Theme: Simplicity

Looking at the different fields offered at VCU, one commonality emerged: no matter what field, complex ideas must be boiled down to something simple; concepts that are easily explained or illustrated, in order to be widely used and understood. Great masterpieces are created through a collection of simple actions. These types of ideas and creations produce the greatest impact. Virginia Commonwealth University is an incredible institution filled with an eclectic mix of talented and motivated individuals. Our vision for the first TEDxVCU is to highlight the ideas of those who push the boundaries, seek solutions to problems, and constantly strive to improve upon the human condition. We wish to celebrate, engage, and inspire everyone who calls VCU their home.

6 N Laurel Street
Richmond, Virginia, 23220
United States

Middle of Broad Studio

MoB+Storefront operates on the belief that good design makes a healthier city where citizens participate more fully in their environment, their government and their culture. MoB is a partnership of three design departments of VCUarts, Graphic Design, Fashion Design and Interior Design. These departments operate an experimental design lab that realizes the potential of design to shape the City. The Storefront for Community Design is Richmond’s non-profit design assistance center, improving the quality of design in the city by facilitating access to design and planning resources. MoB+Storefront is a partnership between MoB and The Storefront for Community Design that joins the energy, enthusiasm and expertise of VCU students and faculty with Storefront’s community connections. Students work with professional design mentors, faculty, and citizens in the studio to solve design problems ranging from dog park shelters, to cancer treatment garments, clinics and nutrition programs.

George Ferrandi

George Ferrandi is an American artist whose work responds to the specifics of a site, audience or situation, engaging whatever medium is best suited for the task. Employing a unique humor and a deep sense of humanity, her work stimulates a rethinking of cultural assumptions. George teaches Sculpture and Performance Art periodically at the Rhode Island School of Design and at Virginia Commonwealth University. She also runs a small business specializing in the restoration of statues of saints for churches. George lives with a small dog and a rooftop garden in Brooklyn.

Hannah Rumsey

Hannah Rumsey, a VCU Presidential scholar, graduated in May 2014 with a B.A. in Music, B.S. in Psycology, and minor in Creative Writing. During her undergraduate career she played classical trumpet in brass quintets, brass choirs, trumpet ensembles, studio recitals, and the VCU symphony orchestra, holding several principal positions.

Hong Yeo

As a professor in the School of Engineering, an associate member at Massey Cancer Center, and a member of the Center for Rehabilitation Science at Virginia Commonwealth University, he leads a research team that is developing a novel nanofluidic sensor system for cancer diagnostics and human-machine interfaces via skin-like electronic systems. He developed a specialty in fundamental and applied nanomechanics, soft materials, biomolecular interactions, and nano-micro fabrication with an emphasis on bio-interfaced nanoengineering. He strongly believes in, and shares with his students about his personal philosophy, “Be An Engineer to Change The World!”

Jillian Stevens

Jillian Stevens is a Political Science major at VCU. Her experiences as a liberal arts major have inspired her to speak on "Why Liberal Arts Still Matter" in a STEM driven society and how it can inspire others to follow their passions as well.

Jon DeShazo

Jon DeShazo makes his living bringing together health care, information systems, and people. As a researcher, he creates innovative technologies that help healthcare providers and patients make more healthful decisions. As Scientific Director of the Virginia Commonwealth University Biomedical Informatics Core, he oversees people, computer systems, and data that speed up the pace of biomedical discoveries. Jon was first trained in nursing, then computer programming, health services research, and biomedical informatics. He believes that true innovations are the result of partnerships between different stakeholders, and listening skills are as important as research design skills.

Kevin Ghaffari

Kevin Amr Ghaffari is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University pursuing a career as a physician. Coming from a background of mathematics and computer science, he had a change of heart that mostly came from his experience with the fitness industry and the fascination that developed with the body and its ability to overcome challenges.

Kunal Kapoor

Kunal Kapoor was born in New Delhi, India, but spent the majority of his childhood in NYC and Virginia. During undergrad at VCU, Kunal’s global health passions led him to create a chapter of MEDLIFE, an organization providing primary care, educational and developmental services to rural communities in Latin America. Through the organization, he was able to spend time in rural Ecuador and witness the relationship between infrastructure and heath delivery. Upon graduating with a BA in Religious Studies from VCU, Kunal received a Fulbright Scholarship to the UK, where he pursued an MSc with Distinction in Medical Anthropology from Durham University. While there, he focused on the intricate cross-talk amongst religion, culture and medical care. He explored how perceptions and beliefs regarding the heart’s significance are inextricably linked with one’s intersubjective milieu. Furthermore, he explored how phenomenological experiences become somaticized in the body through the heart.

Melvin Johnson

A Bronx, NY native and member of the VCU men's basketball player, Melvin a star student-athlete on and off the court. Pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice, he is passionate about helping others reach their full potential.

Robyn McDougle

Dr. McDougle is an Associate Professor in the Criminal Justice program and the Advisor for Research and Training at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Dr. McDougle received her undergraduate degree from Randolph-Macon College in Psychology, her Master of Science fro Virginia Commonwealth University in Criminal Justice and her Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. McDougle’s primary area of research is program evaluation, project impact and the impact of violent crime on youth and community development. Her research involves working with service-based organizations and law enforcement agencies to evaluate the efficacy of programs offered to residents in communities that suffer many of the negative consequences resulting from high levels of crime, specifically violent crime.

Sahil Aggarwal

Sahil Aggarwal is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Honors College. While spending much of his time in research and clinical activities as an undergraduate student, he has also devoted a significant amount of effort towards international welfare projects. He now continues as a Senior National Council member, a position that allows him to direct the UNICEF Campus Initiative program nationally to promote awareness and action in support of child welfare issues. As a result of his widespread experience with child welfare, Aggarwal is now the Co-Founder and CEO of PENdulum, a non-profit organization that empowers HIV-positive youth in Swaziland, Africa through an innovative pen pal program with US college students. Aggarwal hopes to pursue a career as a physician while being involved in global initiatives such as UNICEF and PENdulum to provide aid for children and to push forward the movement to eradicate preventable child deaths.

Simone Muscolino

Simone Muscolino is a designer and video-maker. In the past few years his research has been focused on new short forms of video making: the Moving Postcards. Moving Postcards are short videos that could represent a space, an atmosphere, an action, a behavior. They are multimedia between photography and video. They work on the fragment as a module of meaning.

Victor Haskins

Victor Haskins is a world-class trumpet player, improviser, composer/arranger, bandleader, and educator. As an artist, Victor brings a rare and unique spirit and perspective to the music he performs and composes. This worldly approach to life is a result growing up in different countries in Asia and Africa until the age of 10. Through music, Victor is able to synthesize his thoughts and experiences into audible emotions and sonic stories to connect with audiences.

Wayne Slough

Wayne Slough is Assistant Professor of Marketing in the VCU School of Business. The 2013 recipient of the school’s Best Professional Teacher Award, he has taught there since 2009. Dr. Slough brings to VCU an accomplished career in sales and marketing, management consulting, training and development, and organizational fundraising. In addition to having managed his own speaking and training consultancy, his 30+ years of experience include positions at Jefferson Pilot, Virginia Farm Bureau, AT&T, Dale Carnegie Training, and Right Management Consultants. Dr. Slough actively serves as a faculty partner to VCU Marketing’s Sales Management Forum and as faculty advisor to the VCU Business Alumni Society.