Theme: Our Changing World

TEDxHoodCollege seeks to explore the ways we can adopt new perspectives on our ever-changing world. Whether it is a new technology, generational relationships, self-evaluation, the world of work, or shifts in the make-up of our families and communities, change is constant. TEDxHoodCollege offers a platform for speakers to share their experience of change, their learning about life, as well as scientific and philosophical avenues to navigate new ways of living and ways to enjoy the richness of challenge, acceptance, and discovery.

Hood College
401 Rosemont Avenue
Frederick, Maryland, 21701
United States

Darnell Billups

Darnell Billups is a senior manager at a Fortune 500 company where he cultivates organizational change by leading people, strategy, and operations. He and his team apply system-wide standardization, process improvement, and researched-backed practices to create innovative solutions for 2000+ manufacturing employees. Darnell joined the Marine Corps after graduating from the United States Naval Academy in 2009. Since leaving the Marine Corps, he has worked in director-level positions in state government. He is currently completing his Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Hood College in Frederick, Maryland. Darnell frequently works with business leaders and serves as a Coach for Leadership Frederick, a Frederick County Chamber of Commerce program.

Geoffrey Seidel

Geoffrey Seidel has 44+ years as a Registered Nurse. His practice has been in Pre-Hospital Emergency Care, Critical Care, Emergency Department, Oncology Clinical Research, and academia. He has worked for Leidos Biomedical Research at the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research for the past 22 years supporting the National Cancer Institute (NCI). He currently has project management responsibility for $100M+ in national and international Precision Medicine clinical trial support to NCI. He has been an adjunct professor at Frederick Community College and Mount St. Mary’s University. Seidel earned an Associate in Applied Science in Nursing degree from Reading Area Community College, a BS in Nursing degree from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, an MS in Health Administration degree from St. Joseph’s University, and is completing his Doctorate of Organizational Leadership at Hood College.

Karmin Jenkins

Karmin Jenkins is a compassionate leader transforming the lives of mothers and daughters through her personal coaching. She helps clients build stronger relationships, work through past traumas, and achieve greater levels of communication and healing. She is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker-Supervisor, a government employee, and a retired Major in the Army Reserves. Her unique and transformative Generational Healing Framework empowers women to break through barriers, embrace their true selves, and create fulfilling lives. She is a proud mom of two, one bonus son, and a loving grandmother. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Cleveland State University and a Master of Social Science Administration from Case Western Reserve University.

Kisha McCray

Vice President, Community Impact

Kisha McCray is the Vice President of Community Impact at the Maryland Food Bank. In this role, she provides strategic leadership and accountability for programming addressing the causes of hunger. She has been in the human services field for 19 years and has a specialty in community partnerships, outreach, and advocacy for families. She is the former Associate Executive Director of the Y Baltimore County Head Start and in this role, was on leadership committees for emerging leaders, trauma-informed innovation, social responsibility champions, and facilitator of the health services. She is still connected with the mission of Head Start as a consultant with the National Head Start Association. She is very passionate about civic engagement and gives back as a member on boards and committees in the greater the Baltimore area. In addition to her work, she is currently earning her Doctorate in Organizational Leadership at Hood College.

Laura Sherwood

Program Director, Transformative Arts Project, Inc.

Laura Sherwood is a social scientist with a Ph.D. from the Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, California, in Human Development. Her background is in photography and visual ethnography, and her research is dedicated to advocating for the validity of participatory photography methods in research and community-based work. Her doctoral dissertation, “Why Art Matters: Dismantling Dominant Narrative Through Art and Digital Feminist Activism,” focused on female activists using visual storytelling to impact gender equality in India. Laura is the founder of Transformative Arts Project Inc. A 501(c)3 nonprofit uses participatory photography to amplify communities’ voices and lived experiences. Laura facilitates co-generational programs to help seniors and youth utilize technology & visual storytelling and supports nonprofits in understanding the needs of their communities through photovoice.

Lauren Hayze

Clinical Mental Health Graduate Student

Lauren Hayze is a master's student studying Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Hood College. She earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Maryland College Park in 2022. Her research focuses on complex trauma disorders and resiliency in marginalized communities. She has been advocating for mental health and trauma changes since 2016, working in the U.S., Greece, Romania, and Brazil.

Malik Johnson

Malik Johnson is a first-generation college graduate who knows the issues of navigating higher education well. He holds master of science in higher education policy, research, and administration from Goucher College in Maryland. His prime focus for his research was the experience of first-generation college and university students and how to make the higher education setting more applicable to their needs. He started his interest in higher education in 2016 and made his presence known around his undergrad campus Hood College where he majored in business administration. While in graduate school, he worked as an intern at the University of Baltimore in the transition and orientation office. He is a current higher education professional working at Johns Hopkins University and seeking to apply his knowledge to aid in the well-being of all students. In the long term, he hopes to work within Student Success and First-Generation assistance offices across the country.

Shawn Wolf

Leadership and Operations Strategist

Shawn Wolf is an experienced executive leader with more than 25 years in leadership positions spanning industries such as higher education, manufacturing, and service-related businesses. Wolf holds a BS in Business Administration, an MS in Non-Profit Management, a Certificate in Advanced Graduate Studies in Leadership Coaching, and a Doctorate in Strategic Leadership. He serves as the Principal at Outside Force Business Development Firm (OutsideForce.com), where he leverages his coaching, training, and consulting expertise to serve as a strategic partner to clients across diverse industries and organization sizes. His credentials also include his role as an Adjunct Faculty Member at UMBC in Baltimore, MD. Additionally, he is a Senior Facilitator at the UMBC Training Centers and was a founding member of the Center for Leadership and Innovation.