TEDx at Western Iowa Tech

Thursday, April 11, 2024
11am - 1pm, Rocklin Conference Center
Limited to 100 in-person attendees with overflow room for additional viewers
Students and Employees bring your Western Iowa Tech ID

Speakers

Ambe Dowdell-White
"Unbreakable Spirit! Rising Strong! Navigating Life's Challenges through Resilience and Adversity!"

Ambé Dowdell-White is currently serving as an Academic Dean of Social Science and Business and is the lead for the IWCC Inclusion Alliance at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Iowa, which she implemented in 2021.

She attended HBCU (Historically Black College and University), Lincoln University for her undergraduate degree majoring in Marketing. She earned a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration and Human Resource Management from University of Kansas and Webster University respectively. She is currently pursuing her ED. D in Educational Leadership and Development at the University of Cumberlands.

Ambe’s professional background includes over 25 years of diverse experience working in Higher Education (Academics and Student Services), Secondary Education, Corporate America, Non-Profits, and Human Resource Management. Experienced presenting and facilitating on various topics addressing underrepresented/disadvantaged students, DEI, student-athletes, college prep/access, leadership, and career development to name a few. She has been invited to present best practices across the country. Recently presented in New York “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion at a Community College.”

LaShawna (Dean) Moyle
"Identity Renaissance"

LaShawna (Dean) Moyle, an award-winning activist, is a biracial Midwesterner. As a first-generation nontraditional college graduate, she began her academic journey at Western Iowa Tech Community College. LaShawna achieved two undergraduate degrees - in the areas of Social Work and Sociology in 2018. She completed her graduate degree in Social Work at the University of South Dakota and was licensed by the Iowa Board of Social Work in 2021. Since 2022, LaShawna has been certified as a Diversity Practitioner from the Inclusion Institute. Currently, she is working on attaining a certification in Trauma Informed methods.

LaShawna brings a wealth of knowledge and advocacy in inclusion work. This includes serving as: chair of the Inclusive Sioux City Advisory Committee, an Educational Equity Student Liaison for the Sioux City Community School District; mental health therapist and advocate for diverse populations; and working with urban residents through federal programs and grants. LaShawna additionally instructs within the Social Sciences. She continues to dedicate her personal and professional time to enhancing the lives of those within minoritized populations.

Brett Hoogeveen
"Stupid Things Leaders Do"

Brett Hoogeveen is the co-founder of BetterCulture and Mindset LLC, two leadership development and consulting firms with clients spanning from entrepreneurial startups to Fortune 500 companies.

In the past ten years, Brett has trained thousands of leaders and worked hands-on with hundreds of organizations and executive teams focused on creating stronger businesses by building better leaders, teams, and workplace cultures.

Brett graduated with honors from University of Kansas with degree in civil engineering. Following a fateful early career change, Brett became the youngest person ever asked to serve on the executive team at the nationally renowned healthcare company QLI, the only organization ever in its metropolitan area to be voted the "#1 Best Place to Work" - five consecutive times.

Emily Shields
"Community Colleges are the Future of Education"

Emily J. Shields has served as executive director of Community Colleges for Iowa since January 2021, leading advocacy for Iowa's 15 Community Colleges. Prior to that, she served as executive director of Iowa and Minnesota Campus Compact. She received a B.A. degree in journalism and political science from the University of Iowa and a master’s degree in philanthropy and nonprofit development at the University of Northern Iowa.

Shields served as chief of staff for the Rebuild Iowa office and was senate liaison and policy adviser to Iowa’s governor. She has worked in field organizing and fundraising for political campaigns and served as an AmeriCorps VISTA member.