Speakers

Keynote Speaker

Vivek Gupta

Mr. Vivek Gupta has spent almost two decades helping individuals and organizations cultivate clarity, resilience, and independently joyous living. Known for his insight-driven and inspiring teaching style, he translates timeless wisdom into practical tools for mental well-being, emotional intelligence, and purposeful leadership. His work spans daily briefs, weekly courses, workshops, retreats, and leadership programs.

Born and raised in Niagara Falls, Canada, Vivek completed immersive training in contemplative living and applied philosophy in India. He has also served as a chaplain.

Mr. Gupta has delivered talks at the Pentagon, Amazon, Intel, KPMG, Cognizant, CVS Health, Red Cross, etc., as well as universities including Boston University, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, and the University of Connecticut.

His global reach includes the Live Vedanta podcast, daily “Meaningful Mornings” sessions, and a vibrant YouTube learning community. He is the author of several digital and print books, including The Seeker’s Wordbook and Our Sacred Union. Committed to service and impact, Mr. Gupta has helped raise over $1.1M for humanitarian and environmental initiatives. Mr. Gupta is the co-founder of United Consciousness. He also serves as part of Niagara Regional Police Service’s Chief of Police – Community Inclusion Council.

Gary Weisserman

Gary Weisserman joins Holocaust Museum Houston with more than 32 years of professional experience in K-12 and higher education and administration, having worked in Jewish day schools, public schools and universities. From 2018 to 2025, he served as Head of School at Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School in Chicago, one of the largest and most established K-8 community Jewish Day Schools in the United States.

A Michigan native, Weisserman’s extensive experience includes serving as Head of School at Milken Community Schools in Los Angeles from 2013 to 2018, the Chief Academics Officer at Scheck Hillel Community School in North Miami Beach, Florida from 2011 to 2013 and the Head of School at Oakland Early College in Oakland County, Michigan from 2007 to 2011. Previous administrative positions include Director of Early College and K-16 initiatives at the University of Michigan-Flint and Program Director of the Interactive Communications and Simulations Group at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Previously, Weisserman taught at the University of Michigan, West Bloomfield Public Schools and Southfield Public Schools. He holds both a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature and a Master of Arts in Educational Studies, Educational Administration from the University of Michigan.

Weisserman and his wife, Dr. Dolly Kerin Weisserman, have two adult children.

Angelina Hudson

A Houston native, Angelina Hudson has devoted more than two decades to advancing mental health education, advocacy, and recovery through NAMI Greater Houston. Her journey with NAMI began as a parent and caregiver, navigating her own family’s path to sustained recovery. That lived experience has shaped her leadership and propelled her work across communities nationwide—sharing messages of hope, resilience, and mental wellness.

As a NAMI trainer, speaker, and ambassador, Angelina has played a pivotal role in developing student ambassadors in middle and high schools, certifying adults to teach and facilitate NAMI’s evidence-based programs, and equipping executives and managers with the tools to support employees experiencing mental health crises. Her work bridges families, schools, workplaces, and healthcare systems, strengthening community-based responses to mental health needs.

Angelina’s perspective as a mother, family member, and mental health professional has taken her across the country, where she has made a lasting impact on diverse audiences through education, storytelling, and leadership. Her unwavering commitment to mental well-being has been recognized through multiple awards from NAMI National, NAMI Texas, and other partner organizations.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Angelina values her most cherished roles—as a wife, mother, and proud “Gigi.” Together with her supportive husband, she remains deeply grounded in family, which continues to inspire her lifelong dedication to mental health and recovery.

Janeana White

Speaker from the Houston Health Department


Rena Patel

Rena Patel, MD, MPH, MPhil (Associate Professor, Infectious Diseases) is a University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) physician-scientist who conducts mixed methods research, using both qualitative and quantitative tools, in HIV, reproductive health, and health equity in the U.S., Kenya, South Africa, and Botswana.

She serves as Associate Director for Research at the UAB Mary Heersink Institute of Global Health and faculty co-lead for Research at the UAB Comprehensive Healthy Living Research Center. She has mentored 30+ individuals to date, and her research group has a specific focus on nurturing the next generation of biomedical researchers whose backgrounds and experiences reflect diverse needs.

Before joining UAB, she was Assistant Professor in Infectious Diseases at the University of California, San Francisco, where she completed her infectious diseases training, and junior faculty at the University of Washington. Dr. Patel completed her medical school and residency at Stanford University, MPH from the Harvard School of Public Health, and MPhil in Social and Political Sciences from the University of Cambridge. She has also worked in India, Tanzania, Ghana, Zimbabwe, and Uganda.


Dawson Phillips

Dawson is the Research & Policy Director at Air Alliance Houston, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing the public health impacts of air pollution through research, education, and advocacy. He works to analyze the extent and impact of air pollution in the Houston area and communicate findings to community members, elected officials, and media while advocating for policy changes that prioritize human health and the environment.

Dawson holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Visual Art from Brown University, where he built experience in data analysis and science communication for a hyperlocal air monitoring project in Providence, Rhode Island. Outside of work, Dawson is an avid birder, visual artist, and musician.


Patricia Davis

Patricia Davis is a proud member of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a vital force for good in our community and across Texas. With a global presence spanning over 150 countries, SSVP's mission is to provide direct, compassionate aid to individuals and families experiencing poverty. She is District President of Fort Bend SVdP, she serves on the Board of Directors and is President of SVdP Holy Family Missouri City, Tx. She is dedicated to continuing this legacy of service, responding to local needs from disaster relief to daily essentials, and embodying the Society's commitment to loving our neighbors as ourselves."

Chinelo Aralu

Chinelo Aralu is a Certified Public Accountant with more than 15 years of Accounting, Finance and Management expertise. Analytical and hands-on with a robust history of delivering innovative solutions, she is known for developing efficient processes and incorporating creative leadership skills to achieve business objectives.

As Chief Financial Officer for the non-profit organization, Aralu is responsible for all financial and fiscal management aspects of operations while also providing leadership and coordination in the administrative, business planning, accounting, and budgeting efforts, and IT systems. She is committed to building relationships to assure financial systems reinforce organizational goals and initiatives.

Before joining the food bank, Aralu held senior leadership roles in various for-profit industries, including Owens Corning. She has a B.S. in Finance from San Jose State University and a MBA with concentration in Data Analytics. Aralu is a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and serves as Treasurer of her church.

Anh Selissen

Anh Selissen is the Chief Information Officer for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), where she leads more than 700 technology professionals supporting one of the nation’s largest and most complex transportation networks. Since taking on the CIO role in 2019, she has redefined the function of IT within the agency transforming it into a mission-aligned, customer-focused division that delivers measurable impact for the business and the public it serves.

Under her leadership, TxDOT has implemented award-winning platforms like TxDOTCONNECT and the Consultant Certification Information System (CCIS), digitizing critical functions such as project delivery and vendor management. She also launched a forward-thinking AI program grounded in transparency and public trust, including one of the most comprehensive AI strategic plans in state government.

Anh’s best-in-class leadership is not only seen through her highly strategic vision, but also in her commitment to people and culture. She built a team-first organization centered on service, values, and inclusion, mentoring rising leaders, empowering diverse voices, and promoting a culture of trust and innovation. Recognized as both a State IT Leader of the Year and SIM Austin IT Executive of The Year, Anh embodies the modern public sector CIO: a business strategist, technology innovator, and authentic leader who brings others along with her.


Performances

  • HSA is proud to present its second show ever, celebrating culture through vibrant and energetic performances like samba and merengue. These dances are more than just entertainment, they reflect the rich traditions and histories of Latin American communities, from the lively rhythms of Brazil to the spirited beats of the Dominican Republic. By showcasing a variety of regional styles, HSA honors the diversity within its community.

    Through every step and rhythm, we honor the past while celebrating the present. In connection with the theme “Faith to the Future,” this performance reminds us that by preserving and sharing these traditions, we ensure they continue to inspire and thrive for generations to come.

  • Travis Hallyu, often referred to as the Korean Wave club, aims to show the spirit of K-Pop through fun dances and memorable melodies. If you’d like to see more, please come watch them perform their full setlist at Travis’s International Festival on April 25th!

  • Preformance Martial Arts

  • Travis Japanese Student Association (JSA) is a cultural club at Travis High School in which students can learn and participate in Japanese cultural dances, games, and events. It’s a great place for all lovers of Japanese media and culture!

  • Dulles Vietnamese Fan Dance is a captivating cultural performance that blends elegance, tradition, and storytelling. Preformed by local Asian American youth, this dance features flowing costumes and brightly colored fans that mimic the natural grace of butterflies. Each movement is carefully choreographed to reflect the harmony and beauty found in Vietnamese culture, with the syncronised gestures and formations.

  • Dulles Tinikling is a student-led dance group from Dulles High School in Texas. They perform a traditional Philippine folk dance called “tinikling”, which is a dance that involves tapping and clapping bamboo sticks together while dancers dance in between them, with some modern twists.

  • Vocal Preformance