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).

Zoom
Online Event
Fairfax, Virginia, 22030
United States

Caitlin Shear

Caitlin is the Director of Integrated Enrollment Marketing (IEM) at George Mason University, Caitlin Shear is primarily responsible for undergraduate marketing and communications activities in support of the university’s enrollment goals. Her team also supports marketing for university initiatives like ADVANCE and the Online Virginia Network.

Cynthia "CJ" Davis

CJ Davis, a student in the college of arts and visual technology at George Mason University, speaks on diversity in art.

Dr. Cortney Rinker

Dr. Cortney Rinker is the Director of the Global Affairs Program in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at George Mason University. Her research is grounded in medical anthropology. Their recent book explores the experiences of diverse Muslims in the Washington, D.C. region as they interact with the health care system during times of serious illness and during end-of-life care. Prior to this project, she conducted an extensive ethnographic study of reproductive health care in Morocco that resulted in her first book, and has started to conduct research in Morocco for her next long-term project that focuses on pain management during chronic and terminal illness, with particular attention to the use of prescription opioids. Dr. Rinker received her PhD in anthropology from the University of California, Irvine and was a post-doctoral fellow at the Arlington Innovation Center for Health Research at Virginia Tech prior to joining the faculty at George Mason University.

Dr. James Witte

James Witte is a Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology and Director of the Institute for Immigration Research (IIR). Witte, who earned his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1991, has been a professor at Clemson University and Northwestern University. He was a postdoctoral fellow at the Carolina Population Center and a lecturer in sociology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Witte has written numerous articles that have appeared in journals such as The European Sociological Review, Population and Development Review and Sociological Methods and Research. He has also published three books, Labor Force Integration and Marital Choice, the Internet and Social Inequality and The Normal Bar. The Normal Bar, co-authored with Chrisanna Northrup and Pepper Schwartz, was released in 2013 and made the New York Times bestseller list. Since coming to Mason in 2009 Witte's major projects have included the privately funded Institute for Immigration Research, the National Science Foundation funded Digital Archive Project, and the University Partnership with the University of Karachi funded by the U.S. State Department.

Dr. Lila Fleming

Lila C. Fleming, PhD, CHES, is a global health epidemiologist and certified health education specialist. Her research examines bullying among middle school students, adolescent risk behaviors, maternal and child health, and access to health in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Dr. Fleming teaches global health, applied health statistics, public health research methods, and U.S. and global public health system courses at Mason.

Dr. Malda Kocache

Dr. Malda Kocache is a professor and adviser at George Mason University. Some of the courses she teaches are Introduction to Microbiology for Nursing and Health Sciences, and HIV/AIDS synthesis classes, upper level Microbiology. She is also the Coordinator for the Biology Honors Program. In addition, she is an adviser for all biology majors. She is the adviser for Lambda Sigma Honor Society at Mason.

Dr. Rachel Wernicke

Dr. Rachel Wernicke is a clinical psychologist, currently serving as Associate Dean and Chief Mental Health Officer in University Life. She completed her doctorate in psychology at American University and her advanced clinical training at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School. Dr. Wernicke has provided leadership in college student mental health for more than 15 years. At Mason her work includes engaging the Mason community in a public health approach to suicide prevention in partnership with the Jed Foundation and increasing access to mental health services to under-served students.

Robbie Dieterich

Robbie Dieterich is an Assistant Professor of Computer Game Design at George Mason University. They have a B.S. in Computer Science from the College of William and Mary and an M.A. in Computer Game Design from George Mason University. They are a 10-year veteran of the Japanese games industry. They are an expert game programmer with experience in PCs, consoles, and mobile devices and are fluent in Japanese. Games they have worked on include Gitarooman Lives (Sony PSP), Elite Beat Agents (Nintendo DS), Lips (Microsoft Xbox 360), The Black Eyed Peas Experience (Microsoft Xbox 360 + Kinect), Infinity Blade Cross (iOS), Eden to Green (iOS and Android), Ookibloks (PC), Robot Legions Reborn (PC), and Coup (Android).

Sophia Nguyen

Sophia Nguyen is a junior at George Mason University where she is majoring in Government and International Politics with a concentration in International Relations and minoring in Global Affairs. Born into a Vietnamese family in Chesapeake, Virginia, Sophia has upheld a personal commitment to her culture, faith, and identity. At GMU, she has been involved in a plethora of organizations: Student Government, Asian-Pacific American Coalition, GMU Club Tennis team, The Patriot Period Project, and the Vietnamese Student Association. Her record proves her commitment toward being involved in her school as a prominent student leader. On track to graduate early in 2023, she is applying to the GMU Accelerated Master’s Program in Global Affairs with a specialization of Global Culture and Society.