Theme: ALL CAPS

Come join us at the University of Tulsa's 8th annual TEDxUTulsa event! TEDxUTulsa is an independently-organized TED-style event consisting of both speakers and performers. Attendees watch in-person talks and performances, participate in lobby events put on by organizers, and enjoy a reception during intermission.
This year's event theme is ALL CAPS. TED/TEDx talks are known to amplify underrepresented voices. This intriguing theme challenges speakers and attendees to explore the power of emphasis, urgency, and expression in a world where lowercase subtlety often dominates communication.
TEDxUTulsa is a non-profit event totally organized by a team of dedicated students and volunteers. All speakers, partners, and sponsors provide their services for free. This event would not be possible without their help!
**ALL TU STUDENTS GET IN FREE WITH ID AT THE DOOR!**

Lorton Performance Center
550 S Gary Pl, Tulsa, OK 74104
Tulsa, Oklahoma, 74104
United States

Abby Rush

Abby Rush is a member of the Three Affiliated Tribes of Fort Berthold. She resides in Tulsa, Oklahoma where she is pursuing her M.A. in English Literature. Abby seeks to tell the stories of Indigenous people through her work, always lifting up their voices in her writing and outreach endeavors. Abby is dedicated to spreading her message of wellness through writing across Indian Country.

Casper Shoghi

Casper Shoghi is a native Tulsan and TU alumnus. His lifelong fascination with maps and curiosity for the world around him led him to quit his job and travel the world for an entire year in 2017. With nothing but a backpack and no plan, he traveled to 5 continents and over 40,000 miles, starting in Mexico and ending in Japan. He is still driven to travel the world and explore the vastly different people and cultures that inhabit it. In this talk, Casper works to inspire a more humane approach to travel by sharing his own formative experiences during his year abroad.

Dana Bowman

Dana Bowman is the author of two memoirs: Bottled, A Mom’s Guide to Early Recovery, and How To Be Perfect Like Me, both published by Central Recovery Press. Her third book: Humble Pie: Addiction, Recovery, and Dessert, published by Rowman and Littlefield will be out in fall of 2024. A writer for Psychology Today, she speaks about aging and menopause, and how she stayed sober throughout. Dana was a high school English teacher for over twenty years, and she now teaches writing and digital media at Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas, her hometown. She also works at her happy place, her small town library, in the afternoons. She likes to be busy. You can find out more about her over at danabowmancreative.com or at all the socials (even TikTok because she is cool) at @thedanabow.

Darian Dozier

Medical Student Researcher

Darian Dozier is a fourth-year medical student who plans to pursue a career in Cardiology. She is from Kansas City, and attended the University of Tulsa from 2014-2018 where she majored in Psychology. During her time at TU, she was a research assistant for the SPARTA Research Lab, worked for the women’s basketball team, and joined the Theta Xi chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Since graduating from TU, she has attended Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine where she will be graduating this May. Outside of school, Darian has a big family that she enjoys spending time with, a blog and social media platform where she writes about life as a medical student, and enjoys traveling and spending time with close friends.

Katherine Schweit

Former FBI Special Agent

Katherine Schweit is an attorney and former special agent who created the FBI’s active shooter program after the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012. She joined then-Vice President Joe Biden’s team to develop training and best practices for civilians and law enforcement. She co-wrote the FBI’s seminal research, A Study of 160 Active Shooter Incidents in the United States, 2000 – 2013, and was the executive producer for the award-winning drama/documentary film, The Coming Storm. She is the author of Stop the Killing: How to End the Mass Shooting Crisis and How to Talk About Guns with Anyone. She offers hope on her podcast, Stop the Killing, with her London co-host Sarah Ferris, and is a founding member of the Bureau Consortium consulting group. She owns Schweit Consulting LLC., serving clients in security and crisis communications matters. She sits as an expert advisor on several boards, including the University of Michigan’s National Center for School Safety.

Landon Waters

US Army Veteran; Student Veterans of America Leadership Fellow

Raised in a military family, Landon is a second-generation college student studying Industrial/Organizational Psychology. After graduating high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army as a helicopter mechanic. During his eight years of military service, he was deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq. After the military, Landon served as a police officer with the Department of Defense as a supervisor and field training officer. He then obtained his Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Criminal Justice and Psychology from SOSO. Landon is a Leadership Fellow with the Student Veterans Association (SVA) and is the Director of Communications for the Tulsa University SVA chapter. Landon’s educational goal is to obtain his PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. His research interests are in the human capital and organization of federal and military organizations, servicemembers, and veterans. Currently, Landon spends most of his time studying or helping others across various TU organizations.

Marcy Crouch

Doctor of Physical Therapy, pelvic floor expert, and women’s health advocate

Dr. Marcy Crouch received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Southern California in 2010. She went on to complete a Women’s Health Residency program in Dallas, TX to obtain her WCS, becoming a Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Women’s Health Physical Therapy. She has taught pregnancy and sexual health courses at the University level, worked in private practice and hospital outpatient clinics, and owned a clinic. Known as @thedowntheredoc on social media, she has spoken at national events, contributed her expertise to popular blogs and magazines, and featured on mainstream TV shows to have candid and powerful women's health conversations. After a decade in the clinic, she decided to create an online program for women and birthing persons everywhere called TheDownThereDoc™ and DownThereDoneRight, the new standard for birth prep and recovery. Through this, she is working towards changing the way women are preparing for their births and elevating postpartum care.

Mia Ward

Born to a biracial couple, Mia Ward has had nearly two decades to grapple with the complexities of what it means to be mixed. Her families, hailing from the Alabaman Deep South and Texan Hill Country respectively, have given her insight into two prominent extremes of racial dynamics and issues. Through countless personal experiences and relationships with other multiracial individuals, Mia has realized that people like her need a voice in today’s racial debates. Despite just finishing her first year at the University of Tulsa, she believes that young people need to broker difficult conversations, and she is more than happy to be the one to do it.

Ronnie Stephens

Ronnie Stephens is a senior business leader who has over 25 years of experience in engineering, teaching, and project management, with a rich history of success across five continents. From exploring the Indigenous history of New Zealand, to providing solutions at a leading North American energy company, Ronnie's mission has always been to foster innovative project management processes, while cultivating teams grounded in respect, trust, and communication. Ronnie's professional achievements align with his personal heritage as a proud member of the Quapaw tribe of Oklahoma. This identity shapes his perspective and leadership, driving his passion for advancing Native American education and mentoring, and his dedication to diversity and inclusion in every aspect of life. Through his work with the Tulsa Native American Day committee, and his ventures into podcasting, Ronnie opens dialogue on leadership, inclusion, and building an organization of trust.

Zaakirah Muhammad

Founder of See Life Different Media

Zaakirah Nayyar Muhammad is an accomplished storyteller, brand strategist, and author, whose work has impacted numerous individuals across various fields. Her journey started with her battling childhood eye cancer, becoming a survivor and a PCOS warrior. Zaakirah has traveled to more than ten countries on four continents in eight years, capturing life through her monocular lens. She has more than a decade of professional experience, empowering people to step outside their comfort zone and challenge themselves. In addition to her talents, she is a photographer, and a published author of "Seeing Life Through a Different Lens," which delves into the importance of being true to oneself and finding one's purpose. She has been featured in podcasts and summits, where she shares her insights and experiences in the field of branding and marketing. She continues to inspire and uplift others through her art and writing, embodying the essence of creativity, authenticity, and resilience.