TEDxKU Edwards

Speakers

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

• Alex Williams, Ph.D.

  Director of Psychological Clinic/Associate Teaching Professor

  Alexander J. Williams, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and associate teaching professor in the University of Kansas Department of Psychology. He also directs the Psychological Services Clinic at the KU Edwards Campus. His research examines the credibility and evidence base of psychological treatments, and his writing has appeared in Scientific American and Aeon. His work has also been featured by TIME, Wired, Inc., and NPR. A previous TEDx speaker, Dr. Williams also provides financial literacy education and moonlights as a professional wrestling play-by-play commentator.

• Charlotte Aldrich

  Human Resources Business Partner

  Charlotte Aldrich is a relational communication scholar, leadership strategist, and creator of the Spaces Model, an original framework for understanding how relational space shapes communication, trust, and human connection. Inspired by years of community mediation and leadership development, her work bridges communication theory and real-world practice, translating research into practical tools that help leaders foster stronger relationships, healthier cultures, and greater belonging. She holds a Master of Arts in Organizational Communication and lives in Olympia, Washington, where she continues to develop the Spaces Model through research, leadership development, and organizational practice.

• Grace Cho

  Student

  Grace Cho is a sophomore majoring in psychology at the University of Kansas. She is driven by her curiosity about what motivates people and why we think, feel, and behave the way we do. Her desire to better understand human behavior led her to advocate for greater mental health awareness, and she currently serves as a board member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) student organization at KU.

• Justin Pickens

  Founder, Keynote Speaker, and Elementary Physical Education teacher

  Justin Pickens is an elementary physical education teacher, keynote speaker, and founder of Breaking Cycles, Building Futures. Growing up in a home marked by adversity, Justin experienced firsthand how one caring adult can alter the trajectory of a life. Today, he helps educators, coaches, and leaders recognize the extraordinary influence they have through everyday interactions. Drawing from his experiences in education, leadership, and youth development, Justin's work centers on a simple but powerful belief: intentional relationships create ripple effects that extend far beyond what we can see. His message has inspired educators, school leaders, and organizations across the country to rethink success—not as a collection of achievements, but as the lives we influence along the way. Justin lives in the Kansas City area with his wife and three children, where he continues his mission of helping others break cycles and build futures.

• Sara Taliaferro

  Community Engagement Specialist

  Sara Taliaferro is a Midwesterner, an artist, a creative agent of change and a community-centered engagement specialist who runs CSC Engagement Services, LLC, and teaches civic engagement through the University of Kansas Public Management Center. Sara weaves years of community service alongside advocates for social justice, equity, and earth care with her passion for collaborative governance, policy, and innovation change. Ms. Taliaferro holds a Masters of Public Administration with certification in public policy, particularly housing and environmental sustainability, through the University of Kansas School of Public Affairs and Administration. Sara trained and continues to learn through the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2), Mid America Regional Council, Kansas Leadership Center, the Pepperdine School of Public Policy/Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership, and the Facilitating Change organization.

• Scott Henderson

  Professional Magician & Cybersecurity Solutions Architect ("Magic Scott")

  Scott Henderson has spent more than three decades discovering what makes people connect: first with a deck of cards, then across two different careers. Both took root at the University of Kansas, where he earned his business degree, met his wife, and won the campus talent show that launched a performing career. Around Kansas City, and even at the office, he's simply known as "Magic Scott." He has performed thousands of engagements nationwide for Hallmark, John Deere, the Federal Reserve, and more, including the KC Chiefs, who hired him to surprise a superfan with Super Bowl tickets on camera, and the Royals, who hired him to entertain the players' families. By day, Scott works in cybersecurity at NetSPI, building partnerships and helping organizations defend against the ways trust can be exploited, while his magic turns trade show booths into the busiest spot on the floor. Scott lives in Overland Park with his wife of 25 years and their three children — the oldest a junior at KU.

• Twila Latini

  Early Intervention & ASL Specialist

  Twila Latini, MA, is an Early Intervention and ASL Specialist who has worked at the Kansas School for the Deaf (KSD) since 2017 Kansas School for the Deaf (KSD) since 2017. She is currently the President for the Kansas Division for Early Childhood (KDEC) and recognized as a Nationally Certified ASL Assessor and Trainer. Outside of her day job, Twila combines her various expertise as the creator of TwilaSIGNS, a business designed to help professionals and families through a variety of workshops, training, and more. Twila’s life is a delicate balance of professional excellence and service, ensuring her clients are as happy as she is when she finds herself on the road or outdoors, appreciating the beauty of nature.