TEDxStetsonU returns March 28

TEDxStetsonUTickets are still available for members of the public and the Stetson community for Stetson University’s second TEDxStetsonU event, Friday, March 28 from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Allen Hall, 508 N. Woodland Blvd., on Stetson’s DeLand campus. The theme for the event will be Significance in Action: Creating Learning, Innovation and Happiness. You can purchase your ticket for $10 in HUB in the CUB, located on the second floor of the Carlton Union Building, 131 E. Minnesota Ave. They are open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Founded in 1984, TED is a non-profit organization that dedicates its conferences to the three worlds of Technology, Entertainment, and Design. TEDx is a program that gives communities and individuals the chance to engage in dialogue similar to a TED experience by implementing thought-provoking presentations and short talks.

“TEDxStetsonU was born through a partnership with Boundless Learning and Student Success,” explained Michelle Vergara ‘14, behavioral economics major, who was instrumental in bringing the TEDx program to Stetson last year. “I was inspired by similar events at larger Florida colleges and I thought Stetson would be the perfect place to host a TEDx of our own and put us on the map. I approached Dr. Richardson, who loved the idea, and together we gathered the resources needed to make it happen. This year, I expect an even better turnout than before.”

Last year’s event took place March 15 under the theme of Significance in Action: Inspired Learning. A video of the event can be viewed here.

This year’s group consists of:

  • Paul Croce, Ph.D., Stetson professor of history and American studies: Water from a Fire Hose: Information Abundance and Liberal Learning
  • Hari Pulapaka, Ph.D., Stetson associate professor of mathematics: Actionable Steps Towards a Better Food System
  • Kevin Winchell, Stetson assistant director of community engagement: When there’s a will, there’s a way: How a $50 cooler of soda disrupted Central Florida politics
  • Sam Slaughter, Stetson graduate student: Cannibalizing your Friends and Family: Significance in Fiction Writing
  • Caroline Skinner, administrative specialist in the Department of Decision and Information Sciences in Stetson’s School of Business Administration : Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover
  • Natalie Faria, Stetson student: Stories of Joy.

“The delight of TEDxStetsonU is that each event takes on its own life—with different speakers, topics, and presentation styles,” said Emily Richardson, Ph.D., associate vice president for Boundless Learning. “The success of an event depends on each individual reflecting on the talks being offered and whether one changes the way one thinks or acts about a specific topic. We were successful last year and I anticipate that the same thing will happen this year.”

“I’m excited for this year’s event,” said Ana Maia, assistant director of Leadership and Organizational Development at Stetson, and chair of the university’s TEDx 2014 program. “It will solidify TEDxStetsonU as an innovative conference in the Central Florida region. Such an event provides our University with an opportunity to showcase the amazing things leaders in our community are doing to bring positive change in the local and global community.”

You don’t want to miss this event, so get your tickets now! Join the event on Facebook for up-to-date information or contact Ana Maia in Stetson’s Office of Student Development and Campus Vibrancy, at 386-822-7205, or by email at [email protected].

by George Salis