Collective Spark explores the powerful ideas that emerge when people come together across disciplines, cultures, and communities. Rooted in the land-grant mission of education, research, and public service, this TEDx event highlights conversations that inspire innovation, connection, and meaningful change.
"Failure and The Collective Spark"
Ross Marks is an award-winning filmmaker, educator, and founder of the Las Cruces International Film Festival, the nation’s largest student-run film festival. An Associate Professor at New Mexico State University, he has spent more than 30 years directing, producing, and mentoring emerging filmmakers. His work has featured collaborations with acclaimed actors including Al Pacino, Brendan Fraser, Faye Dunaway, Edward James Olmos, comedy superstar George Lopez, and Academy Award nominee Mark Medoff. Marks is a recipient of New Mexico’s Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts and the Distinguished Resident Award from the City of Las Cruces.
"REST is not a Reward, it's a Requirement."
Jasmine Brett Stringer is a keynote speaker, award-winning author, and Founder & CEO of Carpe Diem with Jasmine. With nearly 20 years of corporate experience and a Master of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, she helps individuals and organizations build workplace well-being and emotional agility. A 2026 Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal Women in Business Honoree, Jasmine has partnered with organizations including Airbnb, General Mills, Cargill, the Federal Reserve Bank, and the American Heart Association.
"Honoring Resistance: Using the Language of Psychology and De-radicalization to Engage With Emotionally Distant Men"
Jason Wyatt is the owner and therapist at Excelsior Mental Health Services in Las Cruces, New Mexico. With more than 16 years of clinical experience, he specializes in men’s mental health, adolescent mental health, substance abuse and trauma treatment. Passionate about reaching emotionally resistant clients, Wyatt has spent the past five years expanding his work as a speaker, trainer, and mental health advocate, sharing practical strategies that foster connection, resilience, and healing.
"Shaping the Future of Design: Creating Better Experiences for Everyone"
Matheus Cezarotto is a game designer, researcher, and educator dedicated to making learning more engaging, inclusive, and impactful through thoughtful design. As coordinator of the Learning Games Lab at New Mexico State University, he leads interdisciplinary teams in creating transformational media experiences that inspire learning and drive positive change. Drawing on research, media development, and workshop facilitation across four continents, Cezarotto champions accessibility-centered design, demonstrating how inclusive approaches create better experiences for all learners.
"Who Gets to Discover?"
Oluwatosin Saibu is a biochemist, Ph.D. candidate and researcher studying the molecular mechanisms of breast cancer. His work integrates biochemistry, computational modeling, and molecular simulation to explore how protein interactions and molecular changes influence disease. By applying advanced computational approaches, he investigates biological questions that are difficult to address through traditional laboratory methods. Oluwatosin is also passionate about science education, mentorship, and making complex scientific concepts accessible to diverse audiences.
"It’s HALL About R.E.L.A.T.I.O.N.S.H.I.P.S."
James D. Hall Sr. serves as Associate Director of the Student Success Center at New Mexico State University, leading efforts that support student achievement, retention, and career readiness. Over a 35-year career in higher education, he has mentored more than 5,000 students across Iowa State, The Ohio State University and NMSU; he has earned recognition for advancing inclusion through programs that help minority students build community, navigate campus life, and thrive academically.
"Motherhood Was Never the Barrier"
Lucinda Banegas-Carreon is a public health professional, Mother Scholar, and community health leader with more than 20 years of experience, including 15+ years in Cooperative Extension. She earned her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Administration while raising three daughters with her husband and working full-time. Her research explored the experiences of Latina graduate student mothers, and she brings both professional expertise and lived experience to conversations about motherhood, higher education, and creating supportive environments where mothers can thrive.
TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently
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