Theme: Food for Thought

TEDxPVAMU2023: Food for Thought strives to challenge conventional perspectives. Our speakers will present a collection of observations and discoveries, each connected with a shared mission to feed your mind. Listeners will immerse themselves in new concepts to reevaluate their approach to life.

Prairie View A&M University
100 University Drive
Prairie View, Texas, 77446
United States

Ebony Moss

Political and healthcare advocate

Ebony Moss is a junior at Prairie View A&M University College of Nursing from Dallas, Texas. She is passionate about politics and healthcare and hopes to be the change she wishes to see. Ms. Moss has served as a mentor, motivational speaker, community activist, and youth leader. She believes it is crucial that the current generation, and generations to come, find their voice, and she plans to assure them that their voice matters. Ebony Moss gives credence to the statement that healthcare workers save lives, politicians save communities, and she will do both.

Frank Jackson

Prairie View pioneer

Frank D. Jackson was born and raised in Luling, Texas, and is the second of three sons born to Robbie Jackson Sr. and Willie Louise Jackson. He entered Prairie View A&M University in the fall of 1969. Frank majored in Geography and earned a 4-year Scholarship as a Naval Science student. He graduated from PVAMU in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree and was commissioned and ensigned in the United States Navy, serving eight years of active duty. After his military service, Mr. Jackson worked at PVAMU from 1982 to 2021. Mr. Jackson is married to the former Marian Elaine Jones and is the father of four children, Tracy, Ayanna, Cheikh & Okofo. The Jacksons have two grandchildren, Chazrel & Simone.

Lisa Williams

Engineer + healthy lifestyle advocate

Lisa Williams received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View, Texas, and a Master’s in Manufacturing Management from The Pennsylvania State University in State College, Pennsylvania. Post graduation, Mrs. Williams is the Senior Director of Operations at Dow. She joined Dow in 1998 and has held many roles within the company since. Lisa’s certifications include Six Sigma Black Belt, APICS CPIM and CSCP, and Prosci ADKAR change management practitioner. Lisa has participated in several elite Dow senior and executive leadership programs such as the HH Dow Academy, Lead To Exceed, Dow Leadership Institute, Inspire to Serve, and Dow executive coaching. Lisa is a native Houstonian and currently lives there with her husband. She is a strong mental health, fitness, and nutrition advocate promoting healthy lifestyles inside out.

Russel Thomas

Agriculture specialist

Russell Thomas is a Budget Analyst with the United States Department of Agriculture Agency ERS. Born in Fort Worth, TX, he grew up in a large family of seven. Russell attended Prairie View A&M University as a USDA 1890 scholar. While in college, Russell studied abroad and served in Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS). Russell is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Post graduation, Russell has continued to be an active member in the community with the USDA and as an executive board member for the PVAMU Agriculture Alumni Association.