Theme: Connectedness

Missouri Southern is set to host TEDxMSSU. TEDxMSSU - Connectedness will occur inside the Bud Walton Blackbox Theatre on Thursday, May 4, 2023, from 1 to 5 pm. Twelve speakers will present on topics under the theme of Connectedness - The Power of Connectivity.

Missouri Southern State University
3950 East Newman Road
Joplin, Missouri, 64801
United States

Burton Kelso

Speaker + Tech Expert + Entrepeneur

Burton Kelso is the owner of Integral. A computer repair and technology services company that services homes and businesses all over the state of Missouri. He is also a national speaker and frequent media tech expert sharing his advice on radio, TV podcasts, and internationally. His vision is to remove the frustrations and complexity of computers and technology and open people up to a world of new ideas, experiences, and opportunities. He loves technology, he’s read all of the manuals, and he’s serious about making technology fun. safe, and easy to use for everyone!

Carlton Abner

Healthcare + Leadership

Driven by a life-long calling to serve, Dr. Carlton Abner has more than 25 years of health care and leadership experience. His healthcare experience includes over 20 years of military service and he is still serving as a Lieutenant Colonel and Chief Nursing Executive in the Kansas Air National Guard. He earned a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from the University of San Francisco and he comes to us today from Kansas City University where he is an Assistant Professor and KCU’s first ever Associate Provost of Campus Health & Wellness.

Christine Bentley

Professor of Art + Gallery Director

Dr. Christine Bentley is Professor of Art and Gallery Director at Missouri Southern State University. She has a PhD from Indiana University-Bloomington and Masters of Arts degree in Art History from the University of Notre Dame. Her primary area of specialization is 19th and 20th century European art, specifically German modernism. She has minor areas of specializations in Islamic and Renaissance art. Her current research focuses on the relationship between medicine and art and preservation challenges within small university collections. She has been awarded numerous grants to conduct research abroad and presents regularly at national conferences. Her approach to teaching art history is based on her belief that art exists as part of a larger cultural, social and political environment which often shapes the responses people have to artwork and its use within these environments.

Daniel Burke-Aguero

Entrepreneur + Performance Coach + Leadership

Daniel cut his teeth in sales knocking on doors selling modern day encyclopedias to pay his way through university. Since then, he’s consistently been a top producer in every arena - building multiple businesses, helping others do the same and enjoying the ride every step of the way. Today, Daniel is an experienced and sought-after coach who is an expert on the myths of time management, maximizing performance results and living a life of intention. When he is not serving clients, you can find him with his wife and two kids exploring outside or running ultra marathons.

David Locher

Professor of Sociology + Author

David Locher is a Professor of Sociology at Missouri Southern State University, author of a textbook on collective behavior, and winner of two outstanding teaching awards. Born in Akron, Ohio to a machinist father and stay-at-home mother, he worked his way through college, earning a PhD in Sociology at Kent State University. David lives in Southwest Missouri with his family, where in addition to teaching sociology he occasionally builds electric guitars from scratch and customizes classic cars.

Gabryele McNeece

Healthcare

Gabby McNeece always knew her heart longed to care for others. She began working as a CNA after high school for Citizens Memorial Healthcare at a long term care facility. After graduating with her nursing degree from Bolivar Technical College she switched gears and started her pediatrics career at Joplin East Middle School. She then relocated to work for Angels of Care Pediatric Home Health. After her out of state adventure, she moved back to Missouri and has worked for CMH clinics (Dallas County Walk in Clinic and currently CMH Pediatrics) ever since.

Jacob Bennett Nathan Morris

Musician + Roast Master + Board Game Aficionado

Jacob Bennett - Jacob plays bass and tours in a band called Me Like Bees, and when he's not on tour or in the studio he roasts coffee for Joplin Greenhouse and Coffee Shop. He has a passion for strong relationships, and loves most things analog - vinyl, film, books, board games, etc. He lives in Joplin with his wife, Chelsie, and his 2 house rabbits, Pax and Annie. Nathan Morris - Nathan has lived in the Joplin for most of his life and loves people. He works as a minister in a local church and has the joy of spending his days with students. He is married to my wife, Ashley, and has two children Eisley and Theo. He is an avid reader, loves to write, and enjoys introducing others to their new favorite board game.

Kayla Branstetter

Writer + Artist

Kayla Branstetter is a published writer, artist, and English instructor for Crowder College. Her writings and other creative works have been featured in over forty publications from across the world. She holds a Master of Education in Secondary Administration from William Woods University and a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies in Art, Literature and Culture from the University of Denver. While growing up she split her time between rural Missouri and the suburbs of Denver. With her feet in two worlds, she became an adept at connecting with people from diverse backgrounds. She is currently working on her first nonfiction book about women’s choices.

Patrick Tuttle

Tourism

Patrick Tuttle has served the tourism market of Joplin, Missouri, for the past fourteen years in leisure, group, and sports travel. A Texas native, he was raised in Joplin but spent 20 years away in the United States Air Force. Eleven of those years, he served in various levels of International Protocol. With Joplin’s location in western Missouri, on the Kansas/Oklahoma border, regional tourism partnerships are vital. Under Patrick’s leadership, much focus has been on building on the region’s multi-faceted heritage. The primary connector is the Mother Road – historic Route 66. Patrick is a member of the Greater Joplin Toastmasters.

Phil Gloyer

Educator + U.S. Military + Nonprofits

Phil Gloyer is both a professional educator and a military chaplain. He serves in the Joplin Public School district as a high school social studies teacher, and with the Missouri Army National Guard as chaplain for the 35th Engineer Brigade. Over the course of his professional career, he has also worked with several non-profit ministry organizations, and has a deep passion for helping others grow through the challenges they face in life. Phil holds a Ph.D. in Christian Ethics with minor concentrations in philosophy and world religions, and is enthusiastically committed to character development and religious liberty.

Raven Gibbs

Dance + Mental Health

Raven Gibbs holds a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Psychology and Sociology with a concentration in Law and Cognitive Science. She is also a Graduate of Distinction from Capella University with a master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She was inducted into Chi Sigma lota, the international honor society for professional counselors and serves as the Professional Alumni Representative. Currently, Raven serves as a psychotherapist and professional dancer specializing in trauma-informed care and mindfulness.

X'av Gordon

Gym Owner + Student + Motivator

Xa’v Gordon is a Finance major and gym owner of Genesis Fitness New Beginnings. He teaches people how to elevate their lifestyle through health, personal development, and mindset. Before becoming the owner of Genesis Fitness, Xa’v practiced martial arts and was a personal trainer. He did the customer service, social media management, and trained athletes. He made sure the machines in the gym were fully operational and that customer’s needs were met. Xa’v earned his associate degree in business administration from Hamilton Lavity Stoutt Community College in the British Virgin Islands and used the degree to run his first successful marketing campaign. Today, Xa’v teaches people how to create the lifestyle that they have always imagined through the way they consume, their thinking, and awareness of self. He helps them discover their true selves and the abilities they hold within them.