Tedx TowsonU will be held at Towson University in Towson, Maryland on May 8, 2014. The Towson Community is invited to attend the event and soak in the information and passion of our speakers as we Ignite the Movement.

Towson University West Village Commons
8000 York Road
223 Admin
Towson, Maryland, 21252-0001
United States

Jolene Ivey

Jolene was sworn in to the Maryland House of Delegates in 2007. As a Delegate from Prince George’s County, she serves on the prestigious Ways and Means Committee, is House Chair of the Joint Committee on Children, Youth and Families, and is a member of the Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review. Her work with at-risk youth, children, families and immigrants has been widely recognized. Jolene is an alumni of Towson University.

Andrew Bennett

Andrew Bennett his career as Ross Perot’s personal assistant and for over three decades he has been a leadership consultant and coach to organizations of all shapes and sizes around the world. A member of The Magic Circle, the oldest and most prestigious society of magicians in the world, Andrew uses magic to enable leaders to simplify and accelerate organizational transformation.

Sunmee Huh & Chul Kwon

Undergraduate students of University of Maryland, College Park, Sunmee Huh and Chul Kwon developed a motorcycle helmet hardware add-on that acts as an automated emergency response system. If a rider is knocked unconscious in an accident and cannot call for help, Northstar reacts and conveys critical information to 911. They believe that the preemptive action of installing Northstar can help save people’s lives in situations where time is of utmost importance.

Massoud Adibpour

Make DC Smile is an organization that promotes positivity among the Washington, DC metropolitan area and beyond. Make DC Smile has grown organically into something larger than ever imagined receiving international attention in Canada, Australia, Japan and the Middle East. Massoud believes in the opportunity to spread simple acts of kindness that could very well change someone’s day, week and eventually their lives.

John Ferber

During his senior year at Towson University, John co-developed one of the first video games designed to be played over the internet with multiple people at the same time. Shortly thereafter John along with his brother Scott founded Advertising.com, just 2 blocks from Towson’s campus and comprising many of Towson students - which became the world’s largest interactive services marketing company and is widely considered the pioneer of Performance Based Marketing Online. Advertising.com was acquired by AOL for $500 million in 2004. John is the inventor of numerous patents in the digital marketing technology space and has since gone on to found several more companies all centered around the Internet and marketing. He is also the founder of the world’s first charitable crowdfunding platform, Microgiving.com and currently serves as chairman of Bidtellect, the leading Native Advertising company as well as on the board of Baltimore Based VideologyGroup – the world’s leading provider in Internet Based Video Advertising solutions.

Jennifer Kahn

Jenna Kahn is an English Major at Towson University. After being hospitalized and diagnosed with bipolar disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder in December of 2012, she committed herself to raising awareness about mental illness and fighting the stigma. She shares her story and advocates primarily through her blog, The Awkward Indie Girl, which features all of her original writing and photography.

Elijah Miles

Born and raised in Baltimore City, Elijah has interned at Teach For America, Harbor Bank of Maryland, and Euler Hermes. He plans to dedicate his life to making true and lasting change in the city he grew up in. He has always been vocal about urban youth in poverty and the action communities need to take to foster change. He is an 18 year old student at Morgan State University.

Dirron Allen

Originally from Woodbridge, VA, Dirron received his B.S. in Sport Management from James Madison University. He received his M.S. from Mississippi State University. After receiving his M.S. he worked for Temple University in Philadelphia, PA for 2 years and came to work for Towson University in Campus Recreation Services. He has been working for the Office of Student Activities since February 2008. He is the Director of Student Activities at Towson University.

Erika Brannock

In April 2013, while waiting to see her mother cross the finish line, Erika became a victim of the Boston Marathon bombing that changed her life forever. Her left leg was amputated above the knee and after fifty days of learning how to walk again, she was the last victim to be discharged from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. Currently a preschool teacher, one of her goals is to help her students and peers learn to understand and show respect when unexpected situations arise. Erika is an alumni of Towson University.