2025
On October 25, 2025, TEDxUniversity of Northern Iowa lit up Cedar Falls with a powerful day of ideas, inspiration, and connection. As a locally organized, independently run version of the world-renowned TED conference, this event brought together bold thinkers, compelling storytellers, and curious minds for an unforgettable celebration of “ideas worth spreading.”
Under the theme Creating Tomorrow, we explored how innovation, vision, and collaboration can shape a brighter future—starting now. Attendees were immersed in thought-provoking talks that challenged perspectives and ignited new possibilities.
The stage featured inspiring voices from across Iowa and beyond—including California, Washington, D.C., and Tokyo, Japan. The musical sensation The B2Wins, Brazilian twin brothers known for their electric performances and uplifting message, brought the house down. With longtime KWWL TV anchor Ron Steele as emcee, the event was expertly guided from start to finish.
From dynamic presentations to meaningful conversations, TEDxUNI wasn’t just a conference—it was a catalyst. Attendees left energized, inspired, and ready to help create tomorrow.
Speaker Session One
Kevin Droe
Music Education is Stuck in the Past—Here’s How We Fix It
Kevin is an associate professor of music education at UNI
Gary Gute
Flow for Good
Gary is an alumnus of [English, '82 and MA, '86] and a professor at UNI
Sarah Helleso
A Case for Meaningful Work: Social Enterprise as a Tool to Equip Youth for What’s Next
Sarah is an alumna of UNI [Leisure and Youth Services, '15]
Mitch Matthews
The Right Question at the Right Time: How to Unlock Dreams That Matter
Mitch is an alumnus of UNI [Communication and Media, '93]
Speaker Session Two
Tatiana Rice
Society at a Crossroads: How AI and Policy Will Shape Our Future
Tatiana is an alumna of UNI [Criminology, '16]
Zach Lillquist
The Power of the Uber Conversation: Why Small Talk Matters More Than You Think
Zach is an alumnus of UNI [Teaching, '17]
Muhammad Talha
The Myth of Being Self-Made: How Strangers Shape Our Success
Muhammad is a current nursing student at UNI
Leslie Wilson
How Ownership Can Make Work Better for Everyone
Leslie is an alumna of UNI [MBA, '84]
Elaine Eshbaugh
The Hidden Connection Between Dementia and Anxiety
Elaine is an alumna of UNI [Psychology, '00]
The TEDx Fest Experience
Find Your X Factor with Tina B
You’ll find Tina Bakehouse amping up the TEDx energy and creating a fun but safe space for learning and listening. Chat with Tina about finding and asserting your authentic voice as a speaker or leader, crafting an engaging signature talk, publishing a book, embracing Yes-And leadership, understanding temperament, mastering storytelling, or making progress toward any creative idea you’ve imagined but haven’t yet fulfilled.
Experience SHARP: Film Screening and Creative Team Meet and Greet
Meet the team of UNI alums from Morning Run Productions who competed and won first place in the Iowa edition of the international 48-Hour Film Project. Their additional awards for the short film SHARP included Cinematography and Audience Choice. They will present the 9-minute film, reflect on the team’s creative process under intense time pressure, and answer questions from the audience.
Experience Timeless Journeys
TheatreUNI students, in partnership with Western Home and Fortepan IA, teamed up to create a documentary film called Timeless Journeys. You’ll see how they used historical images of Iowa life drawn from UNI’s Fortepan IA Photographic Portal in “Creative Care” practices with older adults at the Western Home community. The students and their partners in this work, including those with dementia, created deeply moving stories based on inspiration from the historic photos.
Diamond Roundtree
Diamond Roundtree is a spoken word poet and published author who began performing at 15. Known for weaving faith, resilience, and womanhood into her art, she has graced museums and community stages. At TEDxUniversity of Northern Iowa, she shares her original piece, "Dreaming of My Tomorrow."
Vince Gotera
Vince Gotera has been the Poet Laureate of Iowa since 2024. He is a retired Emeritus Professor of English at the University of Northern Iowa, where he taught for almost 30 years. He served as Editor of the North American Review (2000-2016) and Star*Line, the print journal of the international Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association (2017-2020). He was previously an English professor at Humboldt State University and has also taught at Grinnell College, Wartburg College, and Indiana University, where he earned his PhD in English and his MFA in Poetry Writing.
Gotera was born and raised in San Francisco and also spent some childhood years in the Philippines. He blogs at The Man with the Blue Guitar. His favorite color is blue, in all its dynamic shades and flavors: cobalt, electric, royal, robin's-egg, navy, cerulean, teal, indigo, sky.
Mariachi Panteras
"Mariachi Panteras" is an ensemble located at the University of Northern Iowa, which performs traditional Mexican folk music and serves to celebrate Latinx heritage. The group, co-founded by Stephanie Ramos, is part of the UNI School of Music and has been featured in local news outlets, including the Northern Iowan.
Meet the Emcee
The emcee for TEDxUniversity of Northern Iowa 2025 was legendary KWWL news anchor Ron Steele. Ron is a Hall of Fame broadcaster who for 49 years reported on global events like the Persian Gulf War, the Iran hostage crisis, and 9/11; interviewed US presidents, including George H.W. Bush aboard Air Force One; and as anchor of KWWL News and The Steele Report, interviewed hundreds of notable figures from politicians to Nobel laureates. His award-winning Iowa’s Child series helped over 200 children find homes. A dedicated community leader, he has continued to support numerous charities and fundraising efforts since his retirement in February of 2025. A lifelong athlete and heart surgery survivor, Ron continues to inspire through public speaking and service.
Sponsors
