The Oklahoma State University College of Education and Human Sciences 2026 Lela O’Toole International Speaker Event will be held on Thursday, Sept. 17, in Jorns Hall of the Nancy Randolph Davis building.
Members of the campus and the surrounding community are invited to this free two-part workshop and keynote speech event.
10:30 a.m. – Mindfulness in the Classroom presented by Nisanart “Gift” Dharmageisirattana, educator, author and advocate for mental health and well-being.
This workshop is an excellent opportunity for current and future classroom teachers to learn about mindfulness in education curriculum and activities, and includes useful tips for school leaders. Anyone interested in understanding the origins and craft of mindfulness and ways to practice at home is encouraged to join.
3:30 p.m. – Keynote Address presented by Dr. Lakhana Didyasarin, OSU alumna and founder of the American School of Bangkok (ASB), a globally recognized educational institution in Thailand.
The keynote is for anyone who wishes to be inspired by the story of a young woman traveling to a country where she did not speak the language but was determined to study and make an impact on the lives of children through education. Throughout her career, Didyasarin has been honored with numerous accolades for her work and volunteerism, including recognition in 2019 as one of the Top 50 Organizations in Education by the Global Forum for Education and Learning.
RSVPs for each session are requested and may be submitted here.
About the Speakers
Didyasarin is a third-generation educator and proud Oklahoma State University alum. Fondly known as Dr. Lakhana, she has built an impressive career rooted in education and philanthropy. She attributes her time at OSU as being influential to her development as an educator and implemented many of the lessons learned in Stillwater at the school she founded in her home country. Now, more than five decades after their journey to Oklahoma, future educators are making their way to Thailand to complete their OSU student-teaching practicums at ASB under her mentorship.
Dharmageisirattana is Dr. Lakhana's daughter and a leader in education in her own right, with degrees from New York University and the Teachers College at Columbia University. She currently serves as the head of School at the American School of Bangkok - Green Valley. Dharmageisirattana has spent her career focusing on mindfulness and mental well-being in education, making international presentations and providing professional development opportunities on the topic.
Established in 1995, the Lela O'Toole International Speaker event focuses on timely and relevant topics in public policy, ethics, and international issues within the college's scholastic areas. Lela O'Toole served as dean of the former College of Human Sciences from 1951 to 1975. She believed universities have an important role in the conduct of international and world affairs. Dean O'Toole's interest in the world community led the college and university to a position of international leadership during the mid-twentieth century.