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).

Dana Auditorium
356 College Street
Middlebury, Vermont, 05753
United States

Akshata Nayak

Founder of Little Patakha

It was simple, really. Akshata Nayak wanted to design a book so her daughter could learn her native language, Konkani. This single idea blossomed into Little Patakha, a minority woman-owned media company that helps young minds discover a diverse world of people, stories and ideas. It is a brand with a unique personality and consistent style building a comprehensive portfolio of different media for different stages of development, all focused on promoting inclusion. Akshata was born and brought up in Bangalore, India. She moved to the US in 2003 and earned two Master of Science degrees, in Biochemistry and Applied Clinical Nutrition. She is a serial entrepreneur with Little Patakha being her third successful business. Over the years, it became obvious to her that even though women and BIPOC business owners have plenty of ideas, they are held back. She now plays an active role in empowering these entrepreneurs in her home state of Vermont, to believe in themselves and their ideas.

Larry Hayes

Storyteller

Larry Hayes is a “recovering public educator” and a storyteller from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania who has worked since the early 1980’s at Keewaydin Camp on Lake Dunmore just south of Middlebury Vermont. He spent several decades leading canoe trips to numerous lakes and rivers in the region. His most recent passion has been long distance bicycle travel which developed after recovering from a sudden cardiac arrest in 2007. Currently, he enjoys combining these trips with storytelling to school children and host families, friends, and neighbors along the way.

Phil Chodrow

Computer scientist + professor

Phil Chodrow uses math, computation, and data science to study our complex, interconnected world. His own data science work has informed research in pollution inequality, found sustained disparities in criminal sentencing in Virginia, and supported an amicus brief to the Supreme Court on drug charge disparities in Puerto Rico. Phil received a BA from Swarthmore College and a PhD from MIT. He is currently an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science at Middlebury College. His teaching includes network science, machine learning, and the mathematical foundations of computing. Phil’s classrooms highlight active learning, the interplay between math and computation, and critical lenses on the impacts of technology on society.

Yuvraj Shah

Student

Yuvraj Shah is a current sophomore student at Middlebury College, majoring in English Literature & History. He is from Nairobi, Kenya & London, United Kingdom, and identifies as a fifth generation ‘British Indian East African’. He is interested in history and diaspora, with a specific interest in colonial history and post-colonial literature. He speaks English, Gujarati, Swahili, and has been learning Mandarin Chinese for the past three years. He enjoys public speaking and was previously voted as 'crowd favorite speaker' in Oratory Now's first year public speaking competition and has been nominated for the Ward Prize in first year writing. He has worked with the New England Review and is most recently working as a New Journalism Program Fellow, with Middlebury Residential Life. He enjoys reading and writing and plans to write for campus student magazines and journals. He enjoys cooking (especially Indian food), traveling and hiking when he can.