Theme: Luminescence

CINCINNATI- The sixth annual TEDxXavierUniversity, an independent, fully student-organized event licensed by TED, and recipient of Xavier University’s 2017 Women of Excellence Grant will take place on April 6th, 2017 with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. in the Kennedy Auditorium at Xavier University’s Conaton Learning Commons.

TEDx Xavier University's theme this year is Luminescence. Luminescence can be a twinkle, a light, or a vision that reveals something new or provides guidance and a path forward.

So the question is, what are you illuminating?

Conaton Learning Commons Kennedy Auditorium
1001 Francis Xavier Way
Cincinnati, Ohio, 45207
United States

Angela Mazzi

Angela is a Senior Associate and medical planner at GBBN Architects where she focuses on enhancing quality of life through built environments- connecting great design with user needs. Her background in design, business management, and research on socio-cultural contexts provides a unique perspective on how culture is reflected in architecture and user experience. Angela serves on the Board of Regents for the American College of Healthcare Architects (ACHA), the Board of AIA Cincinnati, the Advisory Committee for the Institute for Patient-Centered Design, and was an Advisory Board member for Arizona State University’s Healthcare Design Program in its initial years. Her research linking wellness to design has been published in many healthcare journals and been presented at both national and international conferences. She also is a peer reviewer for the Health Environment Research and Design (HERD) Journal and the Academy of Architecture for Health Journal.

Ryan Niemiec

Dr. Ryan Niemiec is a leading figure in the education, research, and practice of character strengths found in all human beings. Ryan is education director of the VIA Institute on Character, a global, non-profit organization in Cincinnati that advances the science and practical applications of character strengths. Ryan is interested in helping people from all walks-of-life, all professions, and all places discover and express their core strengths, also known as signature strengths. Ryan is an award-winning psychologist, international keynoter and workshop leader, and has penned several books including, Character Strengths Interventions: A Field-Guide for Practitioners (2017); Mindfulness and Character Strengths (2014); and Positive Psychology at the Movies (2014).

Taylor Zachary

Taylor Azi Zachary is the curator of BlackAthletesUnion.org, a forthcoming political education platform which re-imagines the power, identity, and activism of Black athletes. Additionally, he is a 2016 - 2017 Winter-Cohen Brueggeman Fellow at Xavier University, where he will spend three months in South Africa filming a documentary about the history of indigenous Black athlete's resistance to Apartheid.

Zack Huhn

Zack Huhn is helping connect smart city solutions city to city, state to state, and region to region. Zack is the Chairman of the Board for Venture Strategy Partners, the Director of Government Relations for Venture Smarter, and leading efforts behind Regional Smart Cities Initiatives. Zack is also invested in and/or advising several early stage startups focused on smart city solutions in connectivity, mobility, security, and sustainability. Zack has been a long time advocate for tube transportation projects and is working to bring to life next generation transportation innovations. Other passions include educational policy, sustainable food systems, and reformed political landscapes.