Theme: Deeper

It’s easy to think big-picture. It’s in our nature to simply accept the obvious, to read a newspaper headline and skip the article. We’re all going through the motions, forgetting that the unseen components of life are often the most important. Still, we wonder: what if we remembered? What if we looked deeper?

This spring, TEDxSpringHillCollege invites you to look beyond the surface of everyday life into the elements that make up its foundation. Discover the beauty of these connections and the intricate ways they each shape your view of our world. Peer into the depths of science, technology, language, business, and every field of study imaginable to find its true hidden meaning. Explore your own experiences—your job, your hobbies, your interests—with renewed appreciation, unearthing insight in the most unlikely places. In essence: Go deeper.

Jeremy Moore
Mary Lou & John Barter Student Center
4000 Dauphin St.
Mobile, Alabama, 36617
United States

Daniel Penninton

Media Professional, Speaker

Daniel Pennington is a speaking coach and conference speaker who has worked with Fortune 500 companies around the US and Australia, teaching business leaders how to connect with their teams and drive engagement. Daniel spent 35 years as an executive in television stations building Emmy- nominated shows and training talent. In 2008 he was recruited to work with Quint Studer at the Studer Group, the Baldrige Award-winning healthcare consulting company in Pensacola before starting his own speaking company. Daniel is the author of "7-Step Guide to Speaking Success, an Essential Handbook for Healthcare Leaders" and "Nailed It! Giving Your Best Presentation Ever.” Daniel is a top-rated national speaker training and entertaining groups from diverse backgrounds on the principles of effective communication and public speaking skills.

Debjani Biswas

Leadership, Diversity, & Inclusion

Internationally bestselling author, coach and keynote speaker Debjani Biswas has a unique background: engineering, EQ certification and Fortune 50 executive experience. She won the 2017 GDAACC Award in Journalism for ‘Diversity Beyond Boundaries’ and is a 2013 NAPW ‘Woman of the Year’ An ‘Exclusion Exterminator’, she believes deeply in the TEDx theme of going Deeper. She has spoken at, coached, or consulted all over the world: Texas Instruments, National Summit for Educational Equity, Ericsson, Union Pacific, ICF Global London, UNH, IIMB etc. Her original frameworks on reducing bias and increasing inclusion are used in over 20 countries. Ms. Biswas is often featured sharing diversity and bias reduction insights on the media:. ESPN, CBS, DMN, iHeart Radio etc.

Dethra Giles

Organizational Strategist

Dethra U. Giles is an international speaker, executive coach and award-winning/best-selling author that delivers highly engaging and interactive presentations and workshops that take you on a journey of what leadership, personal development mastery and authentic conversations. Having worked with clients from Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Kaiser Permanente, and the Salvation Army, to name a few, Dethra shares insightful stories of successes and failures in the trenches. Dethra’s presentations are based on her award winning books, "Unstuck: Discovering Career Limiting Actions" and “Employeepreneur: 10 Career Catapulting Strategies Learned from Entrepreneurs” as we; as her corporate and entrepreneur experience which are all credited as the foundation of her lengthy business success. Dethra also speaks to women's groups across different industries and organizations. Dethra is a top rated speaker for SHRM (Society of Human Resources Managers).

Dr. Thomas Ward

Historian, Professor

"Biography: Thomas J. Ward Jr. is professor and chair of history department at Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, where he teaches a variety of courses in American history. A native of Annapolis, Maryland, Dr. Ward received his B.A. at Hampden-Sydney College, his M.A. at Clemson University, and his doctorate the University of Southern Mississippi. Before coming to Spring Hill College in 2007, Dr. Ward taught at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri. Dr. Ward has written numerous articles on African-American history and the history of medicine in the American South. In 2003, the University of Arkansas Press published his first book, Black Physicians in the Jim Crow South. His most recent work, Out in the Rural: A Mississippi Health Center and its War on Poverty was released by Oxford University Press in 2017.Dr. Ward is currently working on a book project on African-American prisoners of war. He lives in Spanish Fort, Alabama, with his wife and three sons.

Taylor Empslon

Student, Eagle Scout

Taylor Empson is from Baton Rouge, Louisiana and attended and graduated from Catholic High School. He is currently majoring in psychology at Spring Hill College with the intention of becoming a therapist. His extracurricular activities include being a member of the Psychology Club, the Ultimate Frisbee Club, and Sodality at Spring Hill and achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. Taylor desires to give a TEDx talk to spread an idea of happiness he feels examines a problematic worldview and belief people have today in order to help people make a positive change in their lives.

Vanessa Reyner

Entrepreneur, Writer, Consultant

Vanessa Reyner is the co-founder and writer for FULL & WELL, a weekly newsletter that sends thousands of subscribers resources on living a life of faith in culture, business, art, hospitality, relationships, and rest. In addition, Vanessa runs an award-winning marketing-consultant business, VMR Agency, which works with national, regional, and local clients in a variety of industries from higher-education to tourism. In 2013, Vanessa was selected as part of al.com’s inaugural 20/20 Vision project, which recognizes 20 of the best and brightest 20-somethings in Coastal Alabama. The honorees where chosen by the public for their contributions to the improvement of Coastal Alabama. In 2014, she was also selected to be on the cover of Mobile Bay magazine to represent the 40 under Forty class. Vanessa lives in Mobile with her husband, Wayne, their daughter, Virginia, and son, Mac.