TEDxUSD

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Alexis Evans

  Alexis Evans is South Dakota born & raised. A graduate from Yankton High School and USD, Alexis has spent her life involved in the arts, and currently serves on The Sound of USD Alumni Band Board of Directors. She and her husband, Garret, live in Yankton. Alexis is the Operations Director at Pathways Shelter for the Homeless.

• Arna Mora

  Dr. Arna Mora, M.D., is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. She earned her B.S. and M.D. from the University of North Dakota in 2021. She completed her training in Family Medicine at the Center for Family Medicine Residency Program in Sioux Falls in July of 2024 and completed a Fellowship in Obstetrics at the USD School of Medicine Obstetric program in January of 2025. She is currently practicing medicine at the Pipestone Regional Medical Center. Alongside her husband, Antonino Mora, Jr., she has given multiple presentations regarding Native American culture and history.

• Jing Williams

  Jing A. Williams is Associate Professor of Social Studies Education at the University of South Dakota (USD). She teaches elementary and secondary social studies methods courses. She is the three-time recipient of the Faculty Excellence Awards in Teaching at the School of Education at USD. In 2024, she was the keynote speaker at the Online Faculty Symposium hosted by USD’s Center for Teaching and Learning. Dr. Williams’ research interest focuses on the global perspective of social studies education. She is the lead author of Teaching with a Global Perspective: Approaches and Strategies for Secondary Social Studies Teachers, published by the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) in 2024. She is the Book/Media Review Editor of the Journal of International Social Studies, the official publication of the International Assembly of the NCSS.

• Julia Hellwege

  Dr. Julia Marin Hellwege is Distinguished Professor and Director of the Allene R. Chiesman Center for Democracy and Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of South Dakota. She is also affiliated with the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies program. Dr. Hellwege earned her Ph.D. from the University of New Mexico in 2016. She is a prolific and award-winning scholar who has published widely in both academic, applied, and public outlets. Her primary research focuses on the role of gender and marginalized identities in institutions and for political representation. She has two books under contract examining the legislative behavior of mothers and women of color. She is also co-editor for three books and several articles on professional development and social science pedagogy. An award-winning teacher, she offers introductory courses in political science and upper-division courses in American political institutions and the politics of inequality.

• Lindsay Perry

  Lindsay Perry is a breast cancer survivor, a dedicated employee at the University of South Dakota, a hobby crocheter, and a proud mother and wife, With a passion for resilience and personal growth, Lindsay has turned her diagnosis into opportunities to inspire others. She is committed to empowering individuals to overcome obstacles and live their fullest lives. Today, she shares her journey of strength, perseverance, and the power of a connection.

• Matthew Fairholm

  Dr. Matthew Fairholm is Professor of Public Administration in the Political Science Department and the W. O. Farber Center for Civic Leadership focusing on public administration, leadership studies, and constitutional governance. He has received several teaching and research awards. Before coming to USD he was the Director of Leadership Studies and Development at GWU’s Center for Excellence in Public Leadership, where he still serves as a Senior Fellow, and before that he worked at the U.S. Department of Energy. His professional outreach involves organizations spanning the public, private, non-profit, and university settings. He has written dozens of technical reports, professional pieces, and peer-reviewed articles that appear in leading journals, and he is the author, with his father, of the book Understanding Leadership Perspectives: Theoretical and Practical Applications (Springer 2009). He also wrote Putting Your Values to Work: Becoming the Leader Others Want to Follow (Praeger 2013).

• Sophie Two Hawk

  Sophie (Marrs) Two Hawk, M.D., a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe was the first American Indian graduate from the USD School of Medicine. Dr. Two Hawk completed her Internal Medicine Residency in Sioux Falls and a Critical Care Fellowship at the National Institutes of Health. She served as a Medical Officer in the the U.S. Public Health Service in roles including CMO, CEO of hospitals; Chief Medical Officer for the California IHS Area, and Medical Director for the Tricare Overseas Program.

• Zena Aragon

  Zena brings her bold energy and unstoppable light and spirit from the small town of Vinton, Iowa. She's the Captain of the South Dakota Dance Team, President of the Latin and Hispanic Student Organization, Co-President of Dakota Days, Vice-President of the Black Student Union, and President of the Sigma Delta Honor Society. Beyond titles and trophies, Zena is driven by a passion to celebrate diversity, foster inclusivity, and ignite the potential in others, whether through the power of dance, cultural celebration, or fearless leadership.