TEDxLewisUniversity

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Aaileen Sarwar Syed

  Student

  Aaileen Sarwar Syed believes resilience often looks different than it is portrayed. An international student who came to the United States seeking purpose and possibility, she is now a Graduate Assistant at Lewis University, bringing a perspective shaped by ambition, growth, and lived experience. Often labeled as temporary or merely “lucky,” international students are frequently misunderstood. Aaileen’s journey tells a different story, one of talent, focus, and quiet strength. Drawn to stories and reflection, she challenges narrow definitions of success and reframes the American Dream as something built through effort, resilience, and hope. Through her talk, she invites audiences to see international students not as outsiders, but as contributors who are full of potential, courage, and possibility.

• Arvie Vitente

  Professor, Physical Therapy

  Dr. Vitente serves as a Program Director and Professor at Lewis University's Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Dr. Vitente believes that providing a sense of belonging to everyone is a key factor in achieving success and understands the criticality of meaningful collaboration in attaining personal and professional goals. Dr. Vitente has received accolades throughout his career, including recognition as Faculty of the Year at Angeles University Foundation and the Therapist of the Year Award at the national level from Amedisys Home Health. He has also been honored with the Physical Therapist of the Year by the APTA New Mexico, Fred Rutan Excellence in Service Award, and recognized as an Outstanding Neurologic Physical Therapist in Education by the Florida Physical Therapy Association. His appointment to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy Examination Development Committee further demonstrates his commitment to service and upholding high standards in the field.

• Hajira Sultana

  EdTech Foiunder

  Hajira Sultana is someone who learned that failure can be the beginning of something far greater than success. She grew up in a Muslim hijabi family where education was more than an opportunity; it was a dream built on faith, sacrifice, and hope. Coming to college felt like carrying the weight of everyone’s expectations, and when she failed my first semester of engineering, it felt like she had dropped that dream. But in that lowest moment, she began to see education differently. It wasn’t supposed to be about chasing grades or perfection; it was about curiosity, growth, and courage. That realization led her to found her own EdTech startup, focused on helping schools help students learn how to think, not what to memorize. Through her startup, and now as a student at Lewis University in the United States, she's learned that setbacks don’t define us; they refine us. She wants others to know that falling behind isn’t the end of your story. Sometimes, it’s where your real story begins.

• Howard Keller

  Lifelong Learner

  Although I loved school as a child, I dropped out of high school as a teenager. After receiving a 55-year sentence and being sent to Stateville Prison, I chose not to fall into despair. Instead, I returned to my early love of learning and pursued every opportunity for education and service. In 2022, I became one of the only people in Illinois to earn a master’s degree while serving a virtual life sentence and to teach undergraduate courses online to campus-based students from inside prison. I have led training seminars and consulted on prison education programming for university faculty and corrections administrators across the U.S. and internationally. My work is grounded in the belief that education transforms lives by reshaping self-image, reducing isolation, and creating pathways to future success—whether learning takes place in a barbershop, a prison classroom, or a university campus. I am also a Teaching Fellow at Lewis University.

• Martha Villegas Miranda

  Director, TRIO Talent Search

  Martha Villegas Miranda, MSSW, LSW, CPC, is an accomplished alumna of Lewis University, graduating in 1998 and making history as the institution’s first bilingual Lasallian commencement speaker. The daughter of Mexican immigrants from Michoacán, she brings a legacy of resilience to her work as an educator, social worker, and storyteller focused on healing, cultural identity, and empowerment for first-generation and historically resilient communities. A proud mother to her daughter, K’trina, Martha currently serves as Director of the TRIO Talent Search REACH program at Broward College, advancing college access with compassion and purpose. With over 25 years of experience, she helps individuals transform their stories into leadership. A nationally recognized speaker and award recipient, Martha believes storytelling—like the monarch butterfly, is a journey of transformation, remembrance, and renewal that invites us to rise, again and again.

• Sky Christensen

  HR Professional

  Skylar Christensen is an HR business partner with extensive experience driving workforce strategy and employee engagement across both corporate and manufacturing environments. She has supported organizations in talent management, retention, DEI initiatives, and operational HR, including leading impactful programs on the shop floor and developing talent pipelines through university partnerships. A proud Lewis University alumna, Sky combines her academic foundation in human resources with real-world experience to bridge the gap between business strategy and people strategy. Growing up in a union household, she learned early that work is more than a paycheck; it represents legacy, pride, and human connection. Whether she’s coaching leaders, facilitating workshops, or mentoring emerging professionals, Sky brings empathy, curiosity, and an unwavering belief in the power of people to drive performance and purpose.