Theme: Unearth

Each day. Every day. We are exposed to so many topics, and we rarely give more than a shallow examination before moving on. But, what about the ideas buried deeply below the surface?

Together, let’s dig deep, sift, and sort through the layers of our knowledge. TEDxAustinCollege 2023 aims to unearth new ideas, creating space from which the future can sprout. In collaboration with our six speakers and student-led Discovery Depot activities, we will find out what is possible in technology, art, exploration, inspiration, and self-discovery. Break ground and unearth the potential that lies within our community TEDxAustinCollege 2023: UNEARTH

Austin College, Ida Green Communication Center | Sally & Jim Nation Theatre
1311 E. Brockett
Sherman, Texas, 75090
United States

Andra Petrean

Physics Professor

Andra is a professor of physics at Austin College. She grew up in Romania and moved to America to pursue higher education. She started her teaching career in 2004, the same year she started a family. Andra spends her time as a teacher, sharing her knowledge of physics with her students, and as a student, learning about the outdoors. She has hiked mountain peaks in Colorado and to the tallest points of multiple states. She believes that people are at their best personally and professionally when they follow their passions while discovering new ones.

Caryn Schenewerk

Space Law

Caryn is a respected leader in navigating the complex regulatory and policy landscape for the spaceflight industry. As President of CS Consulting, she provides expert guidance to clients on regulatory and policy engagement with all levels and branches of government. Caryn shares her expertise as an adjunct professor of Space Law at Georgetown University Law Center. Caryn has extensive experience with SpaceX and monitoring policy at the federal level. Caryn obtained her bachelor's degree from Austin College in Sherman, TX, and her J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law in Austin. She also earned a Master's in Laws (LLM) from the University of Nottingham in England and is a member of the New York and D.C. Bars.

Casie Rivas

Lawyer

Casie is a sharp legal and business strategist that believes in a life-long commitment to learning and self-development. While excelling at service to her clients and commitment to her community, she recognizes that the true light of her life is her family and faith. Casie graduated from Austin College in 2003 with a bachelor's degree in political science, and then went on to obtain an MBA from the University of Texas at Dallas, and a J.D. from Baylor University School of Law. In 2019, Casie opened her firm, Rivas Law, where she specializes in contracts, transactions, construction, and real estate. Casie was born and raised in Sherman, Texas and has deep love for her hometown, where she still lives with her amazing husband and three children.

Cody Dean

Austin College Senior

Cody (Class of '24) is not your typical college student. As a Biology major at Austin College, he's as dedicated in the classroom as he is in the pool as a member of the Swim Team. And he's not just active on campus: he's also making a splash in the International Paraswimming circuit. Outside the pool, Cody's leadership shines, from heading the Hall Council to co-founding CHAMPS—a game-changing disability advocacy group. His next chapter is all about aiming for medical school with dreams of becoming a pediatric anesthesiologist.

Patty Manning-Courtney

Developmental Pediatrician

Patty graduated from Austin College in 1987, more than well-prepared for medical school at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, where she graduated first in her class. She went on to complete a residency in Pediatrics and a fellowship in Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, then started a diagnostic and treatment program for children with autism spectrum disorder. In February of 2020, Patty was named Chief of Staff at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, and promptly inherited oversight of institutional COVID-19 response. She has been fortunate to work with thousands of families of children with autism spectrum disorder and related developmental disabilities.

Victoria Gilbert

Podcast Host

Victoria graduated magna cum laude from Austin College where she double majored in International Economics-Finance and East Asian Studies with a minor in Art. Victoria works as a freelance writer for Lampoon Magazine. There, she speaks to globally recognized creative leaders at the forefront of cultivating an immersive culture through tech, media, and architectural design. In addition, she founded The Aftergrad Podcast, a show she co-owns with Robert Cain.