TEDxDePaulUniversity 2017 speakers (top row, left to right): Julia DiGangi, Jameson Dixon, Elisabeth Lindsay-Ryan, Nelly Mueller, Kelly Richmond Pope. (bottom row, left to right) Rachel Pride, Tom Rietz, Doris Rusch, Mariela Shaker, Brian Thompson. (Image by Jeff Carrion) For the second year in a row, the DePaul community enthusiastically supported the call for TEDx speakers with 78 worthy applicants submitting their talk ideas. The selection committee was met with the tough job of judging thought-provoking speaker submissions from across the DePaul community, and ultimately chose these 10 speakers for their innovative interpretations of this year's theme: "Courage to Connect."
The 10 inspiring change agents are a diverse mix of faculty, staff, students and alumni, and each talk is rooted in the speakers' passion and expertise.
The speakers are: Clinical psychologist and alumna Julia DiGangi; cultural diversity advocate and Career Center staff member Jameson Dixon Jr.; equity, diversity, and inclusion professor Elisabeth "Biz" Lindsay-Ryan; alumna and advocate for diversity in the arts Nelly Mueller; associate professor of accounting and established documentary film maker Kelly Richmond Pope; student and community service advocate Rachel Pride; president of the Honors Student Government and community activist Tom Rietz; award-winning assistant professor in game design Doris C. Rusch; accomplished violinist and student Mariela Shaker; entrepreneur and adjunct faculty member Brian A. Thompson.
The master of ceremonies for the event will be The Theatre School's diversity advisor Dexter Zollicoffer.
TEDxDePaulUniversity will be held April 18 from 1-5 p.m. at DePaul University Student Center, 2250 N. Sheffield Ave., room 120 A and B. For more on the event visit:
TEDxDePaulUniversity.com.
About TEDx, x = independently organized event
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.) This is the second year DePaul University will be holding the TEDxDePaulUniversity event.