Graduation Season Author Panel

Join us Saturday, May 10th from 4:00 - 5:00pm for a grad-focused discussion panel featuring authors Dr. Nicole Morgan, Ben Serviss, and Donte Woods-Spikes. With grad season swiftly approaching, having a guide for parents, and students to help navigate and inspire with out of the box career choices. Good for parents/caregivers and students going into high school, high school grads, college grads, or folks looking for a career shift.

Dr. Nicole Morgan's professional experience spans over 20 years supporting students as a teacher, licensed school counselor, and higher education leader. She led the development of Buckeyes First, a comprehensive first-generation program for students at The Ohio State University. She has also conducted research on the socialization experiences of first-generation doctoral students. Dr. Morgan completed her Ed.D. and B.S. degrees at The Ohio State University, and her M.Ed. degree at the University of Dayton.

Ben Serviss started his career in the game industry as a game designer, producer and writer, working on everything from console shooters to branded Facebook games. In 2015 he switched to tech after a decade in games, and is now a Director of Engineering at The Lifetime Value Company.

Ben is the author of the 2017 book How to Score Your First Game Job, which leverages his years of experience helping students and career-changers get started in games. He's also a member of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association, a founding member of DIY arcade game collective Arcade Commons, and is currently writing a book about the 1999 classic game Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver.

Donte Woods-Spikes is known for various forms of work such as professional speaking which landed him on the TEDx Stage and Sundance Film Festival for his film, As a Matter of Black. in 2021, Donte Woods-Spikes, author of the book So. Long. was inspired to document critical moments as a Columbus Ohio educator. The book revisits complex scenarios involving racism, gender identity, emotional wellness, poverty, and all things children experience on a daily basis while attending school. His book has been highlighted in the Ohioana Book Festival, The Thurber House, and Buckeye Book Festival. 

Donte is an advocate for storytelling of all forms. His contributions to encouraging authentic storytelling include working alongside The Columbus Foundation as a Big Table ambassador and a TEDx organizer. He started his own storytelling workshop titled Voices of Empathy which walks people through organizing stories and presenting in front of crowds.

Donte is also the creator of the social movement Empathize With Me. EWM goal is to provide genuine lessons, relationships, and empathy through storytelling. Donte's overall goal is to educate and connect the world beyond perceptions and stereotypes with authentic experiences through storytelling and documentation.