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).

Emory Student Center
605 Asbury Circle
Multipurpose Rooms
Atlanta, Georgia, 30322
United States

Brian Dias

Neuroscientist

Dr. Dias grew up in India and received his PhD from the University of Texas at Austin. Over the years, he has investigated the neurobiology underlying depression, anxiety, PTSD, and anti-social behavior. Currently, Dr. Dias and his team are studying how mammalian neurobiology, physiology and reproductive biology are impacted by stress, and how legacies of stress perpetuate across generations. Among other outlets, Dr. Dias’ work has been featured in Nature, on the BBC, in a list of the 10 Most Important Discoveries of 2014 published by La Recherche Magazine. Most recently, Dr. Dias was quoted in articles about the legacy of trauma (BBC) and the neurobiology of family separation (BrainFacts). In 2017, Dr. Dias received a CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar Award from the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) and is currently an Associate Fellow in CIFAR’s Child & Brain Development Program. In addition to research, Dr. Dias is interested in scientific innovation and education.

David Asarnow

Entrepreneur and Digital Marketing Leader

David Asarnow is a visionary entrepreneur and digital marketing leader. David is the highest award winning ClickFunnels Certified Consultant with Six Two Comma Club Awards and an 8-Figure Award. David is passionate about helping entrepreneurs and thought leaders create massive value, leverage, and profits through proprietary strategies implemented through his Digital Marketing Agency, Business Nitrogen. David has an MBA in business results. He built a new $45 million division for a company over five years. Launched a franchise company ranked a TOP 15 HOT Franchise by Entrepreneur Magazine. Been a top business coach and speaker for Tony Robbins and Chet Holmes. And his agency Business Nitrogen managed over $24,000,000 in paid digital advertising over the past year. These successes have made David the go to expert for businesses looking to accelerate their results, and he is excited to help even more entrepreneurs through his book and program, The Competition.

Deboleena Roy

Professor of Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology (NBB) and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) at Emory University

Deboleena Roy is Professor of Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology (NBB) and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) at Emory University. She is currently chair of the Department of WGSS and serves as associate faculty in the Neuroscience Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences. Starting August 2020, she will serve as the new Senior Associate Dean of Faculty for Emory College of Arts and Sciences. Roy is interested in developing feminist practices that contribute to scientific inquiry in the lab. Her fields of interest include neuroscience, molecular biology, reproductive justice movements, feminist theory, postcolonial theory, and feminist science and technology studies. Her research has been supported by the National Academies KECK Futures Initiative and the National Science Foundation. Her book Molecular Feminisms: Biology, Becomings, and Life in theLab was published by the University of Washington Press in 2018.

Freddy Fang

Business Student

Freddy Fang is a second year student from Gainesville, Florida majoring in Business at Emory University’s Goizueta School of Business. Alongside his passion for everything sneakers (especially Air Jordan 1s), he also shares a love for making and listening to hip-hop music, reading autobiographies, and shooting photography. Combining his personal interests and academic aspirations, he hopes to start his own business with a focus on modern culture and influences. In his free time, he enjoys exploring philosophical topics with friends, eating ethnic food in Atlanta, and playing Chess.

Holly Frey

Podcast Host

Holly Frey is cohost of Stuff You Missed in History Class, and she's also an executive producer for the HowStuffWorks podcast network. Her true historical passion is fashion from all eras. She lives in Atlanta with her husband and a small herd of cats. When she’s not obsessing over comma placement or talking about the past, she’s sewing, running, watching television, visiting a Disney park, rescuing animals, going to the movies, traipsing around town in a ridiculous costume or obsessing over delicious food. Sometimes, she does several of these things at once.

Keri Norris

Fulton DeKalb Hospital Authority's Chief of Health Policy and Administration

Keri Norris, PhD, JM, MPH, MCHES is The Fulton DeKalb Hospital Authority's Chief of Health Policy and Administration and leads the Community Health Awareness and Prevention Office and other key programs for the organization. Dr. Norris worked at the CDC as a health scientist, evaluator and epidemiologist. She has extensive experience in the areas of eliminating health disparities for vulnerable populations in the United States. She has served as adjunct faculty member at the University of South Carolina, Agnes Scott College, Spelman College, Baylor University and Morehouse School of Medicine. She is a published author of two books, the latest is #KeriOn.

Kim Ford

Influencer, Leader, Film and TV Journalist, TV Host, Media Coach

With over a decade of experience in the industry, Kim Ford is a media entrepreneur. She owns an online magazine, JubileeMag.com, and has appeared on CNN/Headlines News as an entertainment contributor where she shares her own take on what's relevant in film, television and celebrity news. She's also a freelance writer for The Hollywood Reporter. Ms. Ford has interviewed some of the industry's biggest stars such as Tyler Perry, Oprah, Tiffany Haddish, Kevin Hart, Donald Glover, Michael B. Jordan, Taraji P. Henson, and many others. As a social media consultant, Kim teaches businesses how to leverage social media to attract clients. Kim's focus is to create content that empowers, educates and entertains. She's a keynote speaker whose message resonates with multicultural women, millennials, and anyone who wants to move on after a setback and dream big. Her first book, "It's Never Too Late" will be released this spring.

Manos Tentzeris

Ken Byers Professor in Flexible Electronics at Georgia Institute of Technology

Professor Tentzeris was born and grew up in Piraeus, Greece. He graduated from Ionidios Model School of Piraeus in 1987 and he received the Diploma degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (Magna Cum Laude) from the National Technical University in Athens, Greece, in 1992 and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in 1993 and 1998. He is currently a Ken Byers Professor in the area of flexible electronics with the School of ECE, Georgia Tech and he has published more than 600 papers in refereed Journals and Conference Proceedings, 5 books and 25 book chapters. He has served as the Head of the Electromagnetics Technical Interest Group of the School of ECE, Georgia Tech. He is the Founder and Chair of the newly formed IEEE MTT-S TC-24 (RFID Technologies).

Miga Xie

Student and Stand-Up Comedian

Miga Xie is a sophomore in the business school with a concentration in marketing and a double major in economics. He is passionate about stand-up comedy, movies and basketball, and volunteers for a service organization that provides free kidney screenings for underprivileged communities. He watches cooking instruction videos and food traveling videos religiously, and considers himself a decent cook. He lived with a host family for four years in Tennessee since the age of 14, and has been passionate about public speaking since he could say his own name, roughly at the age of 3.

Paul Jenkins

Creative Storyteller and Graphic Artist

Paul Jenkins has been creating, writing, and building franchises for over 25 years in the graphic novel, film, and video game industries. From his employment with the creators of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles at the age of 22 to his preeminent status as an IP creator, Paul has provided entertainment to the world through hundreds of print publications, films, video games, and new media. With 6 Platinum selling video games, a Number One MTV Music Video, an Eisner Award, Five Wizard Fan Awards, and multiple Best-Selling Graphic Novels, Paul Jenkins is synonymous with success. He has enjoyed recognition on the New York Times bestseller list, has been nominated for 2 BAFTA Awards, and has been the recipient of a government-sponsored PRISM Award for his contributions in storytelling and characterization. In 2014, Paul founded META Studios, Georgia’s only cross-media production house that builds original IP across all mediums.

Roop Singh

Technology Strategist and Educator

Roop Singh is a technology strategist and educator. He practices at the intersection of business, innovation, and society. His previous TEDx talk in march 2019 was on "Who owns your digital identity? Blockchain unlocking the identity revolution." As a public speaker, he is passionate about helping audiences understand the potential, impacts, and risks as he guides them into the evolution of business and society into a Blockchain, IoT, and AI-driven world. He created 'Blockchain Strategy for Business Leaders', an executive education program. His professional experience spans corporations IHG, AT&T, Home Depot, SecureWorks, Cox Enterprises, as well as multilateral UN programs, non-profits, and startups. As a trainer and a coach, Roop designed workshops for Fortune 100 and Global 2000 clients. He has also featured as a guest speaker at Harvard University, Emory University, Georgia Tech, and others.

Wende Ballew

Director of the Reforming Arts and Creative

Wende Ballew is the founder and executive director of Reforming Arts. While teaching through Reforming Arts, Wende developed a curriculum to foster creative critical thinking called Creative Intra-active pedagogy. Before founding RA, they had extensive experience as a freelance theatre professional, arts manager, and educator. Wende has taught at Kennesaw State University and continues to teach and direct Reforming Arts classes inside women's prison facilities in Georgia and facilitate their Theatre Reentry Project. Wende has a BA in Theatre, an MBA, an MA in American Studies, a graduate certificate in Women's Studies, and is a PhD student at UGA. Wende was named a 2018 Woman Making a Mark by Atlanta Magazine, a Woman to Watch by Weight Watchers Magazine, and a Social Justice Champion by the Arts Xchange.