Tickets now on sale for TEDxAWC
January 22, 202510 speakers selected to discuss “Transform & Thrive” theme
Yuma, AZ (January 22, 2025) – Join Arizona Western College on April 25 for the exciting TEDxAWC conference! In line with this year’s theme, “Transform & Thrive,” 10 event speakers have been selected to discuss the power of transformation in overcoming challenges and unlocking growth.
The event is an opportunity to inspire creativity and ingenuity, and to honor the voices of Arizona Western College students, faculty and staff, the larger community of Yuma and La Paz Counties, and beyond.
TEDxAWC will take place on Friday, Apil 25 from 4:00 - 8:30 p.m. at the Historic Yuma Theatre on 245 S Main Street. General admission is $60 with tickets available for purchase at this link.
TEDxAWC speakers are as follows (in alphabetical order):
- Dr. Harvey Castro: Proactive Medicine: Thriving with AI and Edge Technology
Dr. Harvey Castro (MD, MBA) is an emergency room physician, healthcare consultant, and AI futurist with over 20 years of experience transforming medicine through innovation. A U.S. Army veteran and former CEO of a healthcare system, he blends his medical expertise with an MBA from the University of Tennessee to champion the integration of AI into healthcare. Harvey is an accomplished author of 23 books, including ChatGPT and Healthcare: Revolutionizing Modern Medicine, and the creator of AI platforms such as SpeakerPlus AI. He serves as an advisor to the Singapore Ministry of Health and the Texas Medical Association, focusing on the intersection of AI and patient care. A globally recognized speaker, Harvey has delivered keynote presentations at HIMSS, the Texas Medical Association, and international conferences. He is passionate about leveraging technology to improve patient outcomes and empower healthcare professionals. Harvey’s mission is to inspire meaningful change through innovation and human-AI collaboration.
- Alexandra Dahin: Thriving Through Epilepsy: How I Turned Challenges into Growth
Alexandra Dahin is a student at Arizona Western College, where she is set to graduate in May with an Associate of Arts degree in Family Studies. She plans to continue her studies at the University of Arizona, with a focus on Family Sciences, and the goal of becoming a Child Life Specialist. Despite the challenges of living with epilepsy, Alexandra has excelled as a dedicated student, daughter, sister, friend, and employee. Passionate about helping others overcome obstacles to lead fulfilling lives, she is committed to supporting those in need. Outside of academics and work, Alexandra enjoys spending time with her five dogs and two cats, as well as with her friends and family. She also judges Odyssey of the Mind competitions, where she finds joy in nurturing creativity and problem-solving skills, even in the face of tough competition. Alexandra is proud to call Yuma her home.
- Dr. Omid Fotuhi: Adaptive Mindsets: The Hidden Curriculum for Mastery and Thriving
Dr. Omid Fotuhi is a psychologist whose life's work focuses on identifying, understanding, and harnessing the invisible forces that drive human potential. With a PhD in social psychology from the University of Waterloo and a Research Fellowship from Stanford University, he has collaborated in the design and evaluation of groundbreaking psychological interventions, such as Growth Mindsets and Belonging interventions. His research, published in leading journals such as Science and Psychological Science, explores the mechanisms that shape the human experience. As Director of Learning Innovation at WGU Labs and a researcher at the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Fotuhi’s professional efforts span from breaking down individual barriers to growth to dismantling systemic obstacles in education. Drawing from his personal journey and professional expertise, he is committed to transforming lives and institutions through his teaching and training on Adaptive Mindsets Mastery.
- Carlos Arroyo Pelayo: Life is Not Just About the Chase, It's About the Catch
Carlos A. Arroyo Pelayo, a proud Mexican immigrant, began his journey working in the agricultural fields before pursuing higher education. He earned a Bachelor’s in Planning and a Master’s in Human Resources Management in Mexico, followed by a Master’s in Education in the U.S., graduating with a 4.0 GPA and induction into the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society in 2006. He completed academic work for a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership with a 3.85 GPA and was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Chi National Honor Society in 2017. With over 20 years of community involvement, Carlos has worked as a life coach, taught for 18 years, served in the Arizona State Migrant Education Program, and has been with San Luis High School since 2019. He is also Chair of Sunset Health Board of Directors and has spent over a decade working and researching human development and sharing his knowledge to inspire and empower others.
- Cristiana Pinciroli: How to Be the Rising Tide That Lifts Others
Cristiana Pinciroli is a trailblazer who broke barriers as the pioneer and captain of the Brazilian National Women’s Water Polo team. Competing professionally in Italy, she earned recognition as one of the world’s top players, leaving a legacy of resilience, teamwork, and leadership. Her first major transformation took her from the world of elite sports to the corporate arena. Over 25 years, Cris thrived as an executive at a leading Brazilian bank, guiding multicultural teams and using the lessons she learned in sports to inspire individuals to reach beyond their Limits. In 2019, Cristiana embraced her second transformation—leaving the corporate world to pursue her life’s passion: unlocking human potential. She became an award-winning author, publishing Sport: A Stage for Life in English and Portuguese, and dedicated herself to integrating the science of happiness with high performance. Today, Cristiana is a recognized expert in sustainable success and well-being. As a certified happiness trainer and a Master’s student in Happiness Studies at Centenary University (graduating May 2025), she works with organizations, teams, and athletes to help them achieve their fullest potential while thriving with purpose and joy. Her life’s work is rooted in a single powerful belief: happiness and high performance are not opposing forces but complementary keys to living a truly fulfilling life.
- Dr. Rana Sabra: Beyond Fake It: Embracing Authenticity to Transform & Thrive
Dr. Rana Sabra is a global business strategist, marketing advisor, and dedicated advocate for small businesses. With a legacy rooted in resilience, from her grandfather's farming days to becoming the first in her family to earn a doctorate internationally, Rana's passion lies in helping others move the needle in their lives. As the founder of Creative Minds and host of the Success Club Podcast, her impact includes Empowering over 2,000 clients and students worldwide, Delivering 3 TEDx talks across global stages (USA, Mexico, UK), Providing tailored marketing solutions in 15+ countries, and Driving 300% growth for multinational brands as a former Marketing Director. With a Doctorate in Marketing and Consumer Behavior from France and a Postgrad Diploma in Digital Business Transformation from the USA, Dr. Rana brings 20+ years of experience to her roles as a business strategist, success coach, and university professor. Her speaking engagements blend academic insights with real-world strategies, offering audiences actionable tactics for navigating today's complex business landscape. Whether addressing startup entrepreneurs or senior executives, Dr. Rana's talks are known for their engaging style and practical, results-driven content. Dr. Rana's research-based approach has helped scale businesses across diverse industries and markets. Known for infusing entrepreneurship with innovation, she transforms visions into reality, empowering individuals and organizations to achieve their professional dreams in the global marketplace.
- Sisko J. Stargazer: What It Is to Be Human
Sisko J. Stargazer is a lifelong writer from sunny Yuma, Arizona, where their foray into media studies began at Arizona Western College. At AWC, Sisko was an active community member, writing for the campus paper, tutoring at the Student Success Center and interning for various departments. They graduated representing the college as an All Arizona Academic Team Member. At Arizona State University in Tempe, Sisko studied film and media. They undertook an honors thesis exploring gender and sexuality in the Star Trek universe and earned the highest honor possible for an English Department graduate – Dean’s Medalist. Upon graduating, Sisko returned to Yuma and became a reporter at the Yuma Sun, covering a wide variety of community news and issues. Their topical deep dives and engaging stories caught the interest of U.S. News & World Report, for which they’ve been writing ever since. Today, they continue to study and write about the world through a humanities lens.
- Scott Welle: Why You Aren't Reaching Your Goals (and What to Do About It)
Outperformers are not born; they’re made. We ALL have the capacity to “raise our game,” and Scott Welle has spent more than 15 years helping people do this, personally and professionally. Scott’s 10 best-selling books, articles, videos, podcasts and online programs inspire hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. He has a master's degree in Sport Psychology and was named the 2021 Midwest Motivational Speaker of the Year. For “fun” (and because he’s a little crazy!), he’s completed 34 marathons, 5 Ironman triathlons, a 100-mile ultra marathon, and serves others by showing them how to tap into the mindset of challenging their self-limiting beliefs and aspiring to Outperform every day.
- Dawn Whinnery: The Power of Self-Compassion: Becoming Your Own Best Friend
Dawn Whinnery is a Professor of Psychology at Arizona Western College, where she shares her passion for understanding human behavior with her students. A former U.S. Marine air traffic controller, she discovered her true calling in academia after returning to school. Dawn lives in Arizona with her incredibly supportive husband, and together, they’ve completed over 100 escape rooms across the U.S., combining their love of puzzles and teamwork. Outside of her professional and escape room adventures, Dawn enjoys the company of her cats and exploring the immersive worlds of PC gaming, especially beta testing her son’s gaming creations.
- Lyndsay Wisneski: From the Rink to the Boardroom: How Resilience Redefines Success
Lyndsay Wisneski is an accomplished marketing professional and leader, serving as the Chief Marketing Officer at the Greater Yuma Economic Development Corporation in Yuma, Arizona. With a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and multiple professional certifications, Lyndsay’s career is a testament to her dedication and adaptability. Originally from small-town Iowa, Lyndsay has built an impactful career while moving across the country alongside her husband during his 18-year tenure as a Marine Corps Warrant Officer. As a speaker at numerous events, she shares her expertise, passion for mentorship, and commitment to community growth, showcasing the award-winning marketing campaigns and video productions that define her professional journey. A former athlete and coach, Lyndsay mentored countless athletes, fostering leadership and resilience. During college, she transitioned from an internship into a full-time role, mentoring high school and college students in marketing. Today, she continues to inspire others, combining professional excellence with a deep commitment to family and community.
Follow TEDxAWC on Facebook and Instagram to help celebrate the incredible innovations and important ideas that will be featured.
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About TEDxAWC:
TEDxAWC is an independently organized TEDx event at Arizona Western College, dedicated to fostering creativity and sharing "ideas worth spreading" with the local community. TEDxAWC provides a platform for students, faculty, staff, and community members to present their unique perspectives and transformative ideas to inspire action and innovation.
About TED:
TED is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to discovering, debating and spreading ideas that spark conversation, deepen understanding and drive meaningful change. Our organization is devoted to curiosity, reason, wonder and the pursuit of knowledge — without an agenda. We welcome people from every discipline and culture who seek a deeper understanding of the world and connection with others, and we invite everyone to engage with ideas and activate them in your community.
TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, but today it spans a multitude of worldwide communities and initiatives exploring everything from science and business to education, arts and global issues. In addition to the TED Talks curated from our annual conferences and published on TED.com, we produce original podcasts, short video series, animated educational lessons (TED-Ed) and TV programs that are translated into more than 100 languages and distributed via partnerships around the world. Each year, thousands of independently run TEDx events bring people together to share ideas and bridge divides in communities on every continent. Through the Audacious Project, TED has helped catalyze more than $3 billion in funding for projects that seek to make the world more beautiful, sustainable and just. In 2020, TED launched Countdown, an initiative to accelerate solutions to the climate crisis and mobilize a movement for a net-zero future, and in 2023 TED launched TED Democracy to spark a new kind of conversation focused on realistic pathways towards a more vibrant and equitable future. View a full list of TED’s many programs and initiatives.
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Contact:
Dr. Sara Amani
Professor of Multilingual Composition/Specialist
Arizona Western College
sara.amani@azwestern.edu
(928) 344-7503
Contact:
Lorraine Stofft
Vice President for Advancement and Executive Director of the AWC Foundation
Arizona Western College
lorraine.stofft@azwestern.edu
(928) 314-9595