TEDxTexas State University

Speakers

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

• Benjamin Elias

  Homelessness Advocate

  Benjamin Elias is a nonprofit leader and advocate who has spent the past seven years serving individuals experiencing homelessness in Austin, Texas. He is a manager at the largest non-congregate emergency shelter in the state, leading a team of case managers who help people navigate difficult transitions with dignity and compassion. At 17, Benjamin was incarcerated, beginning a total of 19 years in prison. During that time, he began unlearning the beliefs and patterns that shaped his early life and focused on education and personal transformation. He earned his degree in Behavioral Sciences from the University of Houston–Clear Lake, graduating magna cum laude in 2010. Today, Benjamin draws on his lived experience to show that change is possible and powerful. His work and story center on resilience, redemption, and helping others reframe their past as a source of growth and hope.

• Brian Johnson

  Strategic Initiatives and Cultural Agillity

  Brian Johnson brings more than 15 years of experience in talent retention, strategic initiatives, and cultural agility, including senior roles with Chase Bank and The Kaleidoscope Group. He has served as a guest lecturer at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Bradley University, Texas A&M University, and Texas State University, and has written for Sports Illustrated on sports and culture. A graduate of Stanford University, Brian played both baseball and football before spending 12 years in Major League Baseball and another decade scouting for the San Francisco Giants. He has been part of two NCAA national championship teams and three World Series championship teams. His first memoir is set for publication in 2026, and he is pursuing a master’s degree in leadership development while preparing to teach a course he designed called “Building Inclusive Leaders.” Brian met his wife on the first day of college, and 30 years later they have raised two grown children together in Detroit.

• Charlene Holmes

  Trauma-Infomred Life Coach and Psychology Student

  Charlene “Char” Holmes is a psychology student at Texas State University and a certified trauma-informed life coach dedicated to helping others transform their mindset, embrace healing, and cultivate personal growth. Before pursuing psychology, she spent over a decade serving in federal public service where she developed a deep understanding of human need, communication, and resilience. Today, Charlene channels that experience into her work as host of the award-winning podcast Talk Bari To Me, leading transformative conversations around wellness, mindset, and self-discovery. She is also an executive contributor for Brainz Magazine and an honoree of the CREA Global Awards, recognized for her contributions to thought leadership and personal development. Charlene’s work continues to inspire individuals to rewrite their stories and step confidently into their purpose.

• Dr. Maureen Keeley

  Professor and Expert on End-of-Life Communication

  Dr. Maureen Keeley is a Professor in Communication Studies who has taught interpersonal communication focused on families and close relationships for over three decades. Twenty-seven years ago, the death of her mother from breast cancer became a transformative personal and professional turning point, leading her to focus on end-of-life communication in families. She became a pioneer in studying the most meaningful conversations that occur at the end of life and their impact on those left behind. Her first co-authored book with Dr. Julie Yingling, Final Conversations (2007), emerged from her initial major study and identified key themes in end-of-life dialogue. Her second book, The Good Goodbye (2025), reflects over two decades of research. Maureen is widely recognized as a leading scholar in end-of-life and family communication and is frequently sought as an expert contributor, speaker, and media source. She is also a deeply respected and beloved professor among her students.

• Elli Overton

  Former Olympic Swimmer and Professional Counseling Graduate Student

  Elli Overton is a three-time Olympic swimmer for Australia and a two-time world short course champion who now helps others thrive in and beyond sports. She is pursuing a master’s degree in professional counseling at Texas State University and plans to become a licensed marriage and family therapist. Elli founded Peak Parent Performance LLC, helping sports parents support young athletes with balance and confidence. A mother of two, she is passionate about redefining success in youth sports through public speaking, consulting, and her children’s book, Jay’s Swimming Journey. Elli graduated with high honors from the University of California, Berkeley, where she captained the women’s swim team at three NCAA Championships. Having lived in Australia, Canada, France, and the United States, Elli brings a global perspective to her work on resilience and balance.

• Melanie Koroluk

  Family Professional Counseling Graduate Student

  Melanie Koroluk is a bilingual immigrant from Monterrey, Mexico, advocate, and future professional counselor who believes that connection is medicine. Her journey across Mexico, Argentina, and the United States has given her a personal understanding of how community, identity, and culture shape our wellbeing. Melanie is currently pursuing her Master’s in Marriage, Couples, and Family Professional Counseling at Texas State University. Her goal is to integrate neuroscience, social justice, and holistic healing in both her academic and professional work. Having walked her own journey through systemic barriers, substance abuse, and interpersonal struggles, Melanie speaks from a place of authenticity, courage, and empathy. Her general mission is to invite others to be authentic, kind, and open, all while remembering that part of being human is to be with humanity.