TEDxLone Star College

Speakers

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

• Amber Robertson

  Amber S. Robertson is a Brazos Valley native, passionate community advocate, public speaker, and author. She is the founder of Brazos Valley Blessings, a nonprofit supporting local families in their version of poverty. Inspired by generations of strong women and supported by her late husband, Patrick D. Robertson, Amber has devoted herself to service through fundraising, Juneteenth celebrations, and church outreach. Recognized by the Brazos Valley African American Museum, the City of Bryan, and Texas A&M University, Amber uses her platform to uplift marginalized voices and promote mental health awareness. She is currently pursuing a BA in Social Work from Tarelton State University . She’s a children’s book author and aspiring memoirist, Amber shares her experiences with grief, healing, and resilience through storytelling.

• Brandon Warren

  Brandon Warren began his academic journey while incarcerated, earning an Associate of Arts in Humanities from Lee College in 2004. After his release, he completed a Bachelor’s in Counseling, a Master of Divinity, a Master’s in Philosophy, and a Doctorate of Education from the University of St. Thomas in 2021. Since 2011, he has helped build and lead innovative prison education programs in Texas, including the first accredited seminary and college reentry services department within TDCJ. In 2024, he joined Adams State University as the Mellon Program Coordinator to launch a groundbreaking initiative hiring incarcerated graduate students as adjunct professors. Brandon has taught philosophy, ethics, theology, and critical thinking in various prison units for over a decade.

• Cary Wright

  Cary Wright is the CEO of Good Reason Houston, a nonprofit dedicated to improving public education through collaboration with families, educators, policymakers, and philanthropists. Before becoming CEO in 2023, he served as Chief External Affairs Officer and spent nearly a decade with Teach For America, including as Executive Director of the Dallas-Fort Worth region. His 15+ years in education and public affairs include roles as a press secretary in the U.S. House and a teacher in rural Mississippi. Cary serves on the boards of Houstonians for Great Public Schools, the Greater Houston Partnership’s UpSkill Executive Committee, and the Davidson College Alumni Association. A proud Texas public school graduate, Cary earned his degree in English and Art History from Davidson College. He lives in the Houston Heights with his boyfriend, Nick, and their dogs, Memphis and Finn. In his free time, he enjoys travel, fitness, and exploring Houston’s food scene.

• Dan McClellan

  Dr. Dan McClellan is a public scholar of the Bible and religion. He earned his PhD in theology and religion from the University of Exeter, where his dissertation explored conceptions of deity and divine images in the Hebrew Bible using cognitive linguistics and the cognitive science of religion. Since March 2021, Dan has worked to confront misinformation about the Bible on social media, where he shares scholarship as @maklelan on TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. In 2023, he transitioned to full-time public scholarship, expanding his work to include online courses like Biblical Hebrew. In 2022, he published a revised open-access version of his dissertation, YHWH’s Divine Images: A Cognitive Approach, with SBL Press. His first trade book, The Bible Says So: What We Get Right (and Wrong) About the Bible’s Most Controversial Issues, will be published by St. Martin’s Press on April 29, 2025.

• Hassan "MVP" Assad

  Hassan Assad, known worldwide as Montel Vontavious Porter (MVP), is an American professional wrestler, manager, and submission grappler. He is currently signed to AEW, managing The Hurt Syndicate, and is best known for his work with WWE and NJPW. A two-time WWE United States Champion, WWE Tag Team Champion (with Matt Hardy), and the inaugural IWGP Intercontinental Champion, MVP began wrestling in the early 2000s after training with Soulman Alex G and Norman Smiley. He debuted in WWE in 2006, where he held the U.S. Title for 343 days—the longest reign in SmackDown history. After stints in NJPW, TNA, and ROH, he returned to WWE in 2020 before joining AEW in 2024. Off the mat, MVP’s journey is one of resilience: tried as an adult at 16 for armed robbery and kidnapping, he served 9½ years of an 18½-year sentence. Today, he’s a respected veteran, motivational speaker, and social media influencer with over half a million followers.

• Jessica Eiseman

  Jessica Eiseman, MS, LPC-S, NCC is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor in Texas, Nationally Certified Counselor, and founder of Ajana Therapy & Clinical Services—an inclusive Houston-based practice named after the Bengali word for “the unknown.” With over 14 years of experience, she provides trauma-informed, culturally responsive care for women with ADHD, midlife transitions, maternal mental health, LGBTQ+ clients, and professionals facing burnout or identity shifts. She conducts forensic mental health evaluations for immigrants seeking asylum. Jessica’s work is rooted in Relational Cultural Theory and person-centered values, blending evidence-based approaches to support meaningful, sustainable growth. She’s also the creator of Mental Vitamins, a digital platform offering trainings and consulting for mental health professionals and the communities they serve. Outside work, Jessica is a mom, wife, pet lover, and bubble tea enthusiast who sees “the unknown” as a space for growth

• Jessica Hylton

  Jessica K. Hylton holds a Ph.D. from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She has published two collections, Gag Order—a collection of protest poetry in erasure form based on Trump’s speeches, and The Great Scissor Hunt—a collection based on the complexities of what happens after coming out of the closet. She current works at Kansas State University Salina and remains politically active, though she does have to get approval on her escapades from her beloved dog, Goose, who is arguably just as intense as she is.

• Jessica Young

  Jessica Young is a children’s book author and advocate for libraries, bookstores, and all things literacy. With roots in journalism and public service, she brings a storyteller’s heart and a communicator’s clarity to her work—whether writing for young readers or connecting communities to meaningful causes. She began her career as a journalist and editor at outlets including the Houston Chronicle, Texas Monthly, and the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, and was part of a Chronicle team named a Pulitzer Prize finalist. She transitioned into public affairs, leading communications in local government and the nonprofit sector to champion education and equity. She holds a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Liberal Arts – Journalism from Harvard University. She lives in Houston with her husband, Matt, and daughter, Harper Lee. When not writing or reading, she’s usually drinking coffee or dreaming up new ways to share stories that spark a love of learning.

• Keith Coleman

  Keith Coleman is a highly sought-after leadership expert in North America. A retired Marine Corps officer, acclaimed basketball coach, college professor and administrator, published author, motivational speaker, business owner, and politician, he is often described as a "Gentleman of the 21st Century" and a Renaissance man.

• Matthew Dempsey

  Dr. Matthew Dempsey is president of Lone Star College–University Park and a seasoned higher education leader with nearly 30 years of experience in community colleges. He previously served as vice president of instruction at Lone Star College–CyFair and held key academic leadership roles at Dallas College. In addition to his administrative work, he has served as an adjunct professor of biology for more than 20 years. Dr. Dempsey holds a doctorate in Higher Education Administration from Texas Tech, with earlier degrees from the University of North Texas, UCLA, and Saddleback College. He champions student success, academic innovation, and the development of strong educational communities.

• Ronnie Nespeca

  Ronnie Nespeca serves as Kinesiology Department Chair at Lone Star College-CyFair, where he has been a distinguished faculty member since the institution's founding in 2003. Throughout his tenure, he has demonstrated exceptional pedagogical versatility, teaching specialized Honors courses, Service-Learning classes that integrate community engagement with academic curriculum, and innovative Learning Community programs that foster interdisciplinary connections among students. He led international educational initiatives, teaching Study Abroad courses in the rainforests of Costa Rica and directing an immersive academic program across multiple regions of Italy, where students engaged with world-renowned cultural and historical sites while studying health sciences in a global context. He is the Co-Author of “Strength Training for Total Health and Wellness”. Prior to his academic career, he worked as an Exercise Physiologist for the United States Air Force at Dyess AFB in Abilene, Texas.

• Tim Mousel

  Tim Mousel, a full-time faculty member in the Kinesiology department at LSC-Online and Department Chair of Chemistry, Kinesiology, and Physics, has taught in higher education since 1993. Currently on special assignment with the Lone Star College Chancellor’s Office in the Department of Strategic Innovation, he also co-chairs the college’s AI Task Force. A nationally recognized educator, Tim has received awards including the 2022 LSC-Online Faculty Excellence Award, the 2023 NISOD Excellence Award, and the 2023 and 2025 Master Presenter honors from the University of Texas. His work on generative AI in education has been published by Harvard and featured twice in Forbes. A frequent keynote speaker and educational consultant for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Tim has presented to the Department of Defense and Space Force, and developed two commercial AI tools before the release of ChatGPT.