Theme: compleXity

Our world is made up of complex systems and processes that have allowed our species to flourish. Operating in the background, these structures impact our everyday experiences and are often taken for granted. TEDxTexasStateUniversity’s 2023 theme will explore compleXity. Our talks will focus on identifying and navigating these complex systems and will explore and advocate for solutions to complex problems and challenges we face. The talks will represent a variety of fields and perspectives including technology, health, the arts, media, social sciences, the humanities, and the natural sciences. We invite you to join us for a day of inspiration and conversation as we discover what it means to be a citizen in this complex, global world.

Texas State University - Performing Arts Center
405 Moon Street
San Marcos, Texas, 78666
United States

Broderick Turner

Foreign Service Officer

Broderick Turner is now serving as a Foreign Service Officer at the U.S. Department of State and working as a United States diplomat in Brazil at U.S. Consulate Porto Alegre. He completed his undergraduate studies in 2020 at Texas State University and earned a degree in International Relations and French. During his time at Texas State, Broderick completed his honors thesis titled, “Paths of Iron: Contextualizing Franco-Swiss Economic Relations in the Region of Haute-Savoie through Translation” where he discusses the importance of translation and its assistance in breaking down barriers within language systems. He went on to receive a Master's in Global Affairs from Yale University in 2022 and was a Rangel International Affairs Fellow. While at Texas State, Broderick was very active in the Honors Community, working as an RA in Laurel Hall and an officer for the Hide and Seek Club on campus. In his spare time, he enjoys playing tennis, piano, board games, and taking time to knit.

Elizabeth Ekren

School Safety Researcher

Dr. Elizabeth Ekren is currently a staff researcher at the Texas School Safety Center. She completed her Ph.D. in Development Studies, with a concentration in Social Anthropology, from the University of Bonn (Germany). She has B.A.s in Russian Language and Psychology from Yale University and an M.Sc. in Russian Studies from the University of Oxford (UK). In her past work, she has explored topics such as German refugees’ encounters with municipal welfare structures, Syrian slum-dwellers’ practical abilities to practice government-mandated health measures, and small business owners’ legal operating difficulties in post-communist countries. At the Texas School Safety Center, Dr. Ekren works to evaluate the effectiveness of school safety trainings and conduct research-based assessments on various school safety policy topics.

Ethan Ramirez

Student, Designer, and Artist

Ethan Ramirez is a central Texas artist and craftsman whose creative endeavors focus on story telling through the layering of different materials and the creative use of space. In 2019, Ethan decided to attend Texas State University to explore how a professional education in Interior Design could be layered with his artistic background and his practical experience building tiny homes and furniture. Since coming to university, Ethan has been afforded the opportunity to work with the architecture firm HKS and the social impact studio CoAct as they continue to address college-aged homelessness. Ethan is the leader of the Texas State interior design organization “1988,” which helps connect interior design students to design professionals through workshops, designer talks, and networking events. Outside of art and design, Ethan finds himself spending time with friends and building community in San Marcos where he has lived with his wife since 2011.

Intisar Ameen Tyne

Professor of Interior Design

Intisar Ameen Tyne is an Assistant Professor at Texas State University with three degrees in Architecture. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Kansas with a specialization in healthcare space design. Her dissertation research is based on the socio-political impact of 19th-century mental healthcare facility design. Her dissertation is an earlier attempt to provide a historical understanding of contemporary mental healthcare issues that shape architectural discourse today. Intisar was born in the culturally diverse city of Dhaka in Bangladesh. Intisar’s current research analyses the gender-based disparity in Bangladeshi mental hospitals. Her work has been supported by grants from the American Association of University Women (AAUW.)

Jennifer Dahlgren

Sign Language and Interpretation Professor

Jennifer Dahlgren is an Assistant Professor at El Paso Community College in the Sign Language and Interpreter Preparation Program and a student at Texas State University. Dahlgren has worked in the field of communication access, education, interpreting and advocacy for more than 15 years with a passion for the empowerment that comes through communication. Dahlgren has trained countless service providers and students in the medical, legal, educational, social services and business fields. They have presented both nationally and internationally to audiences large and small, and actively engage in advocating for communication access rights for persons who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind and DeafDisabled so that they can function independently and equitably in society. Additionally, Dahlgren advocates for the intersectional needs of the LGBTQ and Deaf communities.

Madeline English

Student and Founder of the Queer Agenda

Madeline English is the Founder and Creator of the Queer Agenda, a Texas-based queer education station specializing in history, issues, and support. Through her work with the Queer Agenda, Madeline has raised hundreds of dollars for Texas-based queer youth organizations and has amassed a following of over fifteen thousand learners. Madeline has been studying queer history for six years and is passionate about bridging the gap in traditional educational settings. Currently, she is studying English at Texas State University and plans to further her education in graduate programs relative to gender and sexuality. Madeline is an avid writer with publications such as "Things Humans Do That I Miss," "You May All Go to Hell, But I Will Go to Bucc-ee's," "Why Pride Isn't Just for June," and "Being an Effective Trans Ally."

Phil Salem

Professor of Communication

Philip J. Salem is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Communication Studies at Texas State University, and retired from his teaching responsibilities in 2022. Salem’s publications include work on organizational communication, interpersonal communication, communication and technology, research methods, and communication theory. Salem was the third person to receive the Outstanding Member Award for Contributions to the Discipline and the Association from the Organizational Communication Division of the International Communication Association. Salem’s most recent work relates complexity theory to human communication and to communication and organizational change. Salem’s textbook about human communication technology is now in its third edition.