2026 Event

Bryan Tucker is an alumnus of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where he earned his degree in Psychology and graduated with a master's in Counseling and Rehabilitation Education. With extensive hands-on experience working with individuals with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) across southern Illinois, Bryan is deeply passionate about mental health, trauma recovery, and rebuilding lives. His commitment to making a positive impact is evident through his active participation in community outreach programs and his role as a mental health advocate. Aspiring to become an attorney, Bryan aims to empower others to overcome life's challenges and foster resilience. His journey reflects compassion, dedication, and a profound commitment to transforming lives through mental health advocacy. 

GeVonna Fassett is the founder of Olivia’s Prayer, an outreach organization serving caregivers while advancing Alzheimer’s awareness in the African American community. Her mission is specific: to make seasoned citizens’ last days their best days and to support the people who love them. 

Known as “The Eldertrician,” GeVonna challenges traditional ideas about leadership by revealing the leadership already happening in families every day. She believes that when you are making decisions for someone who depends on you, you are leading, whether you claim the title or not. 

GeVonna holds a master’s degree in sports administration and a graduate certificate in gerontology. With a multifaceted background that includes broadcasting and work across several industries, she brings clarity and lived experience to conversations about aging and caregiving. 

Her TEDx talk continues her mission to elevate seasoned citizens and help families recognize the leadership in their care. 

VIDEO - COMING SOON

Robinson is a portfolio entrepreneur based in Southern Illinois specializing in safety consultation, training, and insurance. Robinson's passion for protection is evident in his unique approach teaching people how to protect themselves and the things important to them. Robinson has led many effectual, dynamic symposiums for diverse organizations nationwide. In between serving clientele and his local community, Robinson indulges his avid love for film and the shooting sports. 

Jaime is a Growth Catalyst and Value-Creation Architect who has spent more than two decades helping global organizations turn ambition into results during moments of complexity, disruption, and reinvention. As a senior revenue executive and former Chief Revenue Officer, she has led commercial transformations across technology, hospitality, private equity, and enterprise IT services—where the stakes are high and execution matters. 

After years of building and leading high-performing teams, Jaime came to understand the most critical constraint to sustainable growth isn’t operational—it’s human. 

Today, Jaime is Field CRO at RapidScale, a Cox Business Services company, as well as an executive coach, motivational speaker, and retreat leader devoted to helping leaders create growth from the inside out. She designs transformational retreats that integrate nourishment, embodiment, and courageous truth-telling—supporting leaders in reconnecting with themselves so they can lead with clarity, integrity, and wholeness. 

Her work bridges value creation and self-preservation, reminding us that the most powerful leaders don’t extract more from themselves—they learn how to fuel what matters most. She is the author of the #1 bestseller Dealmaker and writes The Messy Middle, a biweekly newsletter, and is best known for delivering soul-stirring keynote talks, workshops, and retreats that help audiences reconnect to their inner fire and rise without losing their soul.

Dr. Pamela Buchanan is a physician with over 20 years of experience in private practice and emergency medicine. After experiencing burnout firsthand during the pandemic, she transformed her career and life around one core belief: purpose is the prescription. 

Today, she is a TEDx speaker and stress management expert who helps healthcare and corporate audiences reduce burnout by reconnecting to purpose. Through powerful storytelling, practical neuroscience, and real-world clinical insight, she teaches organizations how to turn stress into strategy, burnout into boundaries, and purpose into profit. 

Her work focuses on improving resilience, retention, and sustainable performance—because healthy people build healthy organizations. 

Joseph (Joey) Volpe is a senior at Southern Illinois University Carbondale studying Hospitality, Tourism, and Event Management. He currently serves as Vice President of Sigma Chi and is a proud member of Eta Sigma Delta, the international honor society for hospitality management. Joey chose to serve as President of TEDxSIUC because of his genuine love for event planning and bringing people together around ideas that matter. TEDx had a meaningful impact on his own educational experience, encouraging him to get involved beyond the classroom and think more intentionally about leadership, creativity, and community. Through TEDxSIUC, Joey is excited to help create an engaging space where ideas are shared and lasting connections are made.

Suhas is a sophomore at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, enrolled in the College of Agricultural, Life, and Physical Sciences in the undergraduate biological science program. Suhas’ previous work has involved advocacy for underserved populations in healthcare, and he continues to work in aid of bridging the gaps in our current system. Suhas’ involvement in TEDx is driven by a desire to tell interesting stories and give people a platform to be their authentic selves while inspiring others who are on their own unique journeys.

Mackenzie is a Freshman at Southern Illinois University, pursuing a bachelor of science in biochemistry with a minor in mathematics. In addition to her academics, Mackenzie is a member of the SIU NCAA Women's Track & Field Team. Mackenzie is also an active member of the community, working with student groups on youth science outreach programs and supporting local female business leaders. Mackenzie's passion for creativity and celebrating individuality lead her to work with TEDxSIUC, striving to give people a platform to connect with others through the sharing of stories and ideas.

Parker is a senior studying Econometrics & Quantitative Economics at SIUC’s College of Business and Analytics. He is involved with TEDx because he likes being part of events that bring people together and highlight ideas worth sharing.

Sam Bakos is a senior at SIUC majoring in Journalism. Sam is the co-executive producer of one of the muti-media RSOs on campus. He loves being able to create new and different things and being able to help others learn. 

Sam decided to join the TEDx team as audio/visual manager because of his love for video production. Sam has worked freelance video production for close to four years and has loved every second of it. 

Kaylin Williams is a third-year student at SIUC majoring in Cinema. She loves being able to express herself artistically and develop her filmmaking skills through the courses SIUC’s College of Arts and Media has to offer, and by being an active member in multiple media-making RSOs. Kaylin chose to join TEDxSIUC as audio/visual manager because of the opportunities the organization provides for her to get pre-production and hands-on live video production experience! She also loves to listen and learn from the brave and inspirational TEDx speakers!

Ainaz Fazlfarhadi is a graduate student pursuing a degree in Architecture at Southern Illinois University. With professional experience in architectural design, photography, curation, and personal branding, Ainaz brings a diverse skill set and perspective to the TED team. Driven by a passion for creating positive change, Ainaz is excited to collaborate with other TED members to spread ideas that can build a brighter future.

Caleb Oxley is an undergraduate student at SIUC who is pursuing a double major in Cinema and Radio Television Digital Media. Caleb joined the TEDx RSO because of interest in helping others refine their speeches. Caleb is a long time video editor and an honors student, involved in other clubs such as MCM (movie camera movement). When not doing TEDx, Caleb loves to make short films with his friends, and keeping up with people in his hometown of Galesburg, Illinois.