Theme: EXCITE

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, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. 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).

Rosebud Theater
300 W 1st Street
Arlington, Texas, 76010
United States

Elizabeth Caudill

Elizabeth Caudill currently serves as the Director of Higher Education and Workforce at the Dallas Regional Chamber. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Texas Christian University and served a year in AmeriCorps VISTA at Northwestern University before earning her Masters of Education in Higher Education Public Policy at Southern Methodist University. She is a current class member of the Dallas Mayor’s Star Council, was appointed by Dallas City Council member Rickey D. Callahan to serve on the Dallas Community Development Commission, and is an active member in Dallas Young Professionals Policy Committee. When she isn’t gushing about Higher Education, she enjoys running, singing as loud as she can at karaoke, and exploring DFW through local breweries.

James Ruedlinger, Jr.

James Ruedlinger Jr. is a Junior Communications Major at the University of Texas at Arlington. Beyond his experience in the classroom James has been integrated within almost every process at the University of Texas at Arlington. He has served as an advisor for Freshmen Leaders on Campus; former Interfraternity Council President; recipient of the Most Outstanding Student Leader Award each of his years at the University; and serves as the Vice President of Student Governance at the University of Texas at Arlington. James continues to serve others and organizations in his community through personal speech and leadership consulting.

Jason Roberts

Jason is the founder of the Oak Cliff Transit Authority, founder of the original Better Block Project, co-founder of Art Conspiracy and Bike Friendly Oak Cliff, and candidate for US Congress. In 2006, Jason formed the non-profit organization Oak Cliff Transit Authority to revive the Dallas streetcar system, and later spearheaded the city’s effort in garnering a $23 Million TIGER stimulus grant from the FTA to help reintroduce a modern streetcar system to Dallas. In 2010, Jason organized a series of “Better Block” projects, taking blighted blocks with vacant properties in Southern Dallas and converting them into temporary walkable districts with pop-up businesses, bike lanes, cafe seating, and landscaping. The project has now become an international movement and has been featured in the New York Times, Dwell magazine, TED Talks and on NPR. Team Better Block was showcased in the US Pavillion at the 2012 Venice Biennale.

Javier Garcia del Moral

I’m a Spanish civil engineer. In the past 15 years, my career has brought me to work in cities such as Madrid, Dublin, Austin and now Dallas. In 2014 I opened The Wild Detectives, along my business partner Paco Vique, to fulfill a lifelong fondness towards books and bars.

Karen McAlister

Karen is currently a graduate student in the Department of Communication at UT Arlington. Her research interests include social media and social movements. Karen previously completed two Bachelor of Arts degrees from UT Arlington in Communication with emphasis in Advertising and Public Relations. Currently, Karen works for the Multicultural Affairs department on campus and co-advises the Women in Leadership Program.

Mark McSpadden

Mark McSpadden is the Director of Sabre Labs, the emerging technology incubator and trends research group within Sabre. In the Lab, he and his team research and experiment with technology and trends like indoor location, wearables, virtual reality, and even unmanned aerial vehicles to explore how they may shape the future of travel. Mark has shared his passion and vision for the future of travel and technology at national events and travel industry board rooms alike, and in 2013 was selected as one PhocusWright’s Young Leaders Class of 35. In addition to his travel industry experience, Mark has an extensive technology background in both enterprise and startup environments. He is recognized leader in the programming world and is a sucker for a good code contest. Off-screen, Mark enjoys cooking, eating, laughing, playing, and exploring the world with his wife and 3 young daughters.

Matt Clark

Matt Clark is an artist and Assistant Professor of Practice at UTA. He has had a creative practice for over two decades with professional experience in the museum, gallery and educational arenas. He received a BA Art History from Arizona State University and an MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art. His work is included in over 20 international corporate collections and has exhibited throughout the US since 2002. He has resided in Santa Fe, Los Angeles, London, and presently, Dallas. As a passionate educator, he has focused on entrepreneurship and how employing entrepreneurial thinking and strategy can help students achieve their potential.

MD Sahadat Hossain

Dr. Sahadat Hossain is a Professor of Civil Engineering Department and Director of Solid Waste Institute for Sustainability (SWIS) at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). Dr. Hossain has completed his B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay, India, Master of Engineering in Geotechnical Engineering from Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Bangkok, Thailand, and Ph.D. from North Carolina State University (NCSU) at Raleigh, NC, USA. Dr. Hossain’s research and scholarship are well recognized nationally and internationally. He is an expert in the design of sustainable waste containment and bioreactor landfill technology. At present, Dr. Hossain is working on research, development and implementation of innovative solutions for sustainable waste management and to provide support for waste management in USA and developing countries.

Patti Diou

Patti Diou has been the Executive Director of the Friends of the Levitt Pavilion since it opened in 2008. She earned her theater degree at the University of Texas at Arlington and served as Theatre Arlington’s Executive Director for three years. She was the theater’s marketing director for six years prior to taking the executive director’s position. Patti serves on the Downtown Arlington Management Corporation Board, the Convention and Visitors Bureau Board, is a member of the Rotary Club of Arlington, the Chamber Women’s Alliance and the Preston Trail DAR. She is also a graduate of Leadership Arlington and served on the board as the marketing director and on the adult training committee for three years. She has been married to her husband Emile for 29 years and they have two children, Kristen who is a Play Therapist at SafeHaven, and Cameron who is a senior at TCU.

Robert Magnusson

Robert Magnusson is the Texas Instruments Distinguished University Chair in Nanoelectronics and Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington. He directs the UT-Arlington Nanophotonics Device Group that conducts theoretical and experimental research on periodic nanostructures, nanophotonics, nanoelectronics, nanoplasmonics, and optical bio- and chemical sensors. He is a Fellow of SPIE, the Optical Society, IEEE, and the National Academy of Inventors.

Vivian Ta

Vivian P. Ta is a PhD student at the University of Texas at Arlington where she conducts research in social and personality psychology. Specifically, her research focuses on examining the role of latent semantic similarity in a variety of interactions, including romantic relationships, friends, strangers, face-to-face interactions, and computer-mediated interactions. She is a fellow of the National Science Foundation’s LSAMP BD program, president of UT Arlington’s Graduate Student Senate, and a former intern at Match.com.