Theme: Simplexity

TEDxEmory is proud to host our main conference on April 17th, featuring original TEDx talks by professionals, change-makers, thought leaders, and even two Emory students! Simplexity is designed to demonstrate simplicity in a seemingly complex world & uncover the hidden complexity of life's most simple things.

At this unique moment in history, it is more vital than ever to highlight how each and every facet of each and every career, passion, and problem has hidden complexities lying below the surface. At TEDxEmory: Simplexity, our speakers will challenge you to find simplicity among complexity, complexity among simplicity, and everything in between.

Our live virtual event on April 17th will feature recorded TEDxEmory talks interlaced by interactive speaker moments, giveaways, and special performances by Emory students and performance groups! This is a virtual event you will not want to miss.

Emory University
201 Dowman Drive
Atlanta, Georgia, 30322
United States

Angela Harris

Dancer + Professor

Angela Harris is the Executive Artistic Director of Dance Canvas, Inc., a career development organization for emerging professional choreographers and youth. Angela has developed programs for the City of Atlanta's Office of Cultural Affairs and Dept. of Recreation, recording artist Usher's New Look Foundation, and the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation. Angela is a graduate of The Baltimore School for the Arts and studied at Dance Theater of Harlem, School of the Hartford Ballet & The Eglevsky Ballet. She attended Mercyhurst College and City College of New York, earning a B.A. in Journalism, while on full ballet scholarship at Steps on Broadway in NYC. Angela has danced professionally and her work has been performed by The Georgia Ballet, Ballet Lubbock, Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute and has premiered at the Rialto Center for the Arts and the Ferst Center for the Arts. Angela is on faculty at Emory University and is a ballet instructor at Dekalb School for the Arts and Academy of Ballet.

Arachu Castro

Professor of Public Health

Arachu Castro, PhD, MPH, is Samuel Z. Stone Chair of Public Health in Latin America and Director of the Collaborative Group for Health Equity in Latin America at Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. Prior to joining Tulane in 2013, she was Associate Professor of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Castro received the Guggenheim Fellowship in 2010. She is a member of the WHO Strategic and Technical Advisory Group of Experts for Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health & Nutrition, the Health Equity Network of the Americas, and the Sustainable Health Equity Movement.

Avi Rubin

Information Security Expert + Computer Science Professor

Dr. Aviel (Avi) D. Rubin is Professor of Computer Science and Technical Director of the Information Security Institute at Johns Hopkins University. He is also the Director of the JHU Health and Medical Security Lab. Prior to joining Hopkins, Rubin was a research scientist at AT&T Labs. His is also the founder of Harbor Labs, a CyberSecurity company. Rubin testified about information security before the U.S. House and Senate on multiple occasions, and he is the author of several books about computer security. Rubin is a frequent keynote speaker at industry and academic conferences. In 2010-2011 Rubin was a Fulbright Scholar at Tel Aviv University. In January, 2004 Baltimore Magazine named Rubin a Baltimorean of the Year for his work in safeguarding the integrity of our election process, and he is also the recipient of the 2004 Electronic Frontiers Foundation Pioneer Award. Rubin has a B.S, ('89), M.S.E ('91), and Ph.D. ('94) from the University of Michigan.

Dieter Cantu

Community Organizer + Activist + Social Entrepreneur

Dieter Cantu is a community organizer, activist, and social entrepreneur. Using his past experiences as a youth in the juvenile system and experiencing extreme conditions of poverty, he strategies to reform the current systems that are in place. He is the current program manager at Harris County Youth Collective where is responsible for creating and sustaining the Youth Advisory Board and building the Education Work Group. He focuses on inclusion of community voice to ensure that dual status youth are included in the solutions to support successful transition into adulthood. He Is the Chief Operating Officer at The Trident Family LLC, a collective of Individuals dedicated to community advancement and self liberation. The Trident Family is a social enterprise alliance of nonprofit and for profit entities, dedicating to addressing basic unmet needs and solving environmental problems.

Dope KNife

Rapper + Producer + Podcaster

It's Bigger Than Hip Hop: What Rap Music Tells Us Public Policy

Elif Kilic

Undergraduate Student

Elif Kılıç is a third year student from Florida majoring in Spanish and Linguistics and minoring in Italian Studies. She is graduating this semester and plans to transfer to Georgia Tech to complete the dual degree pathway to earn a second bachelors in Environmental Engineering. She has a passion for adventure and is always down to try something new. She has a love of reading, writing, and NYTimes crossword puzzles. In her free time she likes to explore new music, shoutout to Balam Ajpu, memorize the basic grammar rules of a new language, and debate ethical dilemmas with her friends. She hopes to combine her academics and drive for adventure to start an organization that targets environmental issues disproportionately impacting minority communities in Latin America.

Eugene Kwak

Architect + Professor

Eugene Kwak is a licensed architect and an assistant professor at Farmingdale State College, State University of New York. He has been running research-based projects, including the most recent project “Togather” which has been featured in the New York Times and Dwell. “Togather” focuses on the regional food systems, land access, and empowering local farmers through on-site residence and long-term free land lease. He is currently serving as a member of the American Farmland Trust New York Advisory Council to support conservation practice. Eugene received a Bachelor of Architecture from Carnegie Mellon University and a Master of Science Degree in Architecture and Urban Design from Columbia University.

Gabriel Harr-Siebenlist

Undergraduate Student

Hello! My name is Gabriel Harr-Siebenlist, and I'm a sophomore at the Oxford College of Emory University. I was born in Alexandria VA, right outside of D.C, and am majoring in Middle Eastern Studies and Arabic. On campus I act as the co-president of Oxford's a cappella club "Oxappella", work as a tour guide with the Student Admission Association, conduct research through the Oxford Research Scholars program, and work as a student instructor for Arabic. Outside of Academics, music has always been my passion; I've participated in orchestras, symphonies, jazz combos, and rock bands, playing various instruments since I was 4, and worked at a music school called "Rock of Ages Music" in Alexandria. I've been writing, recording, and releasing original music with my band "Hanoi Ragmen" since my sophomore year of high school, and am currently working on a full-length album.

Jasmine Clark

Georgia State Representative

Jasmine Clark is a state representative for the GA House District 108 and a lecturer at Emory University School of Nursing. Dr. Clark received her PhD in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at Emory in 2013 and decided to run for a position in the GA House of Representatives in 2018 on the platform that her scientific background would add a unique and refreshing perspective to legislating in Georgia. Much of her legislative work thus far has been focused on reproductive rights, voting rights, healthcare, and sex education. In addition to her academic and professional work, Dr. Clark is actively involved in community organizing and activism, working with groups such as the Georgia Alliance for Social Justice and March for Science. In the 2021-2022 session, she also serves as the Vice Chair of the Gwinnett State House delegation and as the Secretary on the Executive Board of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus.

Michael Anaya

Cyber Security Expert

Michael Anaya is the Head of Cyber Risk at Palo Alto Networks. He leads a large team of analysts who identify vulnerabilities in large Fortune 500 companies and government agencies' vast online presence. He also has 14 years of FBI experience as a Special Agent, leading extensive investigations and overseeing countless arrests, search warrants, and dismantlements of cyber threat actor sets. He has spoken on cybersecurity topics over 500 times worldwide and was considered "one of the FBI's most talented presenters." He is driven by his family, making people laugh, and his desire to help others. Fun fact - One of his favorite movies is Hello Dolly! Yep, the musical.

Rob Lawless

Creator of Robs10KFriends

Rob Lawless is a man on a mission to spend 1 hour, 1:1, with 10,000 different people to learn about their lives and see what comes of opening doors for no particular reason. Since starting his project in November of 2015, he's met over 4,000 people across 30+ states and 70+ countries, and has documented their stories through his Instagram, @robs10kfriends. He's also been featured by some incredible press sources, including the Kelly Clarkson Show, NowThis, ABC World News Now, the New York Post and Ryan Seacrest on his nationally syndicated radio show, "On Air with Ryan Seacrest." Throughout his journey, Rob has leveraged his social media following of 40k+ people to land partnerships with brands like WeWork and Coca-Cola's Peace Tea. Going forward, he plans to travel for his project internationally, speak about his work and teach a freshman seminar on human connection!