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).

Chandler Compton
429 North Church Street
Spartanburg, South Carolina, 29303-3663
United States

Fred Johnson

Fred Johnson is a retired Infantry Colonel with 29 years of service in the United States Army. Johnson was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant of Infantry through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C. in 1985, where he earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in Government and Sociology. He also played basketball and ran cross country for the Wofford Terriers. Johnson’s education surpassed the undergraduate level, as he holds two Masters Degree. Colonel Johnson, upon graduating from Wofford, served four deployments, two to Iraq and one to both Bosnia and Afghanistan. During his second tour in Iraq, Col. Johnson received his first of three Bronze Stars, the fourth highest military decoration for valor. Col. Johnson retired from the Army in 2014 and has since committed his time and energy to volunteer and advocacy work in the community of Louisville, Kentucky, volunteering with Restorative Justice Louisville and serving as a youth mentor with YouthBuild Louisville and Shelby Traditional Academy. Fred is the co-founder of Shakespeare with Veterans, a program dedicated to using the words and plays of William Shakespeare to help veterans deal with the challenges transitioning from military service to civilian life. Col. Johnson remains open of the hardships of active duty in combat zones, and serves to help fellow service men and women overcome combat trauma and PTSD. Col. Johnson has also brought his leadership skills to the corporate world, serving as the founder and military director of the Perryville Battlefield Leadership Experience, which leads workshops to teach soft skills to corporate executives and their staffs. Such work influenced Col. Johnson’s book, Five Wars: A Soldier’s Journey to Peace and Soft Skills in Hard Places: The Perryville Battlefield Leadership Experience. He currently works as a Senior Consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton. Johnson is happily married to Dr. Laura Johnson and the proud father of their daughter, Madelyn Johnson.

John Miles

John Miles is the Dean of the Center for Innovation and Learning, Associate Professor of English, SACSCOC Liaison, and Director for Institutional Effectiveness. After finishing his PhD in Rhetoric and Composition at the University of New Mexico, John began his career at Wofford as the Director of the Writing Center, working on Writing Across the Curriculum initiatives. His work in the CIL centers on helping new faculty members develop reflective teaching practices, as well as assisting current faculty members and groups to develop courses and assignments that align their values with their practices. In terms of research these days, John is interested in how ePortfolios shape student perceptions of writing and faculty perceptions of teaching. When he’s not working, John cooks, coaches soccer, teaches yoga, and somehow finds time to compete in triathlons.

Megan Dempsey

Megan Dempsey is a Junior at Wofford, majoring in psychology with a concentration in neuroscience. Originally from Travelers Rest, South Carolina, Meg moved when she was six months old to Belo Horizonte, Brazil, where her family still resides today. Dempsey possesses a unique international perspective that serves to challenge the ways in which we view identity and home.

Melissa-Anne Cunningham-Sereque

Melissa-Anne Cunningham-Sereque (Mac) is the President/Owner of Motivation & Achievement Concepts, Inc.; a career development service with clients in over 18 states and 7 countries. Mac has an MBA in International Finance and a BS in Exercise Science & Business Administration. Before launching her company, Mac was a Branch Manager for the Fortune 500 International Staffing Firm, and worked for over 15 years in Specialized Workshop Leadership, Coaching, & Training in tandem with a career in Public Accounting, and Non-Profit Management. Mac’s work has stemmed far beyond the office, however, as demonstrated in her work with and alongside the Women’s Rights & Empowerment Network, Strategic Technical Advisory Group, and Workforce Advisory Group on Equity. Mac was the 2013 recipient of the 2013 Young Careerist of the Year from the Business & Professional Women of South Carolina. In recognition for her work in legislative advocacy, Mac was honored with the 2016 Senator Brad Hutto Outstanding Partnership Award from the South Carolina Coalition for Healthy Families.

Ramon Galinanes

Ramon Galinanes is the director of the Bonner Scholars Program at Wofford College. A former high school social studies teacher, Ramón is passionate about working with college students and helping them realize their full potential and develop as scholars and civic leaders. As a scholar, his research examines important questions about civil conflict, democratization, migration, civic engagement, ethnic politics, and social movements. He holds a B.A. in History from Montclair State University, an MPhil in Politics, Democracy, and Education from the University of Cambridge (England), and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Florida. His partner, Stephanie, is a professor of Spanish and they have two children: Lucía Grace and Leo Maximus.

Will Rutherford

Will Rutherford and his team design, create, and operate escape room attractions in downtown Greenville, SC. His company, Escape Artist Greenville, was the first escape room in the upstate and is one of the few that designs and builds their thrilling experiences from the ground up. Escape Artist Greenville is ranked by TripAdvisor as the #1 Escape Room in South Carolina and top 20 (out of over 2300) in the nation. Serving to provide hundreds with unique, adventure game experiences, Rutherford holds a unique perspective on what it is that thrills, engages, and challenges us all.