TEDx Core Team Mentors
Dr. Shawn Apostel, Faculty Advisor, TEDx License Holder, Design, Arts and Technology Director
A former high-school dropout, musician and artist, Shawn is a dyslexic who found his questions about graphic design and photography couldn’t be answered without going to college, a decision that would eventually propel him to obtain a Ph.D. in rhetoric and technical communication.
Contact: sapostel@bellarmine.edu • @apostels • website
Kristi Apostel, Editor, Academic Consultant
When Kristi isn’t working online or supporting the TEDx Core Team, she’s usually in the kitchen layering flavors and trying not to stumble over two inquisitive pups. Professionally, she’s an editor, mentor, tutor, and technical communicator. She's also the resident chef and caterer for the Core Team, which she secretly admits is her favorite role for TEDx.
Contact: apostels@gmail.com • website
Angela Miller, TEDx Co-Organizer, Adjunct Design, Arts, and Technology Faculty
Angela has worked at Bellarmine since 2009, experiencing the good fortune of serving as both faculty and staff over the years. She holds three master’s degrees, spanning from digital media to theatrical directing. She has served as the TEDxBellarmineU co-organizer since 2018 and is humbled and honored to be working with this amazing group of students who coordinate Bellarmine’s annual TEDx event.
Contact: amiller@bellarmine.edu
Gabriel Miller, TEDx Community Liaison and Speaker Coach
Gabriel has always approached his journey with an enthusiastic eye toward helping others see and grow. After serving and leading in the military, Gabriel turned to building businesses and aiding others as a speaker, mentor, and managing partner in a small business group. Gabriel continuously seeks to encourage people to find joy in their pursuits, live in a socially sustainable way, and lift up others.
Abby Bullock, President, Senior, Double Major in Design, Arts and Technology and Communication, Minor in Theatre
This is Abby’s fourth year on the Core Team, and she is so excited to integrate all she learned in her first three years, gleaning from her other talented Core Team members. This year, Abby serves as the event’s emcee, assistant stage manager, and president. She has a passion for theatre, writing and film production and hopes to pursue one of these areas in the near future. At Bellarmine University, she is currently involved in the Bellarmine Leadership Institute, Alpha Psi Omega (Theatre Honors Society), and Bellarmine Theatre.
Contact: abullock3@bellarmine.edu
Sophia Schindler, Vice President, Sophomore, Double Major in Design, Arts, and Technology and Communication
A second-year student at Bellarmine, Sophia is double majoring in design, arts, and technology and Communications with a minor in television news and broadcasting. In part due to her love for broadcasting, video editing, photography, and filmmaking, Sophia edits videos for TEDxBellarmineU social media and is looking forward to integrating more of her skills in video editing and camera work as she continues responsibilities with the Core Team.
Ryan Kleine-Kracht, Secretary, Senior, Double Major in Design, Arts, and Technology and Communication
Having been passionate about creating and designing since he was young, Ryan enjoys applying these skills in his activities with TEDxBellarmineU. Ryan serves as TEDxBellarmineU’s secretary and has assisted the marketing team and helped run the front of house for the event. In his personal life, he enjoys spending time with family and friends and loves fishing. Recently, Ryan's creative outlet has been making and airbrushing his own lures, but he is also eager to continue creative service with TEDxBellarmineU.
Gisela Martinez, Treasurer, Senior, Double Major in Economics and Business Administration, Minor in International Studies
Gisela is an international student from Merida, Mexico. She has always been an avid fan of TED Talks and is excited to continue participating in the TEDx events, currently serving as treasurer in one of her many roles. Gisela is a Student Ambassador, member of the Honors Program, and Peer Coach for first-year students. Looking ahead, she plans to pursue a master’s degree in economics and study the economics of immigration.
Contact: gmartinezacosta@bellarmine.edu
Nicholas Hodges, Junior, Double Major in Design, Arts, and Technology and Art
Having volunteered at the TEDxBellarmineU event in the past, Nicholas now assists with social media for the Core Team. In connection with his role on the TEDx Core Team, Nicholas also enjoys drawing and video editing.
Elizabeth Satterly, Sophomore, Major in Public Health
Elizabeth was born and raised right here in Louisville, Kentucky. She enjoyed learning all the behind-the-scenes aspects that are involved in planning and producing Bellarmine’s TEDx Event, and she hopes to one day have a career in event planning. In her personal life, Elizabeth enjoys working as a front-desk agent at a hotel.
Graduated TEDx Core Members
Jacob Gagel, Majored in Communication, Minored in Digital Media; Master of Arts in Communication
Passionate about storytelling and film, Jacob started working with TEDxBellarmineU in 2020 as a videographer, eventually stepping into the role of director, producer, and video editor from 2021-2023. He is currently working on his career in screenwriting and directing.
Contact: jgagel@bellarmine.edu • Instagram
Lucas Rogers, Double Majored in Design, Arts and Technology and Communication; Current Master of Business Administration Student
Lucas has been on the TEDxBellarmineU Core Team since their first TEDx event in 2019. He is passionate about visual and performing art, especially filmmaking, and began experimenting with video at the age of 14. He has made six short films and is currently developing a horror film and serving as the director of the podcast Dyslexics Untied. His goal in life is to be a famous movie director. Lucas has a strong background in the performing arts, has been playing the trumpet since he was 10, and, as an undergrad, was in Bellarmine’s pep band. He has also acted in a number of plays and served as stage manager for two musicals.
Contact: lrogers@bellarmine.edu • Instagram • YouTube
Jacob Schuhmann, Majored in Communication
Jacob is passionate about humanity and believes strongly in the power of kindness. A few years ago when Jacob was previously an emcee for TEDxBellarmineU, he had never held a long-term job or worked with people on a professional level. Jacob claims he was just a kid, passionate for people and education. While that passion continues, kindness has driven Jacob to realize the same applies to humanity. His personal philosophy is like a snowball: the kinder we are to other people, the more kindness we receive, and the more our passion grows for humanity.
Alumni TEDx Core Members
Tomas Bernedo, Majored in Sports Administration; Master of Science in Digital Media
Tomas is from Santiago, Chile and came to the U.S. in 2016 to play soccer for Bellarmine while earning a degree in sports administration. After a short career as a professional soccer player in 2020, Tomas returned to his alma mater to pursue a master’s degree in digital media. This path inspired Tomas to join TEDxBellarmineU in 2022. For TEDx, Tomas enjoys recruiting and training volunteers for front-of-house duties. Tomas also has an interest in social media and contributes to content creation across all TEDx platforms.
Crystal Bhagwandin, Double Majored in Health Services Administration and Communication, Minor in Business Administration
Crystal’s last name is pronounced BAg- wahn - din. She is from Brooklyn and is passionate about breaking down and then eliminating injustices in the health system, particularly by making an impact in the day-to-day delivery of patient care.
Contact: cbhagwandin01@bellarmine.edu • crystalbhagwandin@gmail.com
Daniel Hutchins, Majored in Communication, Minor in Marketing and Digital Media
Daniel was TEDxBellarmineU’s social media manager, stemming from an ongoing interest in social media marketing and digital media. In his personal life, he enjoys gaming, reading, music production, and consuming various forms of online media.
Contact: dhutchins@bellarmine.edu
John Klapheke, Double Majored in Design, Arts and Technology and Communication
John has been on the TEDxBellarmineU core team since February 2018. This journey with TEDx eventually led John to fulfill a lifetime goal of giving his own TEDx Talk in January 2020. John now attends the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law and is pursuing a JD/MBA. In his spare time, John enjoys kayaking, photography, working out, and hiking through nature.
Contact: jpklap01@louisville.edu
Hannah Melcher, Double Major in Design, Arts and Technology and Communication, Minor in Digital Media
While sports have always been a big part of Hannah's life, after having to step away from competitive play, she has found a passion and joy in storytelling and journalism. This passion is growing in her plans to pursue a career in sports broadcasting and journalism. Her strongest abilities are seen in her organization and time management skills. Outside of these pursuits, she also enjoys watching sports, baking, working out and reading.
Contact: hmelcher@bellarmine.edu
Quincy Nelson, TEDx Core Team Founder
Although Quincy graduated from Bellarmine in 2016, he will always be a student. His interests include art, culture and various forms of social media and technology. He enjoys traveling and he works and thrives when he’s around amazing people like those on the TEDx Core Team.
Contact: sqnelson1@gmail.com
Grace Potts, Majored in Communication; Master of Science in Digital Media
Grace coordinated TEDxBellarmineU’s social media and was emcee for TEDxBellarmineU in 2021. She is passionate about social media management and marketing and is now working as social media coordinator at audiochuck.
Contact: gpotts@bellarmine.edu
Romina Vaca Puente, Previous Exchange Student from Ecuador
Romina organized multiple events for the communication faculty at her home university, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, where she coordinated a hair donation campaign to provide wigs to children with leukemia. She has won multiple track meets, played soccer since she was five and practiced karate for multiple years. Romina’s goal is to work with refugees and immigrants in the nonprofit sector.
Contact: rominavacapuente@gmail.com
Grayson Rohrig, Majored in Communication
Grayson, who graduated in 2018, is heavily interested in radio, podcasting and event planning in his professional life. In his personal life, he likes climbing, stand-up comedy, traveling and camping.
Contact: grayson.rohrig@gmail.com
Gillian Urbaniak, Majored in Pre-Law
From Chicago, Gillian’s passions are educating youth on activism and using communication, politics and law to help those who feel left behind. She was a legal intern for the American Civil Liberties Union and is a fan of coffee and petting dogs.