The 2025 TXST STEM Conference

2025 Conference Theme: Bridging Minds and Building Futures - Paths to Sustainability

Inspired by the principles of UNESCO’s mission, this conference theme underscores the importance of global cooperation in education, culture, science, and communication to drive sustainability. 

Although not affiliated with UNESCO, the theme reflects similar values—advancing education, preserving cultural heritage, promoting scientific progress, and ensuring access to knowledge. Participants will explore innovative strategies to build a future founded on shared understanding, respect, and environmental responsibility.

Kelton Sheridan - PhD Student, Department of Anthropology, University of Texas - Austin

Kelton Sheridan is completing her PhD in the Anthropology department at the University of Texas, Austin. As an anthropological archaeologist, she is particularly interested in how Indigenous communities maintained traditional knowledge in the face of colonial impositions and how material culture provides insight into past communities that have historically been silenced. Her research focuses on Indigenous ceramic practices at the Spanish colonial missions in San Antonio, with a particular emphasis on Mission Espada and Rancho de las Cabras. Kelton is also interested in how archaeology can serve as a tool for reconnection to sites of ancestral and cultural significance. She volunteers work with Texas Private Lands Heritage Preservation Partnership and serves on the board of the Edwards Plateau Archaeological Research Group.

Teresa “Quinn” Quinn, M.S., M.Ed.- Director Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Texas State University

Teresa “Quinn” Quinn, M.S., M.Ed., a California native, has been in education for over 25 years, serving as a higher education and secondary education program and center director. Additional positions along Quinn’s journey include assistant professor, high school teacher, and athletic director. Quinn is an expert in pitch development and helped students secure several funding awards, winning the two highest awards in WooTank, an intercollegiate pitch funding competition in Massachusetts.

Quinn is currently the Director for the Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Texas State University with the goal of providing innovation, entrepreneurship, and small business creation resources accessible to all students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community seeking to develop their brand of entrepreneurship.

Before coming to Texas State University, Quinn was Clark University School of Business, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program Director in Worcester, Massachusetts. Under Quinn’s leadership the E&I Program was awarded the 2020 Innovations that Inspire award from AACSB International (AACSB); 2021 Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Center’s (GCEC) Outstanding Student Engagement and Leadership award; 2022 finalist of Wharton-QS Reimagine Education Conference Award; 2024 ACEEU(Americas) Most Impactful University, Triple-E-Award; and 2024 Silver Outstanding Center Award by Sigma Nu Tau.

Additionally, Quinn served as an assistant professor, and Assistant Director of the Kelley Center for Entrepreneurship at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota, designing curriculum, teaching innovation and entrepreneurship, and developing student small businesses. Quinn co-authored three books with Dr. Ryan Van Zee, Creative Entrepreneurship and Innovation, The Entrepreneurial Experience and A Starter’s Guide to Small Business Ownership.

Before Quinn entered higher education, she worked at the Leona Group, LLC, (charter school system) in Phoenix, Arizona as a program manager, athletic director, and teacher. Quinn received her Bachelor of Science degree in Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship from California State University, Dominguez Hills; Master of Science in Industrial Organizational Psychology from Grand Canyon University; and Master of Education from North Central University. Quinn lives in Austin Texas, and is a partner in 4Quinns Farm LLC, Webster, South Dakota, a solar start-up company. Quinn has three grown children, two dogs and one cat, enjoys micro-farming, and home renovation projects.