Theme: Past, Present and Future

Cedar City is having a TEDx conference!

We are so excited to bring a global stage to our home town of Cedar City.

We've got a lot of great speakers lined up.

Come join us and experience an event that will make you think.

Sterling R. Church Auditorium
351 West University Boulevard
Cedar City, Utah, 84720
United States

Emily Adams

Activist and Author

Emily Adams holds a Bachelors degree in English Education and is the creator of Ministering Moms of Missing Multiples, a bereavement support group for mothers who have lost one or more of their multiples. She also began an organization called My Motherhood Matters to encourage mothers in finding joy in their motherhood. An advocate for exploring the world and embracing diversity. She spent time living in south central Mexico teaching English with International Language Programs, as well as volunteering in southern India to help those afflicted with leprosy and their children. She lived briefly in Paris, France while her husband finished his education through SUU’s Study Abroad Program. She is a writer currently interviewing local women about their journey with sorrow. She is passionate about promoting human connection as a key ingredient to overcoming trials and turning pain into a positive mechanism to facilitate healing in ourselves and others.

Erin Shakespear Bishop

Author and Mother

Erin Shakespear studied art at Southern Utah University and married her high school sweetheart. While having and raising six children, she learned about the craft of writing books for children, became a published poet and coordinator for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. She now writes middle grade fantasy novels When Erin’s husband of 19 years tragically passed away, she gained deep and profound insights into grief, helping herself and her children heal, becoming the ruler of a "Momarchy", moving forward, and finding joy amid sorrow. She reentered the dating world as a single mother, met a handsome English professor in a bookstore, married him, gained two bonus children (Yes, that means eight kids to hug and love!), and is now navigating the tricky waters of blending families. In addition, Erin is also studying art once more at Southern Utah University and working towards a BFA degree in art education, with a minor in creative writing.

Kelsha Anderson

Hydrologist, Dancer

Kelsha is a scientist, a dancer, an avid reader and fan of the audio books. She enjoys drawing, driving, knitting, hiking, traveling and riding her motorcycle. Kelsha has moved frequently during her life and considers every place she has lived to be home. Kelsha's work experience includes changing oil in cars, as a food server, building range fence, staff at children's center, youth center, and in-house treatment center for drug and alcohol addiction. Kelsha has volunteered her time through church service, as a victim advocate for Iron County, UT, visiting homes for elderly, giving presentations for youth groups learning about women in science, and as community organizer in her local dance community. Kelsha has a Bachelor of Science in Geology and a Master of Science in Hydrology and currently work's as a Hydrologist for a land management agency in Los Angeles.

Kyle Bishop

Professor, PhD.

Dr. Kyle William Bishop is a Cedar City native and a third-generation professor at Southern Utah University, where he works in the Honors Program and teaches courses in film and screen studies, American literature and culture, and fantasy/horror literature for the English Department. He has presented and published a variety of articles on popular culture and cinematic adaptation, including Metropolis, Night of the Living Dead, Fight Club, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dawn of the Dead, The Birds, Zombieland, The Walking Dead, and World War Z. He will be presenting "Why Zombies Matter: What We Can Learn from the Past, Present, and Future of the Walking Dead."

Rebecca Whittaker

Dr. of Chiropractic

Dr Becca Whittaker has been a Dr. of Chiropractic for 14 years, with advanced training in pediatrics, maternity care and neurology. As an owner or partner in multiple businesses, a mother of four and a healer she has had to learn to sink or swim in the dynamics of building a beautiful, but busy life! In her rest time she most loves to read, stand with her eyes closed in the sun, adventure outdoors with her family, and dance in the kitchen. She is a highly compassionate and skilled doctor, voracious learner, and an avid asker of why.

Scott Wyatt

President SUU

Scott L Wyatt is Southern Utah University’s 16th president. His priorities for SUU are summarized in the University’s new vision statement: “Southern Utah University will receive national recognition for its innovations in learning, student success, and providing the best educational experience in the Intermountain West.” He spends most of his time supporting students, staff, and faculty, as they explore diverse ideas, create transformative learning experiences, and achieve high-quality outcomes. Scott is married to Kathy Wyatt; they have four children and three grandchildren. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, nature photography, backpacking, climbing the world’s most beautiful mountains, such as Denali (Alaska), Kilimanjaro (Tanzania), and Elbrus (Russia), completing the curriculum for a M.A. in American History and Government, and supporting student events at the university.

Seth Campbell

CEO, Entrepreneur, Public Speaker

Seth has started several businesses and made several million dollars as an entrepreneur. He has spoken at events on multiple continents and around the US and has had the opportunity to present with John C Maxwell on one of his business trainings. Background: College dropout turned entrepreneur. Self employed for 11 years. Inventor and founder/CEO of a technology company out of Los Angeles.

Tessa Douglas

Higher Education Professional

Tessa Douglas worked in the field of international education for 15 years, and helped found the study abroad program at Southern Utah University. She has been amazed at the ways her worldview has changed as she has gotten to know international students and colleagues. Even more exciting to her were the changes in acceptance, love, and trust she saw in the students she helped study abroad or bring to the U.S. Her wide range of experiences, from initially being nervous to host SUU's first Afghani Muslim student to difficulty understanding through the accents of the university's first Irish students, Tessa has learned to love and cherish those relationships and the kaleidoscope of people and cultures that shape our world. She understands the fear of those who are unfamiliar, but knows that the best way to overcome our distrust of "others" is to engage with them.

Tyler Theobald

Youtuber, Activist,

Tyler Theobald is a professional motorcyclist better known as eveRide, but he isn’t fast, skilled, or good with a wrench. He has never raced or been on any uncommon, extraordinary, or even noteworthy motorcycle adventures. He is, in nearly every way, totally average, and yet may be the most un-famous professional YouTuber in the world. He’s also a bootstrap entrepreneur with several failed business attempts, an author without any published work, and a teacher without a job in education. Despite all his failures and averageness he took risks, worked hard, and now gets paid to ride obscure, unpopular motorcycles very slowly, make amateur adventure videos of weekend rides, and generally live every dude’s dream life. He’s perpetually shocked that he made it in the social media scene, but enormously grateful all the same. He resides in the dual sport motoring paradise of Saint George, Utah with his lovely tall wife and three tall children.

Wendy Jessen

Activist

Wendy Jessen is a survivor and writer. She is the author of "Hope and Healing: A Survivor's Faith-Based Perspective on Recovering from Sexual Abuse" as well as over 600 family-oriented articles. Wendy is passionate about reaching out to other survivors of sexual abuse and helping them learn how to thrive both in person and on her website, Finding Hope and Healing, www.survivorshopeandhealing.wordpress.com. She loves sipping cherry hot chocolate, wearing toe socks, and doing yoga to find figurative and literal balance. Wendy listens to audiobooks on 2x speed while caring for her less-than-perfect house and just-right-for-her husband and six spirited children in their southern Utah home.