Past TEDx event
TEDxJackson College
By MI Design
Speakers
Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.
Ariel Maturine, CMA
Student Resources
As the Accommodations and Student Resources Coordinator at Jackson College, Ariel Maturine leads initiatives that make higher education more equitable, intentional and human-centered. Her work spans from classroom design to supporting students who often navigate systems not built for them. Whether working with faculty, student-athletes, incarcerated learners, or students with disabilities, Maturine’s philosophy remains the same: inclusion is most powerful when built by design, not by exception. She is driven by a desire to make a difference as she continues to inspire and empower the next generation of professionals through innovative and compassionate mentorship focusing on creating engaging learning environments and integrating technology into the classroom.
Chris Gorton
Founder of the Words Matter movement
Christine Gorton’s first job was counting night crawlers at a bait shop — a fitting start for a life shaped by curiosity, courage, and unexpected turns. Gorton’s had many roles across media, communications, and community leadership, but the work that influenced her most wasn’t paid. Through years of volunteer leadership mentoring women as they learned to trust their voices and step into their potential, Christine discovered the lasting power of belief and encouragement. A proud alumna of Jackson College and Michigan State University, she now speaks about how words — spoken in passing or spoken with intention — can shape identity, belief, and the stories we carry.
David Hawley, MBA
Business Facilitator for Marketing and Sales
At 12, delivering the Jackson Citizen Patriot taught David Hawley responsibility and self-reliance. After attending Jackson College and Eastern Michigan University, he began his career in office supply sales but struggled because he did not believe in the products he was selling. That experience reinforced his commitment to ethical business practices. Hawley later built a successful sales career, which led to an opportunity with Google. There, he developed leadership, communication, and emotional intelligence skills while working on diverse teams and leading multiple projects. Motivated to grow professionally, he earned certifications in marketing, project management, and leadership, pursued Six Sigma credentials, and completed an MBA from Western Governors University in 2025. Throughout his journey, strong ethics—modeled by his grandfather—have guided his decisions and success.
Elizabeth Doxtader, DBA
Leadership Educator
Dr. Elizabeth Doxtader is a leadership educator who helps people uncover their strengths, challenge self-doubt, and lead with authenticity. With a career spanning higher education, the nonprofit sector, and student development, she has spent over a decade helping individuals and institutions grow through intentional leadership and inclusive excellence. Dr. Snell is passionate about helping others move from self-doubt to self-trust. Her work is grounded in both research and lived experience, blending evidence-based practice with real stories of resilience, reinvention and growth. She is also writing a book of The Inner Woman, a reflective work exploring identity, healing and reclaiming one’s voice. Her message is simple but powerful: feeling like a fraud might be a sign you’re stepping into something bigger than you ever imagined.
Jasmine Isaac Ofori, LPC
Community Engagement Specialist
Jasmine Isaac Ofori is the Community Engagement Specialist for the City of Ann Arbor, where she coordinates engagement initiatives for infrastructure-related projects and policies. Originally from North Carolina, she holds a Master of Clinical Therapy from Liberty University and dual bachelor’s degrees in Spanish Linguistics and Translation, and Biology from UNC Charlotte. In 2022, she moved to Jackson to work with the Jackson County Health Department, leading school and community-based programs focused on social, emotional, and sexual health education. During this time, she founded the D.R.I.P. Teen Council, deepening her passion for public health and highlighting the transformative role of trusted adult mentors in youth development. Her leadership earned her the 30 and Under Top Young Professional Award in 2023.
John Randle Sr.
Certified Executive Level Human Resources Professional
John Randle Sr. is a Certified Executive Level Human Resources Professional with more than 28 years of HR generalist experience across higher education, P–12 education, municipal government, automotive, consumer goods, risk management, and technology based industries. He has extensive experience managing, developing, and implementing business solutions at multiple organizational levels and currently serves on several boards and commissions. In 2023, he was appointed to the Michigan State Board of Psychology and also serves on the board of Common Ground, a crisis services agency supporting individuals and families across multiple Michigan counties. A former adjunct professor at Marygrove College and Baker College, he has taught graduate and undergraduate courses in Human Resource Management and Labor Relations. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Educational Psychology at the University of Toledo.
Kamal Ghazi, DBH, MSW, MHA
Behavioral health clinician, college instructor
Dr. Kamal Ghazi is a behavioral health clinician, college instructor, and local public servant who earned his Doctorate in Behavioral Health from Arizona State University, his Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan, his Master of Health Administration from the University of Phoenix, and his Bachelor’s from Spring Arbor University. His path and education did not come from a single clear plan, but from repeated exposure to real people in real situations. For more than a decade, Dr. Ghazi has worked in supervised crisis teams, and conducted research focused on staff burnout and performance. He was an active part of the Adolescent and Young Adults group (AYA) at Michigan Medicine Pediatric Hematology Oncology at Michigan Medicine Pediatric Hematology Oncology. Today, Dr. Ghazi is a psychology instructor and lead faculty for social work at Jackson College. In his classroom, learning is practical and discussion-based, coaching students to connect theory to real life.
Kristen Mudge, PhD
Psychologist, Educator
Dr. Kristen Mudge is a psychologist and educator with over 20 years of professional experience spanning higher education, leadership development, and applied behavioral science, including service in the U.S. military. Her work focuses on turning behavioral science into practical tools for leadership, interpersonal relationships, and everyday life. She teaches and designs psychology courses that challenge learners to move beyond theory and apply evidence-based psychology where it matters most: in real people’s lives.
Roland Anderson
Master Certified Personal Trainer
Roland Anderson is a Master Certified Personal Trainer, life coach, and motivational speaker specializing in leadership, resilience, and emotional intelligence. His upcoming book, When Leaders Cry, explores how true strength is shaped not only through physical training but through life’s most challenging emotional moments. With more than 15 years of coaching experience, Roland has guided people through injuries, competitions, and personal obstacles, learning that leadership is forged where emotion meets action—not in perfection. These lessons influence how he coaches, leads, and serves others every day. Born and raised in Michigan, Roland witnessed the power of community during struggle and experienced a defining moment watching his mother fight for her life — a moment that reshaped his understanding of strength, faith, and leadership.
Sara Anne Tomczak
quity actress, professor, director and theatre
Sara Anne Tomczak is an Equity actress, educator, director and theatre producer whose work spans stage, television, film, sketch comedy and academic theatre. She serves as head of the theatre program at Jackson College, where she teaches theatre courses and directs mainstage productions for students and community performers. Her professional career includes television appearances such as Chicago Fire, working in over 40 national commercials for brands including Zoom, General Motors and Ford. Onstage, she has performed in both classical and contemporary plays, as well as sketch comedy and improv at Chicago’s The Second City.