Theme: Off the Beaten Path

In Marist's first-ever TEDx event, we will dare our community of students, faculty, and alumni to trek away from comfort, explore fresh ideas, and stray into the extraordinary. In our journey, we face impending questions, witnessed from the individual perspective to the global scale. What novel adventures need we embark on? Why must we keep climbing in the face of skepticism? How can we blaze a unique trail? Through the theme, "Off the Beaten Path," we will discover ideas worth spreading in our very own community!

Woodruff Auditorium
3790 Ashford Dunwoody RD NE
Woodruff Auditorium
Atlanta, Georgia, 30319
United States

Alec Issa

Student

Over the summer, Issa completed an internship through Marist’s Career Connections program with Dr. Mary Plisco of Richmont Graduate University where he performed cutting-edge research on stress mindsets.

Ephrata Tesfaye

Student

A social activist, speech & debate team state champion, and spoken-word poet, Tesfaye shares meaningful insights on Western feminism, historical prejudices, and how important intersectionality is to enhancing society.

Juliet Powell

Student

A member of the Marist Environment Club, Powell presents compelling data and actionable steps to reduce one's carbon footprint while dispelling common myths related to climate change.

Taylor Gitonga

Student

Published author of the novel “The Portal in the Pantry” and star of the Marist Foundations spring musical “The SpongeBob Musical (Youth Edition)”, Gitonga takes the audience through her journey as a young Black student in the arts.

Whit Kester

Student

Drawing on his internship at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) and work on defense mechanisms at Lockheed Martin, as well as his experience building a car and learning to fly airplanes, Kester introduces his groundbreaking ideas on the next generation of transportation and the important environmental impact of steam power.