TEDxUniversityofMississippi

Speakers

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

• Dania Tamimi

  Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Expert

  DANIA TAMIMI, BDS, DMSc, graduated with a dental degree from King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. She trained at Harvard School of Dental Medicine and earned a Doctorate of Medical Science (DMSc) and certificate of fellowship in Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology in 2005. In addition to running a private practice, Tamimi serves as a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology (ABOMR). She is a reviewer and an Editorial Board member of several distinguished journals in both the medical and dental fields, as well as an author of three textbooks.

• Marc Watkins

  AI in Education and Writing

  MARC WATKINS directs the AI Institute for Teachers and is an Assistant Director of Academic Innovation at the University of Mississippi, where he is a Lecturer in Writing and Rhetoric. His work with generative AI in education predates ChatGPT and he advocates approaching the technology’s integration in education with curiosity and skepticism. The Washington Post has profiled his work, and he writes about AI and education on his Substack Rhetorica. Watkins has spoken to colleges, universities, and private organizations across the globe. He has also worked with K-12 schools on AI literacy efforts. As an educator, his work with Open Educational Resources was recognized by Blackboard with a 2018 Catalyst Award for Teaching and Learning.

• Mark Dysinger

  Research Scientist

  MARK DYSINGER is a research scientist at a company that develops therapies for rare disease patients, while taking issue with the label "rare." Dysinger believes that labeling a disease as rare diminishes it to a medical curiosity, resulting in delayed diagnosis for patients. Mark has over 25 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry and holds a Master of Science degree in biotechnology from the University of Maryland University College and a bachelor’s degree in zoology from the University of Maine. As a rare disease patient himself, Dysinger's duality as researcher and patient provides him with a unique perspective.

• Robert Welch

  Cannabis Research and Education Consultant

  ROBERT WELCH, PharmD, is the Director of the National Center for Cannabis Research and Education (NCCRE) at the University of Mississippi, which serves as a clearinghouse for cannabinoid science information, spearheading research initiatives with external partners via grant proposals, conducting real world evidence and patient outcomes studies, examining drug-drug interactions of cannabinoid products with pharmaceutical products, and developing novel cannabinoid drugs for commercialization. Previously, he worked for six years in clinical drug development for GW Pharmaceuticals on cannabidiol oral solution (EpidiolexÒ), which is the first and only plant-based cannabinoid product approved by the FDA for patients with severe, refractory epilepsy syndromes.

• Samantha Lowrimore

  Cybersecurity Engineer & Ethical Hacker

  SAMANTHA LOWRIMORE, known as CyberSamantha, is an ethical hacker, entropy advocate, founder of PostQuantSec.io, and one of the first recognized quantum hackers working to secure life beyond Earth and the quantum horizon. A cybersecurity engineer, her work begins with quantum-era security and extends beyond, spanning quantum cybersecurity, AI, blockchain, satellites, and interplanetary computing. She is helping to build the foundations that will safeguard the next generation of human and machine intelligence across worlds. Through her research and pioneering of the Lowrimore Approach to Quantum Migration, she is redefining how global leaders understand security, resilience, and ethics at the edge of the expanding digital frontier.

• Tess Lefmann

  Associate Professor of Social Work

  TESS LEFMANN, PhD, MSW, is an Associate Professor of Social Work at the University of Mississippi. Her teaching and community work focus on the intersection of physiological stress, social determinants of health, and equity. With experience in maternal and child health initiatives across Mississippi, she is committed to preparing future social workers to foster systemic and individual well-being. Her research in epigenetics explores how stress serves as a biological link between our environments and our lifelong health. Lefmann believes that understanding stress this way reshapes how we think about health and wellbeing, not simply as personal achievements, but as reflections of the environments we share.

• Waikinya Clanton

  State Director, Mississippi | Southern Poverty Law Center

  WAIKINYA CLANTON, J.S., is a seventh generation Mississippian and first-ever State Director of the Southern Poverty Law Center. As she works on pressing issues in Mississippi, Clanton prioritizes collaboration and focuses on building coalitions among grassroots organizations, legislators, and community leaders. Her strategic vision aims to empower local communities, ensuring they have the necessary tools and resources to advocate for themselves. Clanton is the creator of the ANCHRD framework: a systematic approach for people to engage in civic life that prioritizes rootedness over recognition, co-creation over charity, and sustained commitment over viral moments. Clanton’s work has earned numerous accolades, including the Judge Constance Slaughter Harvey Champion Award and being named one of Mississippi’s Top 50 Women in Business. In 2022, she was selected as one of The Root’s 100 Most Influential African Americans.