Theme: Circuitry

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).

Schwab Auditorium
E Pollock Rd & Pattee Mall
University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802
United States

Ali Rothrock

Writer and activist

Ali Rothrock is an author, activist and speaker who has given over 450 presentations nationwide. Ali has worked as a sexual assault and domestic violence counselor and has enjoyed thirteen years in the volunteer fire service. Ali is the author of Where Hope Lives, which she published in 2010 and is currently writing her second book, After. She is the CEO and Lead Instructor of On the Job and Off, an online platform dedicated to building more resilient first responders. Ali is a Certified Trauma Responder through the Association of Traumatic Stress Specialists. She lives near Philadelphia with her husband.

Christopher Beem

Managing director of the McCourtney Institute for Democracy

Christopher Beem (Ph.D., University of Chicago) is managing director of the McCourtney Institute for Democracy. He is the author or co-editor of five books, including The Necessity of Politics (University of Chicago Press). His latest book, Democratic Humility: Reinhold Niebuhr, Neuroscience and America's Political Crisis (Lexington Books, 2015) argues that democracy requires a specific kind of humility to counter our natural inclination to self-delusion and self-righteousness. Before joining the Institute, Beem served as grants and communications manager for Next Door, a nonprofit organization dedicated to early childhood education in Milwaukee's central city. Before that, he directed the Democracy and Community Program at the Johnson Foundation's Wingspread Conference Center.

Debbie Reber

Writer and parenting activist

Debbie Reber is a parenting activist, New York Times bestselling author, and founder of TiLT Parenting, a website, top podcast, and global community for parents raising neurologically atypical children. Prior to launching TiLT, Debbie was a teen girl authority and worked in children’s television. Her most recent book, Differently Wired: Raising an Exceptional Child in a Conventional World, came out in June 2018. A Pennsylvania native, Debbie and her family recently returned from a five-year stint living in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Debbie balances running TiLT while homeschooling her differently wired fourteen-year-old son, Asher. Learn more at http://www.tiltparenting.com.

Dr. Christopher Depcik

Professor at University of Kansas

Dr. Christopher Depcik is an Associate Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Kansas (KU). In addition, he has a Courtesy Appointment in the Aerospace Engineering Department. Prior to joining KU, he worked at the University of Michigan (UM) as a post-doctoral research fellow. He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from UM (2003), as well as an M.S. in Aerospace Engineering (2002), and an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering (1999). He received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florida (1997). Dr. Depcik’s laboratory conducts research revolving around a sustainable approach to energy and the transportation infrastructure. This includes analysis of alternative fuels, exhaust after treatment devices, electric vehicles, and energy recovery potential.

Jamie Campbell

Assistant Dean at the Penn State Smeal College of Business

Jamie Campbell was the 2013 Dr. James Robinson Equal Opportunity Award winner given to recognize a Penn State faculty or staff members who contributed to the University by improving cross-cultural understanding. He has served as a panelist on topics ranging from social justice to students’ issues and has served as a speaker for several leadership programs. Currently, Jamie is the Assistant Dean for Diversity Enhancement Programs at the Smeal College of Business. He is a 1995 graduate of Morehouse College where he obtained his BA in Sociology. He obtained his M.Ed. with concentrations in Adult Education and Instructional Education from Central Michigan University in 2003. Jamie currently is a fourth year Ph.D. student in the Workforce Education Program with concentrations in Organization Design and Human Resource Development at The Pennsylvania State University. His research focuses on Succession Planning as a form of Crisis Management.

John Comonitski

Student at Penn State

John Comonitski is a student, YouTuber and podcaster at Penn State University. John is in his third year and studying Computer Science and German. In the fall of 2018, John received first prize in the Leonard Center Speaking Competition for Engineers for his talk about IBM’s Watson and its potential to change how we diagnose cancer. For the past 8 years John has been uploading videos and podcast onto YouTube and has amassed a following of over 350,000 subscribers. John is on the forefront of a changing media landscape and as a result is incredibly interested in the rise of internet culture and how it will affect generations to come.

Lisa Duchene

Writer

LISA DUCHENE Lisa Duchene has always been in love with language and learning about nature. By the third grade, she knew she wanted to be a writer. She has written newspaper and magazine stories about small towns and the fishing industry on the Maine coast, global environmental problems and solutions — and feature stories about traveling in Pennsylvania, where she is a freelance writer, and communications consultant. She was inspired to write about her family-of-origin soon after her family came together during her dad’s life-threatening illness in 2009. You can find her personal essays and blog at lisaduchene.com

Matt Jones

Managing Director of Poverty Resolutions

Matt serves as the Managing Director of Poverty Resolutions, a non-profit organization he co-founded with his brother Andrew in 2010. Various international trips heightened Matt’s awareness of the difficulties of worldwide poverty. His experience in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake solidified his resolve to do something about it. After finishing his MBA in Finance and International Development in 2011, he began working full time to combat poverty.

Myra Roldan

Artificial Intelligence evangelist

Myra’s infatuation with technology began in 80s with a Commodore-64 and blossomed into full-blown love affair with the immersive technologies, Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR), Voice User Interfaces (VUI), and Artificial Intelligence (AI), that she believes will transform our world. Myra, whose real name is Almira Roldan, is originally from Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico. She’s a dynamic Instructional Designer/Developer at a leading tech company where she helps create technical education initiatives to reskill employees into software developers. She channels her get ‘er done mentality, thirst for knowledge, and passion for helping others into creating programs to help adult learners develop digital literacy skills needed to survive the coming new technology revolution. Connect with Myra on Linkedin: http://myraroldan.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/myramade Github: https://myramade.github.io/

Nancy Dahl

Leadership advisor

Nancy M. Dahl believes your life is too important to leave it to chance. Learning to LIVE your life vs. just do your life is her mission. When you show up doing your best work, it makes everyone better. Her book GROUNDED-leading your life with intention is a call to action to be engaged and intentional regardless of your age. As a C Suite leader, her career spans four industries ranging from $20 Million to $750 Million. Her leadership impact is profound because it focuses on the “human experience” first and then brings clarity and focus about why we do what we do. Self-Awareness and clarity of purpose are the birthplace of sustainable innovation, business transformation and developing strong healthy teams. She serves on both corporate and nonprofit boards, renowned keynote speaker and strategic advisor to leaders and organization who understand the power of leadership to engage potential. Her blog "Lead your Life" reaches a global audience, at www.nancymdahl.com.

Nancy M. Dahl

Nancy M. Dahl believes your life is too important to leave it to chance. Learning to LIVE your life vs. just do your life is her mission. When you show up doing your best work, it makes everyone better. Her book GROUNDED-leading your life with intention is a call to action to be engaged and intentional regardless of your age. As a C Suite leader, her career spans four industries ranging from $20 Million to $750 Million. Her leadership impact is profound because it focuses on the “human experience” first and then brings clarity and focus about why we do what we do. Self-Awareness and clarity of purpose are the birthplace of sustainable innovation, business transformation and developing strong healthy teams. She serves on both corporate and nonprofit boards, renowned keynote speaker and strategic advisor to leaders and organization who understand the power of leadership to engage potential. Her blog "Lead your Life" reaches a global audience, at www.nancymdahl.com.

Parham Eftekhari

Executive Director of the Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology (ICIT)

Parham Eftekhari is the Executive Director of the Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology (ICIT), the nation’s leading cybersecurity Think Tank. Combining 15 years of technology experience with a lifelong passion for engaging with humanity, Parham is privileged to advise executives at some of the world’s top public and private sector organizations, build strategic alliances, and create thought leadership programs focused on national security and cybersecurity issues. Parham has developed or contributed to over 100 educational briefings and events at institutions including Congress, the World Bank, and C-SPAN and regularly contributes to technology focused publications and media engagements.

Todd Erdley

Founder and CEO of Videon Central

Todd Erdley is founder and CEO of Videon Central, Inc. Since Videon’s inception in 1997, Todd has provided strong leadership that has guided the company from its early years of optical disc technology to today, where Videon is a leading provider of cutting edge, video live streaming products. A hallmark of Todd’s leadership style has been his encouragement of Videon employees to explore their ability to become the person they professionally dream of being. This begins with everyone understanding that all Videon employees and roles have equal importance. Todd received BS and MS degrees in Electrical Engineering from Penn State. He serves on a multitude of boards and in his spare time enjoys cycling the hills of Central PA.

Tom Rishel

Independent insurance broker

Tom Rishel is a lifelong resident of central PA. He has, in varied work situations, spent considerable time in all areas of the state dealing with people from all walks of life. He has also been blessed with a wide variety of experiences which give him a unique perspective on the lessons of life. He married and raised a family with a woman who was taken by cancer three years ago but maintains a positive attitude and outlook. He is currently a self-employed independent contractor for several insurance companies. His presentation will be on the need to understand and effectively communicate with others to deal with whatever life sends your way.