Theme: Transformations

TEDxHBU will be an all-day event at Houston Baptist University with talks centered around the theme of Transformations. Speakers will be from Houston and Austin, including some HBU professors and students.

Houston Baptist University
7502 Fondren Road
Houston, Texas, 77074
United States

Asma Mirza

Tech Entrepreneur + Scientist

Asma Mirza is one of the youngest female tech entrepreneurs in the U.S. Asma has been named among the Top 10 Female Entrepreneurs in Texas, founded and was the former CEO of the world's first genetics-based dating app, and now serves at the CEO of a DRI, a med-tech company innovating optics, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality in medicine and energy. Before gaining traction in the startup industry, Asma was leading tech-interventions in low and middle-income countries by creating solutions for refugee healthcare. She holds a graduate degree in Global Health and Human Rights from Duke University, and a B.S in Chemistry and Molecular Biology from HBU. Though she has lived and worked in Haiti, Pakistan, and Jordan, Houston is her hometown. Asma serves on the advisory board for Social Mama, an innovative social app, and has founded Houston's first multi-art collective, MACH. Asma is a Pakistani-American who is passionate about human rights, technology, faith, and literature.

Eunique Williams

Student + Vocalist

Eunique Williams is a Senior at Houston Baptist University majoring in Biology as she is pursuing a career as a medical doctor. She has earned the academic achievement of being on the Dean’s List every year. As a student leader on campus, Eunique enjoys helping her peers reach their academic goals. Eunique has served as a Gen-1 peer mentor for first generation college students, Teaching Assistant for Anatomy & Physiology, Student representative for the Texas Medical Center Student Affairs Council, Program Ambassador for TRIO Student Support Services, and Secretary for the Pre-health professional organization Alpha Epsilon Delta. Eunique Williams strives to continue to succeed academically through hard work, time management and self-discipline while also encouraging and helping those around her do the same.

Jade Shuffler

Undergraduate Student

Jade Shuffler was born in China and raised in the small town of Tomball, where she attended Tomball High School. She is currently a Nursing-Honors student at Houston Baptist University. Jade has spent many years in music through her high school’s orchestra and has been writing poetry for over 10 years. Over the years, she has found her passion in helping others through sharing her testimony of transformation, and her confidence to speak in public through her music. Her studies in the Honors College at Houston Baptist University have reinforced her love of learning and philosophy, and she plans to travel and participate in mission work with her nursing degree.

Jeffrey Frey

Innovator + Educator

Jeff discovered his life’s motto “FurtherFaster” in junior high. Supported by family, friends, employers, professors, & advisors, the motto became a mission to realize how individuals & organizations accelerate achievements with lasting longevity. Jeff has a BS/MS in Computer Science from Kent State, MBA from Rice Univ and Ph.D. in Sustainable Systems from Case Western Reserve & held executive roles in corporate, consulting, nonprofit and higher ed. An expert in emerging digital tech, a researcher in emotional intelligence, and an entrepreneur, Jeff’s current ventures are Talent Path-career launching training to fill the technology skills gap; and Wellevations–a wellbeing concept to help people thrive for which he just returned from facilitating a retreat in the Dominican Republic for missionaries & nonprofit leaders. Living a FurtherFaster life, Jeff is also a husband, father to two boys, marathon coach, worship pastor, and entrepreneurship faculty in the School of Business at HBU.

Jermaine Tolbert

Artist + Author

Jermaine Tolbert attended Eastern Michigan University. He began to spawn attention from music industry executives after posting YouTube videos in 2007. In 2010, Jermaine and J. Drew Sheard of the BET reality show "The Sheards," along with longtime friend John Houston teamed up under Oscar & Grammy award winner Pharrell Willams to form a group by the name of 3D. Due to an unfortunate incident that caused Jermaine to be hospitalized for ten days in a local psychiatric ward in Southfield, MI, Jermaine was forced to walk away from music in whole to re-develop mentally from the traumatic experience. After being diagnosed with schizophrenia & depression, and after no help from prescribed medications, Jermaine's authored a book describing his struggles, pains, and arduous journey back to mental clarity; entitled Remind Me to Think: The Genius Behind Crazy.

Jim "Mack" McIngvale

Businessman + Philanthropist

Born in Mississippi, Mack attended high school in Dallas, and college at the University of Texas and the University of North Texas where he played football for both schools in 1969-1970 and 1972-1973, respectively. After college, Mack worked at a convenience store where his boss did him a huge favor one day: he fired him. Refreshed and determined, Mack found a job at a furniture store where he diligently worked, absorbing the business practices and trades of the furniture industry. Inspired, Mack made a decision that would forever change his life and the competitive world of retail industry: to open up his own furniture store. His brother helped him find the perfect location to start the new business: an abandoned model home park located in Houston. Mack asked his then-girlfriend Linda to join him in Houston, and she said she would move under one condition: if they became husband and wife! The McIngvale’s now have three Gallery Furniture stores.

Katie Alaniz

Assistant Professor of Education

Katie Alaniz, Ed.D., is a faculty member, Chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, and Director of Online Learning and Professional Development within the College of Education Behavioral Sciences at HBU. As a teacher and digital learning specialist for over a decade in both public and private schools, including her service as instructional technologist at River Oaks Baptist School, Dr. Alaniz guides fellow educators as they meaningfully integrate digital resources within their classrooms. Together with colleagues at HBU, Dr. Alaniz has coauthored Naturalizing Digital Immigrants: The Power of Collegial Coaching for Technology Integration and Digital Media in Today's Classrooms.

Marian Taylor

Registered Nurse + Artist

Marian Taylor, a graduate of University of Texas Houston Health Science Center School of Nursing, began her nursing career over thirteen years ago in the field of pediatric hematology and oncology. She spent ten years caring for children with blood disorders and cancer at Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas. Discovering her passion for end of life care, Marian is currently working as a rural hospice nurse. In addition to her career as a nurse, she is also a mom to two small children, an artist and writer.

Matthew Lopez

Student Ministry Leader

Matthew Lopez was born in Baltimore, MD and lived in Charles Town, West Virginia for 12 years before moving to Tomball, Texas in 2014. After graduating from Tomball Memorial High School, he is now a sophomore majoring in Biochemistry at Houston Baptist University. One of the most impactful events in his life was seeing his mother fight and win against breast cancer, who has now been in remission for 2 years. Matthew’s passion in life is medicine and he uses this event as motivation to push through undergraduate school and succeed in medical school to be a doctor to help others as a family practitioner. Another passion in his life is his faith, as he is a leader in HBU Baptist Student Ministries, where he leads a small group of freshman in bible study, guiding them through their faith and relationship in Christ.

Peter Hotez

Physician Scientist

Peter J. Hotez, M.D., Ph.D. is an internationally-recognized physician-scientist in neglected tropical diseases and vaccine development. In 2006, at the Clinton Global Initiative, he co-founded the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases to provide access to essential medicines for hundreds of millions of people. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine, and in 2011 he was awarded the Abraham Horwitz Award for Excellence in Leadership in Inter-American Health by the Pan American Health Organization of the WHO. In 2014-16 he served in the Obama Administration as US Envoy, focusing on vaccine diplomacy initiatives between the US Govt and countries in the Middle East and North Africa. In 2018 he was appointed by the US State Dept to serve on the Board of Governors for the US Israel Binational Science Foundation, and he received the Sackler Award in Sustained Leadership from ResearchAmerica! He was also elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Robert Sloan

President, Houston Baptist University

Dr. Robert B. Sloan is the president of Houston Baptist University and has served in this capacity since September 1, 2006. Dr. Sloan serves on the Board of Directors of the Houston Symphony, the Greater Houston Partnership, Orphan Outreach (emeritus), and the Christian Thinkers Society. He also serves as Chairman of the Board of Citizens Inc. and on the Community Relations Committee of Memorial Hermann Healthcare System. He is the author of numerous articles, reviews, and other published works, including, most recently, the first two volumes of a young adult fantasy series (the Hamelin Stoop books). He graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Baylor University in 1970; earned the Master of Divinity degree magna cum laude from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1973; conducted post-baccalaureate research at the University of Bristol, England, from 1973 to 1974; and earned the Doktor der Theologie insigni cum laude from the University of Basel, Switzerland, in 1978.

Scott Hatch

Church Minister + Fitness Coach

A native Texan, Scott was born in Lubbock, Texas in 1983. After a battle with a severe drug addiction he moved to Houston, Texas where he experienced an incredible life transformation. A former High School dropout Scott was able to attain his GED and then graduated Summa Cum Laude from HBU in 2008 with a BA in Business Administration and Christianity. In June 2014, Scott completed his Master of Arts in Theology and Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary. Scott has dedicated his life to church ministry and helping people get physically fit. He’s travelled sharing his story of personal transformation and preaches to a congregation he founded called ThriveAustin Church. He also works bi-vocationally in the fitness industry to help people reach their physical health goals. Scott has 12 years of vocational church leadership experience and over 13 years of sobriety from drugs and alcohol.

Trent Clark

Student + Artist

Trent Clark was born and raised in Spring, Texas. A suburban town found within the Houston metropolitan area. He is currently a student of Houston Baptist university, majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and minoring in Studio Arts. Trent has served as the Red Cross president of the local Houston Baptist University chapter for the past two years, but has had a long history of general service in and out of the medical fields. He hopes to one day combine his love for helping others and his love for science, by entering the medical field as a pediatrician.