Mr. Quinton Jones is the Executive Director of Student Affairs and the Title IX Officer for Murray State College in Tishomingo, Oklahoma. As an inspirational and motivational speaker, Mr. Jones delivers every presentation with perseverance and love. His presentations emit joy and a fulfillment of self-preservation in the lives of his audience who are inspired by his delivery. Quinton’s strength and his passion is credited to his great-grandparents who raised him. He credits his career successes to his pillars of strength who are his former teachers and coaches throughout his educational career. Mr. Jones graduated from high school in New Boston, Texas. He continued his education and played college football at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas and received an associate degree. He completed his bachelor's degree with a major in speech and communication and a minor in political science while attending the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Mr. Jones is working towards his Master's and PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Louisiana in Monroe, Louisiana. His previous employment is with the Chickasaw Nation where he was the director of the Chickasaw Children’s Village for more than 10 years. The position he claims as the recipient of his Best Choice Award is when he was employed as a classroom aide at Crestview Elementary School in New Boston, Texas. Mr. Jones and his wife, Jena, have two children. 

Dr. Matthew Wappett is the Executive Director of the Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice at Utah State University. He also holds an affiliate appointment as a Research Associate Professor in the USU Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling. Dr. Wappett’s teaching and research on the effects of stress on learning and behavior helps individuals and organizations understand how to become more resilient and inclusive.  Dr. Wappett is committed to providing educators and other human service professionals with the tools they need to manage their stress, and the skills they need to become more resilient. Dr. Wappett’s work is also focused on the effects of laughter as a stress management technique and a tool to create inclusion. Dr. Wappett genuinely enjoys teaching people how to laugh.   

Dr. Wappett earned his Ph.D. in Special Education, an M.Ed. in Educational Studies, and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Utah.  Dr. Wappett has also participated in Clinical Training for Mind Body Medicine through the Harvard Medical School.  He completed his public school teaching certification while pursuing his Master’s degree at the U of U.