David Yeager, Ph.D. | Professor of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin.

KEYNOTE | Young people have an innate need to be respected and admired. But few leaders today—whether parents, educators, or managers—understand how to harness it. David Yeager can help. An expert on the psychology of grit and persistence, David has spent years researching how to motivate and equip young people for success. He will demonstrate why our conventional methods of communicating with young people aged 10 to 25 tend to leave everyone frustrated and discuss a better way of ensuring the younger generation feels inspired, enthusiastic, and empowered to do their best work.

ABOUT | David Yeager is the author of 10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People, a USA Today bestseller that explores how adults can build meaningful connections with youth through respect and purpose. A leading psychologist at the University of Texas at Austin, David is one of the most-cited experts in his field. His research focuses on adolescent development, mental health, and life transitions, and his work has been featured in The New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic, and Scientific American. He has collaborated with Angela Duckworth and Carol Dweck, and co-chaired a national summit on mindset at the White House.

Kerri Newman, LMFT | Therapist and Operations Director, Wellspring Couseling Center

KEYNOTE | Grief in teens often hides in plain sight, masked by withdrawal, humor, anger, or silence. Whether facing the death of a loved one or navigating the complexity of ambiguous loss, teens need support that feels safe, relevant, and real. In this keynote, attendees will explore how mental health professionals can walk alongside teens who are grieving with empathy, curiosity, and compassion, recognizing how grief can reshape identity, challenge relationships, and spark meaning-making in unexpected ways. You’ll deepen your understanding of what it means to hold space for grief and hope and learn strategies that empower teens to navigate their grief, knowing they don’t have to face it alone.

ABOUT | Kerri Newman is a licensed marriage and family therapist with more than a decade of experience supporting children, teens, and families through grief. She began her work in the bereavement field in 2012 and served as program director at Journey of Hope Grief Support Center from 2015 until its closure in 2025. Kerri now serves as the operations director and therapist at Wellspring Counseling Center, where she continues leading Journey of Hope peer grief support groups and provides individual and family therapy. She is passionate about creating compassionate, healing spaces where young people feel seen and supported in their grief.

Shauna Barnes | Thrive Mental Health Manager, Grant Halliburton Foundation

KEYNOTE | Hope is not just a concept; it’s a practice grounded in resilience, emotional attunement, and meaningful human connection. In this keynote, Shauna will explore how evidence-based strategies for preventing depression and suicide are most effective when paired with authentic relational practices and a deep understanding of emotional development. Drawing on the latest research and clinical best practices, this session highlights the crucial role of attuned interpersonal support in promoting resilience and reducing risk. Attendees will gain actionable tools to recognize early warning signs, respond with empathy and precision, and create environments that nurture mental wellness. This is a call to lead with both heart and evidence, building systems of support where hope can truly take root.

ABOUT | Shauna’s background in child psychiatry research has given her a passion for mental health awareness and advocacy. She’s motivated by the desire for adolescents, parents, teachers, and community members to have the knowledge and resources to recognize and support those struggling with a mental health condition.

Vanessa Baum, MPH | Prevention Education Program Director, The Family Place

KEYNOTE | Traditional approaches to teen dating violence education may not fully address the needs of today’s youth, and are often unsupported by the growing research about violence prevention. The emphasis on red flags and warning signs tends to assume that young people already have a meaningful understanding of concepts like trust and respecting boundaries, but adults and young people define these concepts very differently. In this keynote, we’ll discuss how adults who work with teens can better support healthy relationship development and explore effective strategies for building the social and emotional skills required for healthy relationships.

ABOUT | Vanessa Baumis the prevention education program director at The Family Place in Dallas and currently directs The Family Place’s Be Project, which empowers youth to end relationship violence through school-based education and community engagement. She is passionate about the health and well-being of youth and has extensive experience facilitating school-based violence prevention programs. Vanessa has also worked in educational policy, drafting non-discrimination policies for independent school districts and the Title IX Sexual Misconduct Policy for the University of Texas Health system.

Wes Woodson | Mental Health Public Speaker

TALK | With vulnerability and warmth, Wes shares practical ways adults can help teens feel emotionally safe, rebuild self-worth, and reconnect with the parts of themselves they’ve been taught to hide. Attendees will leave with tangible strategies to support teen mental wellness through compassion, curiosity, and presence.

ABOUT | Mental health advocate, Wes Woodson, explores how shame, anxiety, and emotional pressure often cause young people to disconnect from who they truly are. Drawing from his personal story and lived experience, Wes introduces “Sonny,” a teddy bear gifted to him by his grandmother, as a symbol of the version of ourselves we abandon to survive—but must reclaim to heal.

Youth Advisory Board

ABOUT | Grant Halliburton Foundation and UT Southwestern’s Center for Depression Research and Clinical Care have partnered to create a Youth Advisory Board made up of students from across North Texas. Through this seven-month initiative, students provide feedback, engage in mental health discussions, and help shape youth-focused programs. The board supports leadership development and collaboration while advancing mental health awareness in schools and communities.