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).

Beckham Hall
55 Wyllys Ave
Middletown, Connecticut, 06459
United States

Alex Bergstein

CT State Senator

Alex Bergstein is a Connecticut State Senator representing Greenwich, New Canaan and Stamford. She unseated a 5-term incumbent to become the first Democrat in 88 years and the first woman ever to represent this district! Alex is also an attorney, an academic and a community advocate who founded and led organizations dedicated to environmental health and women’s equality. She is a graduate of Wesleyan, and earned a law degree from the University of Chicago and a Masters from Yale. Alex’s mission is to change the narrative in Connecticut, and our country, with positive vision and action.

Dylan Shumway

Student Speaker Winner

This past February we had our first ever speaker pitch competition, where we reached out to the Wesleyan campus looking for a student speaker. After a preliminary round, three finalists were chosen, who each prepared a full TEDx talk. Each brought their own flavor and unique style, but we are truly excited for this next talk and speaker, Dylan Shumway. Dylan is a Junior here at Wesleyan studying a mix of Music, Neuroscience, and Design. Outside of classes, he spends his time working with tech support, singing acapella, and developing video games. Despite his varied academic and extra curricular interests, his talk actually developed from something much more simple - the day to day interactions with friends, those that are often even overlooked or under-appreciated.

Jahana Hayes

U.S. Congresswoman

Congresswoman Jahana Hayes was elected to represent the Fifth District of Connecticut in November 2018, making her the first African-American woman to ever represent the state of Connecticut in Congress. Hayes first garnered widespread notoriety while serving as a teacher at John F. Kennedy High School in Waterbury, when she was selected as the Connecticut Teacher of the Year, before going on to earn the distinction of 2016 National Teacher of the Year, leading to an invitation to the White House by then President Barack Obama. In her capacity as NTOY, Hayes traveled the country and the world as an ambassador for public education engaging all stakeholders in policy discussions meant to improve outcomes for students.

Laman Gray

Cardiac Research Pioneer, Mentor, and Leader

Dr. Laman A. Gray, Jr., is Professor of Surgery and Emeritus Director of the Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at the University Of Louisville School Of Medicine, the Executive and Medical Director of the Cardiovascular Innovation Institute (CII) and the Jewish Hospital Distinguished Chair in Cardiothoracic Surgery. Dr. Gray, a Louisville native, received his Bachelor of Arts degree with distinction in chemistry from Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, where the American Chemical Society honored him for Outstanding Work in organic Chemistry. He then received his M.D. from The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. Dr. Gray is an internationally recognized leader in the fields of cardiac surgery and development of artificial hearts and circulatory support systems. Dr. Gray’s outstanding accomplishments include performing the first heart transplant in Kentucky (1984).

Mitali Thakor

Assistant Professor, Science in Society

Mitali Thakor is an assistant professor in the Science in Society Program here at Wesleyan, where she teaches classes on queer robotics, the ethics of artificial intelligence, and the anthropology of science. She is currently working on a book on the global policing of child pornography. Mitali earned her Ph.D. from MIT and her bachelors degree from Stanford University. "I am currently in Anthropology of Science, and each day I am challenged to question and problematize the objectivity of science knowledge production as we investigate the different ways that science interacts with our world." - Mitali Thakor

Robin Cook

Medical Thriller Novelist

Dr. Robin Cook was a Wesleyan graduate, where he majored in chemistry with a distinction in government. After Wesleyan he attended Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, while working in a blood/gas chemistry lab in support of the cardiac surgery team at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital during nights and weekends. After his surgical residency training he was drafted into the Navy, where he trained as a navy aquanaut medical officer, and where he published his first book A medical Watch Standers Guide to Saturation Diving. To this date, he has written a total of 35 worldwide bestsellers - ranging from medical/biotech ethical and public policy issues. Dr. Cook has received many recognitions, including the Author of Vision Award 2002 by the RP International and the 2014 Literary Legend Award given by the Florida Heritage Book Festival. He was also appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, D.C by President George W. Bush.

Smiley Poswolsky

Millennial Workplace Expert – “The Unexpected Cure to Millennial Burnout”

Adam Smiley Poswolsky is a millennial workplace expert, keynote speaker, and bestselling author of The Quarter-Life Breakthrough (Penguin Random House) and The Breakthrough Speaker. An internationally renowned motivational speaker, Smiley speaks about millennials, employee engagement, and intergenerational collaboration at Fortune 500 companies, business conferences, associations, leadership trainings, and universities. His TEDx talk has been viewed over 775,000 times, and he has done hundreds of speaking engagements, reaching over 50,000 people in 14 countries. Smiley’s writing has been published in The Washington Post, Fast Company, Time, and Business Insider, and his work has been featured in USA Today, Forbes, Inc., Mashable, CNN, CNBC, MarketWatch and the World Economic Forum, among others. Smiley is a proud graduate of Wesleyan University (class of 2005) and lives in Oakland, California.