Meet Our 2022 Executive Team
KATIE DEKOESTER
Licensee
Katie is the Assistant Director of Student Life at Hope College. She lives in Holland, Michigan, but is originally from Brookston, Indiana. Katie is an advisor for the executive team and is the license holder. She became a part of TEDxHopeCollege so that she can help amplify diverse viewpoints, voices and stories. She also advises volunteer services, Dance Marathon, and Orientation at Hope College.
LIZZY BASSETT
Director
Lizzy is a junior at Hope College studying communication and organizational leadership. She is from Glen Ellyn, Illinois. Lizzy is the director and founder of TEDxHopeCollege and created this organization mostly to give students opportunities to join and create a student-led organization to listen. She saw a need for productive, ideological discourse. She is a part of Student Congress, Nykerk Oration, RA, research, and work study.
KYILE GALLOWAY
Marketing Lead
Kylie is a senior at Hope College pursuing degrees in communication, history and Spanish. She is from Maple Grove, Minnesota. Kylie is the marketing lead on TEDxHopeCollege and remains on the team since she loves the motto of "ideas worth spreading" as well as amplifying students' voices around campus. Kylie is the Director of Daily Operations for the Student Activities Committee, marketing manager for Big Read Lakeshore, and works for Campus Ministries.
LAUREN SCHILLER
Event Manager
Lauren is a freshman at Hope College studying communications, global studies, and Chinese. She is from Oxford, Michigan. Lauren is the event manager for TEDxHopeCollege. She joined the team because she believes everyone has a story and deserves the chance to share that story. She also wanted to be a part of fostering deeper conversations on campus. She is also a part of The Anchor, Business Club, and the running club.
JOSH ABBAS
Financial Manager
Josh is a sophomore at Hope studying nursing and global health. He is from San Diego, California. Josh is the financial manager for TEDxHopeCollege and he joined the team because he loves seeing what his peers are passionate about and hearing their ideas be displayed on a big stage. Aside from TEDxHopeCollege, Josh is involved in Student Congress, Hope Student Nursing Association, Campus Ministries and is a RA.
ELISEO BUSTILLOS
Executive Producer
Eliseo is a senior at Hope and is studying business administration. He is from Holland, Michigan. He joined the team and stayed because he believes day-to-day life needs to be shaken up to understand that there is more life than our own perspectives. Eliseo is also a part of Appropriations, the Latino Student Organization and IM sports.
MIKAYLA ZOBECK
Curator
Mikayla is a senior at Hope College pursuing degrees in business and biochemistry. She is from East Lansing, Michigan. Her role on the team is curator. She joined the team because she loved being a speaker last year and wants to continue to help speakers share their stories that create influence and impact around campus and worldwide. Other than TEDxHopeCollege, she is the co-President and Senior Student Ambassador of Women of Color United, along with the Anchor Advertising manager.
YAILYN COMPRES
Videographer
Yailyn is a junior at Hope College studying communication with a focus on media production. She is from Overland Park, Kansas. Yailyn is the videographer on the TEDxHopeCollege executive team. She joined this team because she believes it's important to hear and learn from other people's stories. She is a part of broadcasting club and involved in live streaming events.
THERESE JOFFRE
Website Manager
Therese is a sophomore at Hope College studying chemistry on the pre-med or grad school track. She is from Midland, Michigan. On the team, she is the website manager. She joined TEDxHopeCollege and stayed another year to help cultivate an environment where hard conversations can take place. She is also involved with the track and field team at Hope College, president of the Young Americans for Freedom chapter, opinion editor of The Anchor, a member of the Hope Catholics and Hope Republicans clubs, research, and is a tutor.
MATT ROEBBELEN
Tech Lead
Matt is a senior at Hope College pursuing degrees in business, political science and communications. He is from London, Ontario and Indianapolis, Indiana. Matt is the tech lead on the team. Matt was a volunteer last year and wanted to join TEDxHopeCollege to be a part of the high energy environment that produces a platform for intellectual diversity. Also at Hope College, he is involved in video services and was a past RA.
