 Terry J. Stigdon | WELCOME SPEAKER Terry J. Stigdon has dedicated her career to saving and improving the lives of Indiana’s children. As Director of the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS), Terry leads an organization that protects children from abuse and neglect and works to ensure their financial support. The DCS administers child support, child protection, adoption and foster care throughout the state of Indiana. Previously, Terry spent almost 20 years at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health, where she began as a pediatric intensive care staff nurse. Most recently, she served as clinical director of operations, where she oversaw strategy, finance, personnel, research and programs for several hospital divisions, including emergency, trauma and nursing. Terry’s extensive pediatric experience has given her a first-hand view of the issues faced by children and families. She has a proven track record of building strong teams that result in positive outcomes for vulnerable children. Terry holds associate and bachelor’s degrees in nursing and a master’s in nursing leadership and management. She serves on the boards of Indiana Emergency Medical Services for Children and Legacy House, which advocates for victims of violence and provides free trauma counseling. Terry has been married for 24 years and has three children. In her free time, Terry cheers on her beloved Chicago White Sox, sings in her church choir and volunteers at her daughter’s show choir competitions. |
Dr. Lori Desautels | KEYNOTE SPEAKER Dr. Lori Desautels, has been an Assistant Professor at Butler University since 2016 where she teaches both undergraduate and graduate programs in the College of Education. Lori was also an Assistant Professor at Marian University in Indianapolis for 8 years where she founded the Educational Neuroscience Symposium. Because of her work, Lori has been able to attract the foremost experts in the field of educational neuroscience, trauma and adversity growing the conference from 60 participants to over 400. Dr. Desautels’ passion is engaging her students through neuroscience as it applies to education by integrating Mind Brain Teaching, learning principles and strategies into her coursework at Butler. The Applied Educational Neuroscience Certificate, created by Lori in 2016, is specifically designed to meet the needs of educators, counselors, and administrators who work beside children and adolescents who have, and are, experiencing adversity and trauma. Lori has conducted workshops throughout the United States and Dubai on Mind Brain Teaching and Learning. She has created webinars for educators, clinicians, and administrators illustrating how educators and students alike must understand their neuroanatomy to regulate behavior and calm the brain. She has also authored a series of articles for “Inside the School,” an online publication providing strategies to administrators and educators alike. Lori’s articles are published in Edutopia, Brain Bulletin, and Mind Body Spirit international magazine. She also was published in the Brain Research Journal for her work in the fifth grade classrooms during a faculty in residence position with Washington Township Schools. Lori has met with over 30 school districts across the country, in Costa Rica and Dubai equating to more than 20,000 educators with much more work to be done! |
