Theme: Growth

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).

Lory Student Center Theatre
Colorado State Uniersity
Lory Student Center Theatre
Fort Collins, Colorado, 80523
United States

CSU Jazz Quartet .

Musicians

This jazz quartet is comprised of students, Damian (saxophone), Annie (bass), Mason (piano), and Brian (drums) who study within the School of Music, Theatre, & Dance at Colorado State University. This professional degree program offers instrumental students a balanced course of study in both performance and academic classes to help them develop their skills as jazz artists and educators. Students in the degree program can study jazz history, theory, improvisation, pedagogy and composition and arranging, in addition to taking private lessons with both traditional applied faculty and jazz specialists.

Dr. Kyle Oldham

Director of Workplace Inclusion & Talent Management, Housing & Dining

Dr. Kyle Oldham has professional experience in the field of student affairs both domestically and globally with a focus on training, facilitation, event planning and motivational speaking. He has centered his work on what he is most passionate about, which is working with and for people, specifically to find their voice, their inner passions, and their ability to lead. As a trainer and facilitator Kyle believes that everyone should learn about themselves in relation to others and realize the impact our actions and thoughts have on others. Education & Awareness are the tools we need most in an ever-changing world, where we are called up and challenged to be our best selves.

Drew Hsu

Mixed Media Artist

Drew Hsu is an artist hailing from Northern Colorado. After attending art school against the wishes of his strict immigrant parents, Drew went on a journey of self-discovery and acceptance. Drew possesses a deep love of knowledge, and this curiosity led him to collect multiple mentors and apprenticeships. Over the past 3 decades, Drew has compiled a variety of expertise in the artistic field. He has been known to perform fire dances, blow glass, cast bronze and weld life-sized sculptures. He is well known for his ability to rig liquid propane through his creations and send massive fire bursts into the sky. Torchmouth was a creation that allowed Drew to bring his enormous skillset into the public eye. By attaching a glass torch to a metal helmet that he welded, Drew was able to start blowing glass as a performance art. He often shocks audience members with his ability to create glass figurines as souvenirs upon their request.

Jae Marie R

Jasmine Retland, also known as Jae Marie, is an African American artist from Colorado. Her sound consists of R&B and Neo Soul influence and aims to reach the soul. Jae Marie grew up performing in church, school concerts, and musicals and was inspired by her mom who was also a singer. In middle school, Jae Marie was the first in Aurora Public Schools to audition and make it into Colorado Middle School All-State Choir 2 years in a row. In high school, she also earned the honor of being a part of the Colorado All-State Jazz and Concert Choir 2 years in a row. You can now find Jae Marie performing around the state and around campus for athletics and other events.

Jocelyn Hittle

Associate Vice Chancellor, CSU Spur & Special Projects, Colorado State University System

Jocelyn leads Colorado State University’s new Spur campus in north Denver. She oversees partnerships, programs, and operations at CSU Spur, which is inspiring life-long learners to engage in food, water, health, and sustainability. She managed design and construction of CSU Spur, incorporating community engagement and sustainability into a unique public-facing satellite campus of the CSU System. Previously, Jocelyn worked in sustainable and inclusive urban planning at PlaceMatters and the Orton Family Foundation. Jocelyn co-chairs the Urban Land Institute Colorado’s Women’s Leadership Initiative and sits on the board of Groundwork Denver. She has a degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Princeton, an MBA from Colorado State University, and a Master’s in Environmental Management from Yale’s Environment School.

Julia Kirkwood

Singer and Musician

Bubbly and infectious but grounded in soulful understanding and bold self-revelation, young singer-songwriter Julia Kirkwood’s music merges pop with hints of rock, RnB, and Indie. Snappy rhythms and bright guitar lines combine with vocals that range from bold to lilting, while Julia’s lyrics reflect a sense of purpose beyond her years, focusing on themes of self-realization and human connection.

Leslie Taylor

VP, Marketing & Enrollment, Western Colorado University

Leslie Taylor joined Western Colorado University in March 2022 as interim Vice President for Marketing and Enrollment. From April 2018 to December 2021, she served as Vice President for Enrollment and Access at Colorado State University. In that role, she led a mission-critical division through the death of a former VP; supported staff and students in times of deep racial and social unrest; managed the impacts of significant institutional leadership changes; and helped mitigate the impacts of a global health crisis on students and employees. At CSU, Taylor served on committees and councils related to equity, including the Race, Bias, and Equity Initiatives Council, the Native American Advisory Council, the First-Generation University Initiatives, and the CDHE Equity Coalition, among others. In her time away from work, she enjoys exploring the Western Slope with her dog, reading, volleyball, live music, and following her daughter’s track and field endeavors at Western

Samantha Johnson

Veterinary Student

Samantha Johnson is a current student in her fourth and final year of veterinary school. She has spent the past four years working with sled dogs, volunteering with organizations to improve veterinary services in indigenous communities, and working on a survey project assessing access to veterinary care in rural Alaska. Her talk will introduce the unique challenges of rural Alaskan veterinary medicine and the necessity of supporting these communities in caring for their animals.