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).

Howard Hall
613 W Harrison St
Bozeman, Montana, 59715
United States

Alex Pruden

Alex Pruden is the CEO of Aleo Systems Inc., a tech startup building blockchain-based security and financial infrastructure products. Prior to Aleo, Alex was an investment partner at Andreessen-Horowitz, a Silicon Valley venture capital fund that managed over $28B to invest in consumer & enterprise software, biotech, fintech, and cryptocurrency/blockchain. Alex holds a B.S. from the United States Military Academy in International Relations/Arabic, and an MBA from Stanford University. Prior to his tech career, he served for 9 years in the U.S. Army from 2008-2017 in both the Infantry and Special Forces.

Calvin Servheen

Calvin Servheen is a Missoula-born student pursuing dual degrees in Industrial Engineering and Directed Interdisciplinary Studies. Calvin has spent the last 3 years working on startups in industries including research technology, advanced materials, and transportation. He strongly believes that entrepreneurial thinking can bring people together to solve the world’s most pressing problems. Calvin also believes it is vital for universities to have flourishing research ecosystems, and to invest in community economic development.

Dr. Thomas Donovan

Faculty Fellow & Professor

Thomas Patrick Donovan has served as a Faculty Fellow in the Honors College at Montana State University since 2011. He holds a doctorate in Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. Inspired by Ernest Becker’s The Denial of Death, he is particularly interested in the existential questions regarding living a meaningful life in the face of awareness of inevitable finitude. He is the author of The Rail: What Was Really Doin’ in the 60’s Bronx. He currently lives in Bozeman, MT

Hallie Conlan

Hallie is a senior in cell biology and neuroscience major. They were born and raised on a farm in North Central Montana, was previously an award-winning chef in Oregon, and are now a non-traditional student navigating a career change and newly diagnosed learning disabilities.

Kory Ann Rogers

Kory Ann Rogers, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Addictions Counselor Licensure Candidate is a graduate of Montana State University, partner in Bridger Peaks Counseling group practice, mother of 5 and wife of 25 years. Kory Ann has counseled couples, families, individuals, groups, given presentations to women’s groups as well as speaking engagements on couples and parenting. She is a clinical supervisor, has been an adjunct professor and has recently widened her focus to be able to support couples in a more comprehensive way by adding couples coaching to her practice. Working in different capacities with different populations has provided the insight and experience to guide her to where she is now. She enjoys time with her family and the passion and purpose she finds in her work.

Marguerite Kibodeaux

Student

Marguerite Kibodeaux, originally from New Mexico, is now a student at Montana State University majoring biochemistry.

Ryan Matzinger

Appearing and performing as "Ryan Montana," a singer-songwriter, jazz saxophonist, recording artist, internationally touring musician, and record producer, Ryan was born and raised in the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Bozeman. After recording and touring based out of Southern California for 11 years, he has been back in Bozeman for the last 8 years teaching saxophone and jazz at MSU. Through journeys with industry stars, and studies with music legends, Ryan has developed as a contemporary indie artist belonging to the growing community of studied, genre melding, multi-faceted performers that are taking music back to its collective roots while exploring and researching the art form of Jazz and its connection to the cultural history, political evolution, and sociological condition of America. As one of the last remaining members of the iconic rock group Ike Turner and The Kings of Rhythm, he was a featured soloist and horn section leader on the Grammy Award winning 2007 ablum, Risin' With the Blues. He moved to California in 2000 to serve as the Artist Community Director for MP3.com after studying Jazz Performance and African History at The Hartt School under Blue Note Records master saxophonist Jackie McLean, and apprenticed alongside bassist Nat Reeves (Kenny Garrett, Pharoah Sanders); then studied Music Performance and Cultural Anthropology at Duke University under saxophone colossus Sonny Rollins and jazz legend Paul Jeffrey (Thelonious Monk). After doing short stints and performances with music legends Chuck Berry and Ray Charles, Ryan has been an active teacher, studio musician and live performer world-wide, playing in over 50 countries as the alto saxophonist and horn section leader for the late Ike Turner, and remains an active member of the historically iconic band "The Kings of Rhythm," credited with recording and producing the very first Rock and Roll song ever, "Rocket 88," in 1951. While at Duke, he lead and arranged music for the award winning Duke University Concert Jazz Ensemble, and has also appeared and taught at numerous international festivals and workshops including The Stanford Jazz Workshop, The North Carolina International Jazz Festival, Jazz Montana and Hatch Festivals, Aspen Jazz /Snowmass Festival sponsored by the Thelonious Monk Institute, Acqui Terme Jazz Festival, Vienne Jazz Festival, Kansas City Barbeque and Blues Festival, Bordeux 24 Hours of Music Festival, Alicante Jazz Festival, Rauma Blues Festival, Santa Blues Festival, Gexto Jazz Festival, the Conservatory of Monaco, Trasimeno Blues Festival, The Legendary Blues Cruise and many more. He has appeared on multiple recording projects as a sideman, co-writer and producer/engineer, and has recorded several albums as a leader on SOTA Records. "A Dance Called Life," was produced by the famed Big Mountain founder, Quino McWhinney; and was mastered by the legendary Bernie Grundman in Hollywood, CA. Ryan Montana and The Ten O'clock Scholars release "Electric Picture Show," garnered national attention and charted on several independent radio stations internationally. He was awarded with "Jazz Artist of the Year" honors in the 2004 Los Angeles Music Awards. His latest studio time and production work has been with the acclaimed singer-songwriter Earl Thomas which recorded and broadcast a live show from London on BBC radio, and with a new artist collective called "JAAMA," which features Senegalese artists and the likes of Tanmoy Bose, Pandit Ravi Shankar's Tabla player; and Paul Smith who toured and recorded with Natalie Cole and Bill Withers. As the newly tenured Jazz Professor at Montana State University, Ryan is currently pursuing and continuing his performing, teaching and recording career after recently completing a Masters degree in American Studies, while researching the links between Native American music and early jazz, Black Studies, and writing and researching the jazz tradition and how that unique narrative directly relates to American culture and history.