In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

Point Loma Nazarene University
3900 Lomaland Dr.
San Diego, California, 92106
United States

Chimara Anyiwo

Chimara Anyiwo is a 2019 Undergraduate Pre-Law, Business, and Criminal Justice graduate from Point Loma Nazarene University.

Jessica Matthews

Assistant Professor, Kinesiology & Integrative Wellness, Point Loma Nazarene University Dr. Jessica Matthews is an innovative educator who has designed and implemented degree and professional certificate programs at several colleges in San Diego, including the Master of Kinesiology in Integrative Wellness program at PLNU. One of the first national board certified health and wellness coaches (NBC-HWC) in the country, Matthews serves on the research team within the UC San Diego Centers for Integrative Health, leading the design and implementation of behavioral interventions within clinical lifestyle medicine studies. In addition to creating and teaching a variety of graduate courses in areas such as integrative health and mind-body medicine, for more than 10 years Matthews has regularly contributed as a wellness expert to numerous publications and media outlets, including, but not limited to, The New York Times, NPR, Women’s Health, Oprah.com and Doctor Radio. She has also authored and edited several books, including The Professional’s Guide to Health and Wellness Coaching: Empower Transformation Through Lifestyle Behavior Change. Matthews is genuinely passionate about inspiring others to thrive in their lives—physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and socially—while simultaneously serving the greater good. As such, she guides donation-based oceanfront yoga classes in which 100% of proceeds from every class are donated to various non-profit organizations which speak to her heart. For her superior instructional abilities and positive influence within her local community and the global health and fitness industry, Matthews was honored as the 2017 IDEA Fitness Instructor of the Year.

Jonathan Villafuerte

Jonathan Villafuerte personifies a story of courage and resiliency. As a teenager, Mr. Villafuerte fell into street culture and began to cope with his problems by affiliating with a local gang. Fortunately, he transformed his life and earned a full-ride scholarship to Point Loma Nazarene University. In 2009, he became a first-generation college graduate with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Mr. Villafuerte has since earned a Master of Science degree in Counseling (with a PPS credential) from San Diego State University. Mr. Villafuerte's work is strongly grounded in equity and empathy for First-Generation, Low-Income Youth (FLY Scholars). As an educated man of color, he is cognizant that with positive and culturally relevant programs, all students have a higher chance of attending and graduating from college. Jonathan Villafuerte has made a lifelong commitment to bridge the opportunity gap as an educator, public speaker, and urban-education consultant.

Melissa Newman

Associate Professor, Communication & Theater, Point Loma Nazarene University Dr. Melissa Newman joined the Communication & Theatre Department in 2015. She has served as a communication professor for the past 14 years at schools in Texas, Nebraska, and California. Newman is personally committed to the mission of PLNU as one who shapes, instructs, and mentors students in a “learning community where grace is foundational, truth is pursued and holiness is a way of life.” She loves teaching, advising students, and mentoring them as they pursue their vocational calling. In 2004, she was awarded the Academic Advisor of the Year at Dallas Baptist University for her excellence and dedication to serving students. As a communication scholar, Newman is interested in how people use messages to create meaning, interpersonally and within organizations, and how the social influence of communication affects all aspects of public and private life. For her dissertation, she conducted in-depth interviews with Christian young adults across the U.S. to explore how they used Facebook for religious and/or spiritual purposes and if they perceived any satisfaction from doing so. She has also written on the importance of media literacy as it relates to young adult Instagram use and the messages mothers send their children regarding parasocial relationships with Disney princesses. Prior to working in higher education, Newman worked as a national event planner for two major national ministry conventions, served as an international sales representative for a publishing company, and worked in marketing for a sports news network.

Randal Schober

Associate Professor, Management, Point Loma Nazarene University Dr. Randal Schober began at PLNU in 2009 as an adjunct faculty member before becoming a full-time associate professor of management in 2014. He came to PLNU with over 20 years of experience in for-profit and not-for-profit executive leadership and entrepreneurship. As the former executive director of SurfAid, he provided much-needed humanitarian programs to remote islands in Indonesia. Schober also gained valuable experience while serving as the founder and executive director for HeadNorth, director of education for EFI Sports Medicine (TotalGym), and exercise physiologist at Sharp Memorial Hospital. During his time at PLNU, he has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in entrepreneurship and international business, has been involved in a number of Fermanian School of Business committees, currently serves on PLNU's Intercollegiate Athletic Committee, and is the lead faculty advisor for the Entrepreneurship Club. In addition to his teaching and committee involvement, Schober is a current board member for several local San Diego nonprofit organizations and has focused his research on innovation and entrepreneurship, presenting at the last two USASBE annual conferences.