Theme: Reimagine

Join the TEDxGeorgiaStateU team as we welcome back our mainstage TEDx event for campus. This year's event will feature eight speakers from the Georgia State community sharing their ideas to help up reimagine a brighter future.

Speakers will begin at 3 p.m. Reception to follow event at 5 p.m.

Student Center Speakers Auditorium
55 Gilmer Street SE
Atlanta, Georgia, 30303
United States

Aafreen Kaur

Leadership Trainer

Aafreen Kaur serves as the Head of Communications at Zenith School of Leadership and is currently a graduate student at the Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University. Aafreen had her first public speaking gig at 8 years old and has consistently addressed large audiences on the national and international levels. Aafreen was the first Digital Literacy Ambassador at Georgia State University, the youngest student to present at the National EDUCAUSE Conference in Chicago, IL (2019), and has led webinars across India promoting Leadership and Life Skills education for young people. Aafreen has collaborated with her mentor and founder of the 5 Inner Intelligence Framework to train corporate professionals in Fortune 500 companies across the globe in Communication Intelligence. Aafreen has spent the last several years being an ardent practitioner of Communication Intelligence herself and is now steadily becoming a lead spokesperson on this critical, yet rarely discussed topic.

Corey Perlman

Digital Marketing Speaker + Consultant

Corey is the devoted father to Talia, age 13, and Milo, age 9, and lucky husband to Jessica Perlman, age undisclosed. His passion is helping men excel at the most important job they'll ever have...being a dad. He's taken his passion 'behind the wall' -- facilitating the Nurturing Fathers Program inside the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary. Corey co-hosts The Nurturing Fathers Podcast with his dad, Mark Perlman, and enjoys reliving the many highs (and occasional lows) of their father-son journey.

Jackie Slaton

Learning Community Developer

Jackie Slaton is an Assistant Director at Georgia State University's Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning, and Online Education (CETLOE). In CETLOE, Jackie curates digital programs that prepare students for success in the 21st-century workplace by increasing their technological, professional, and leadership skills. Jackie collaborates with Georgia State administrators, professors, and staff to provide innovative and award-winning programs that serve students across six campuses, exposing them to emerging technologies and introducing them to industry leaders from the Atlanta and global community. She is a member of the CETLOE Strategic Planning Committee as well as the CETLOE DEI Leadership Team.

Jessica Grimaldi

Interior Designer

Jessica Grimaldi is a graduating senior studying Interior Design at Georgia State University. She specializes in biophilic design, a nature-based design approach that focuses on maximizing natural light and interaction with nature through outdoor space, natural shapes, materials, colors, and indoor plant life. Because our indoor environments have an impact on our physical and mental well-being, her goal is to make thoughtful design and its benefits accessible to everyone. Upon graduation, she wants to use her designs to serve the community in the residential and hospitality sectors. When Jessica is not creating floor plans, she enjoys exploring Atlanta with her husband and growing her herb garden.

Madelief Tilder

Education Activist

Madelief Tilder was born and raised in the Netherlands. In 2019 she moved to the United States, where she cultivated a unique perspective and understanding of the diversity and complexity of human societies. In 2020, Madelief relocated to Atlanta, Georgia to study at Georgia State University. Madelief Tilder is a sociology major, with a passion for philosophy and a commitment to social justice. Her work as a social media coordinator and researcher at the Georgia State Prison Education Project has provided her with valuable insights into the impact of education on American society, particularly within the prison system. As an Honors College ambassador and international peer assistant, she strives to make a positive impact on her community and help others achieve their full potential. Madelief plans to continue pursuing her passion for human rights advocacy by earning a PhD and dedicating her career to promoting social justice and education access.

Mitchell Harris

Philanthropy Researcher

Mitchell Harris is a young and enthusiastic spirit from the Chattahoochee Valley of Columbus, Georgia. A first-year student at Georgia State University, Mitchell’s daily motivation is service to others which was instilled by his late grandfather. As he matriculates through college, he is starting his journey of service by working in a university assistantship position for the GSU Foundation which builds a career track for philanthropy. He hopes to use his experiences within philanthropic work to develop high-level research and diversify philanthropy. He hopes to use this research to facilitate change in his hometown community and have a global impact.

Tom Willner

Cancer Survivor + Musician

When Tom Willner was diagnosed with cancer, he began writing songs that ultimately became a full musical about his experience. Later, he began to use his story and musical in an innovative way to teach over 2,500 people, including healthcare workers and graduate students, about the patient experience and the lessons learned through a life-threatening illness. Through his company Stories and Music, his mission is to create powerful arts experiences to teach compassion, wisdom, and joy. Tom is also the Director of Enterprise Applications at Georgia State University utilizing technology for student success initiatives. He has over two decades of experience in technology management and digital strategy across multiple industries and enjoys teaching others about integrating the arts, technology, and education.

Varun Joshi

Data Scientist + Mental Health Advocate

Varun Joshi is a data science student at Georgia State University who is passionate about mental health, research, and programming. He aims to bring his passions together by developing an app to help those suffering from bipolar disorder by drawing on both clinical research as well as his own lived experience.