

Grief-Conscious Communication: Redefining How We Navigate Everyday Grief

Chinasa Elue, Ph.D., is a professor, speaker, grief coach, and CEO and Founder of True Titans Consulting Group. Dr. Elue provides strategic coaching and consulting to organizations moving forward to make impactful changes during uncertainty with empathy and care. She is Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Higher Education at Kennesaw State University. Her research focuses on grief leadership, trauma-informed leadership practices in organizational settings, and the health and well-being of historically marginalized and underrepresented populations. Dr. Elue is host of the Grieving in Color Podcast, which explores ways we navigate our experiences with grief and loss and is a place where we find courage to intentionally heal in our daily lives. Her work has been published in numerous academic journals and featured in the Harvard Institute of Coaching, USA Today, DiversityInc, Better Homes & Gardens, and VoyageATL.

Debra Balandrán

Sí Se Puede: Overcoming Roadblocks as a First-Generation College Student

Debra Balandrán is a dedicated public health professional pursuing her Master’s in Public Health at Sam Houston State University, concentrating on Health Education and Promotion. She holds a BA in Bilingual Health Care Studies, a minor in Spanish, and has over eight years of healthcare experience. As a Ronald E. McNair Scholar, she has presented at national conferences on topics such as vaccine hesitancy in Latino communities. Debra’s commitment to education and community service has been recognized through numerous awards, including the Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education (TACHE) Graduate Student of the Year and multiple SHSU Sammy Awards. As a bilingual, first-generation student, she leverages her experience in health education, multicultural skills, and collaborative problem-solving to improve health outcomes for underserved communities. Debra’s passion for inspiring others in higher education and community drives her ongoing pursuit of excellence.

Desirey Elizabeth Delara

Erasing “Why Don’t You Leave?” from Domestic Violence Conversations

Desirey Elizabeth Delara is a senior at Sam Houston State University (SHSU), majoring in Criminal Justice with a minor in Victim Studies. As she’s grown up, her passion has been to become someone to whom the victims of our world can turn. Becoming a voice for those who don’t have one is her main goal and passion for doing this talk. Involved with her community, she is a part of the SHSU Honors College, furthering her education to the highest potential, as well as volunteering at local community events. Desirey interned with the Montgomery County Women’s Center and found this to be impactful and eye-opening, wanting to share her knowledge and experience with those around her. After graduation, she hopes to continue pursuing a career as a Victim Liaison.

Hiranya K. Nath

Rekindling Empathy: The Good Neighbor Initiative

Hiranya K. Nath, Ph.D., is a Professor of Economics at Sam Houston State University and serves as Adjunct Faculty at the Indian Institute of Information Technology Guwahati, India. He is also a Section Editor for Economics and Econometrics at PLOS ONE. Professor Nath has held visiting positions at institutions including Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Queensland University of Technology, and Tezpur University. His research has been published in notable journals such as California Management Review, the Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, and the Journal of Money, Credit and Banking. He earned his Ph.D. in Economics from Southern Methodist University and holds degrees from the University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University. Committed to community service, Professor Nath works with rural communities in India, believing that small adjustments in his life can profoundly impact others’ lives. He is driven by the belief that life is all about living.

Hosam Gharib Abdelhady

Seeing the Unseen: How Gold Nanoparticles Revolutionize Cancer and Viral Treatment

Dr. Hosam Abdelhady is a leader in pharmaceutical sciences, focusing on nanotechnology and biomolecular imaging. With a Ph.D. from the University of Nottingham, he has advanced research in drug targeting and delivery using polymer nanotechnologies. His pioneering work in real-time imaging of gold nanoparticles’ effects on DNA and RNA at the atomic level could revolutionize cancer and viral therapies. Dr. Abdelhady’s expertise in Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) has opened new avenues for treating diseases at the molecular scale. As an Associate Professor in the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Sam Houston State University, he is at the forefront of medical innovation, offering new hope to those battling cancer diseases and severe infections. His research, supported by numerous grants and awards, reflects the cutting edge of healthcare innovation, exemplifying his commitment to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in medicine

J. Bart Stykes

Seeing Invisible Student Parents

Bart Stykes, Ph.D., is Interim Chair and Associate Professor in Sociology at Sam Houston State University. His research explores parent-child relationships, family dynamics, gender, and well-being. He believes that impactful research transforms communities to affect positive change. As a first-generation college student, Dr. Stykes experienced insecurities, such as feeling like an outsider on the university campus, which instilled a passion to disrupt universities’ natural tendencies to reproduce inequalities across students. Dr. Stykes was eager to join the SHSU faculty because of the institution’s reputation for admitting and retaining historically underrepresented students. Sam Houston State University’s identity is wedded to meeting students where they are and empowering them to succeed to promote upward mobility. Yet, over the years, Dr. Stykes came to realize that some underrepresented students receive considerable support while others – like student parents – remain invisible

Jasmine Crooks

Exploring the Complexities of My Complexion

Jasmine Crooks is a senior at Sam Houston State University, majoring in Criminal Justice with a minor in Political Science. She is interested in the complex issues at the intersection of law, politics, and social justice. Outside the classroom, she is a 3-time national collegiate powerlifter. Following her undergraduate degree, Jasmine plans to pursue law school. She is committed to using her education to effect positive change in her community, potentially through pro bono legal work, advocacy for marginalized groups, or mentorship initiatives.

Loganne Mason

Sustainability and Agriculture: Making the Choice

Loganne Mason grew up on a cattle ranch in southeastern Colorado. She has spent her life in agriculture both in production and advocacy. She spent a gap year before college working as a State Officer for the Colorado FFA Association, where she advocated for production agriculture daily at the CSU Spur campus in the Commerce City area of Denver, Colorado. Loganne now studies Animal Science with a focus in pre-veterinary medicine at Sam Houston State University. She has a passion for animal agriculture and helping others understand the industry that she and her family have been involved in for generations. After her time at SHSU, Loganne hopes to attend vet school to become a mixed-animal veterinarian.

Maria Botero

Barking Back: Ethical Considerations in Studying Dog Cognition

Maria Botero, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Psychology and Philosophy Department at Sam Houston State University. As evident in her publications and research grants, her academic research focuses on animal cognition and ethics. The time she spent at Gombe National Park, Tanzania (Africa), observing chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) from the Kasekela community, shaped the way she views the primate mind, communication in human and non-human animals, and the methods used to study social cognition. Most recently she developed a Smart Dog Cognition Lab to study the relationship between anxiety and the performance of cognitive tasks in dogs.

Mayrena Isamar Hernandez

Making Sport Safe: The Importance of Secondary School Athletic Trainers

Mayrena Isamar Hernandez, Ph.D., is director of the Healthy Activity toward Promoting Injury Reduction Lab and Assistant Professor in athletic training in the Kinesiology Department at Sam Houston State University. Her research focuses on mixed-methods studies that examine how low socioeconomic status youth athlete families are impacted by the negative consequences of sport specialization. Additionally, she is interested in how athletic trainers’ clinical decisions may be impacted by their patient’s socioeconomic status. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from the University of Texas–Arlington, master’s in public health from Kansas State University, and doctorate in Kinesiology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Dr. Hernandez has worked in various clinical settings, including Division 1 athletics, university health centers, and outreach. She is the recipient of the 2024 National Athletic Trainers’ Research and Education Foundation Doctoral Research Award.

Pat Lindsay “Pinky” C. Catalla-Buscaino

Who is Your Kuwento Keeper?

Pat Lindsay C. Catalla-Buscaino, Ed.D. (she/her), also known as Dr. Pinky, is the Founder and Publisher of Kuwento Co. LLC. Her press is dedicated to empowering people to share and preserve their life stories, or kuwentos. Kuwento Co. specializes in all things storytelling, including publishing memoirs, anthologies, consulting, and writing events. Kuwento Co.’s latest release, With Love: What We Wish We Knew About Being Queer and Filipino in America, by Dr. Dustin Domingo, showcases her publishing company’s commitment to diverse voices. Dr. Pinky is the author of The Kuwento Book: An Anthology of Filipino Stories + Poems, with another volume slated for publication in 2025. Additionally, Dr. Pinky serves as the President of the Filipino American National Historical Society - Houston Chapter and enjoys spending time with loved ones over delicious food. Connect with her at www.kuwentoco.com, pinky@kuwentoco.com or on social media @KuwentoCo. #KuwentoKeeper

Shelly Clevenger

The Healing Power of Toys: How Toys Help People Cope with Trauma

Shelly Clevenger, Ph.D., is Department Chair and Professor in the Victim Studies Department at Sam Houston State University (SHSU). She has authored many peer-reviewed journal publications, book chapters, and books on victimization. Dr. Clevenger had the honor to present her research on victimization at the United Nations Women in New York City and a U.S. Congressional Briefing in Washington, D.C. Dr. Clevenger is the recipient of numerous national awards for her teaching, activism, and research. The SHSU College of Criminal Justice has also recognized her with awards for her teaching and community engagement. In her spare time, Dr. Clevenger is an avid vintage toy collector, voracious comic book reader, and Disneyland enthusiast. She loves to spend time with her family.

Uzma Iqbal

Self-Compassion is Not Selfish

Uzma Iqbal, M.D., embodies a passion for healing and leadership as Medical Director and CEO of the Houston Center of HOPE, specializing in Hematology, Oncology, Integrative, and Internal Medicine. Dr. Iqbal is an Adjunct Clinical Professor at the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine at the University of Houston, where she fosters growth in medical students. With a heart for service, she has earned recognition as Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum, Class XLV. She has lent expertise as Associate Certified Coach, accredited by the International Coaching Federation, in transformational coaching. She is deeply involved in community development, serving on the Board of Directors for non-profit organizations, the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship of Greater Houston, and SHIFA Healthcare and Community Services. Dr. Iqbal is committed to healing, teaching, and servant leadership. She loves spending time with her family.