Never one to disappoint, TEDxSMU is following up a banner year with yet another stellar speaking lineup. The fifth edition of the idea conference kicks off October 19 with thought leaders exploring the topic "What's next?" in the contest of a digitized, often divided world.
The day-long conference will return to Dallas City Performance Hall for the second year. The program begins at 9 am and runs until 6 pm. Breakfast and lunch are provided, along with ample breaks conducive to conversations. Tickets, which cost $150 and include access to the after party, can be purchased online.
TEDxSMU director Heather Hankamer is asking this year's speakers to take the big question of "What' next?" one step further with the theme "& then" — a challenge to ask bigger questions and dig deeper for answers.
"We have dreamers and educators who are going to take us from middle school to a new model of urban colleges," Hankamer said in a statement. "Our lineup of scientists will lift the lid on global health, robotics, cyber security and jet propulsion."
Hankamer has been an active member of the TEDxSMU team for years, but 2013 is her first time in the director's chair. Sharon Lyle brought the TEDx brand to SMU in 2009 and served as the producer and director for four years before stepping down in 2012 to become the co-interim executive director of KIPP Dallas-Fort Worth, a system of public college preparatory schools.
Enough suspense; here's the full speaker list:
Dr. Judith Allen, Psy.D.
Education innovator
Dallas Communities in Schools, Vice President and Chief Operations Officer
Dr. Kenneth Berry
Robot expert
Assistant Director of the Science and Engineering Education Center, UT Dallas
Dr. Eric G. Bing
Visionary global health researcher
Bush Institute Director of Global Health; SMU professor
Dr. Fred Chang
International cyber security expert
Rachael Chong
Visionary in the field of giving
Catchafire founder and CEO
Dan Goods
Master visual communicator
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Visual Strategist
Devonric Johnson
Actor, athlete, SMU alumnus and mentor
Brothers by Choice, founder
Afshan Khan
Passionate advocate for women
President and Chief Executive Officer, Women for Women International
Dave Lieber
Humorist, storyteller and award-winning columnist
Dallas Morning News
Pamela Nelson
Full-time care partner
Dallas Artist and Art Advocate
Biff F. Palmer, M.D.
Professor, physician: has conquered the world’s seven highest summits
Professor of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center
Rena Pederson
Journalist, author and foreign relations guru
Former speechwriter, U.S. Department of State
Vanessa Ramirez
Education game changer and champion of teachers and students
Director, KIPP Alumni Association, KIPP Houston Public Schools
Andres Ruzo
Geothermal scientist and science communicator
Ph.D. Candidate, SMU Geothermal Lab; National Geographic Young Explorer
LyAnna Johnson Smith
Former politico and foster parent
Graduate Student, Perkins School of Theology at SMU
Michael J. Sorrell
Revolutionary college president and architect of the new urban college model
President, Paul Quinn College
Katie Spotz
Adventurer, clean water champion
Founder, Row for Water
Nicole Stewart
Dallas arts leader, actress and master storyteller
Founder, Oral Fixation
Dr. Joseph Takahashi, Ph.D.
Neuroscience researcher and sleep gene genius
Chair of the Department of Neuroscience, HHMI, UT Southwestern Medical Center
Two Bit Circus
Artisanal engineering for amusement and education
Brent Bushnell & Eric Gradman
Patrick M. Walsh
Former Blue Angel pilot and four-star Admiral U.S. Navy (Ret.)
President, Strategic Programs at Academic Partnerships
DaVerse Lounge
Spoken word poetry
The University of Texas at Austin Musical Theatre Ambassadors
Musical theater performance
Patrick M. Walsh is former Blue Angel pilot and four-star admiral in the U.S. Navy.
