Theme: Bridges

Join us on November 5th for an afternoon of conversation and inspiring ideas at the inaugural TEDxWheelockSt event.

Organized around the TEDWomen 2017 conference, this event strives to help move the conversation about the power of girls and women in a meaningful way. This year's theme, "Bridges," speaks to the ways in which we build bridges, traverse them, and sometimes even burn them, for better or worse.

Georgiopoulos Classroom
100 Tuck Mall
Hanover, New Hampshire, 03755
United States

Ann Kuster

Ann McLane Kuster was first elected to the House of Representatives to represent New Hampshire’s Second Congressional District in November of 2012, and she was sworn into office on January 3, 2013. She came to Washington determined to put an end to the gridlock, and during her time in office she has established a record of working across the aisle to get things done for her constituents in the Granite State. Prior to taking office, Annie served as a longtime community activist and adoption attorney who focused her career on increasing opportunity for Granite State families. A strong advocate for seniors, students, veterans, and women and their families, Annie has always been committed to fighting for the issues that matter most to Granite Staters, like increasing access to higher education and affordable health care, and cutting waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government to ensure our taxpayer dollars are used wisely. Annie played a key role in creating New Hampshire’s UNIQUE College Savings Program to help parents save for their children’s education, as well as the Medication Bridge Program to provide medicine to low-income families. Since taking office, Annie has prioritized efforts to facilitate the creation of good jobs and to increase economic opportunity for every New Hampshire family. Annie knows small businesses serve as the backbone of our local economy, and she’s visited dozens of businesses through her Congress At Your Company series. These visits helped inform the drafting of her 2014 Middle Class Jobs and Economic Opportunity Agenda, a blueprint of legislative proposals that Annie is pushing in Congress to help New Hampshire businesses grow and create more jobs. Additionally, she hosts a series of job fairs throughout the Second District, where Granite State job seekers and employers can meet and connect. The daughter of a WWII veteran and prisoner of war, Annie is also dedicated to ensuring our nation’s veterans have the support they need to make a smooth and successful transition back to civilian life. As a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Annie has pushed a number of legislative initiatives to improve the lives of veterans across the country. In 2014, she helped lead the successful fight to pass comprehensive VA reform legislation to ensure every veteran can get timely access to the health care they need, and in 2015 she was selected to serve as Ranking Member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. In this position, Annie plays a lead role in overseeing the implementation of reforms at the VA, as well as identifying additional opportunities to protect taxpayers and improve services for veterans. As a lifelong Granite Stater, Annie recognizes the importance of family farms and healthy forests to our economy. In Congress, she also serves on the House Agriculture Committee, where she has championed Granite State priorities like conserving natural resources, cutting wasteful subsidies, supporting organic farming, and fighting childhood hunger. During her first term in office, Annie helped pass into law a bipartisan Farm Bill that included many measures she championed, including provisions to support local Granite State farms, protect wildlife habitat, promote the domestic maple syrup industry, and invest in renewable energy. The Department of Agriculture has a broad jurisdiction over many federal programs, and Annie is focused on working with the USDA to foster economic growth in New Hampshire’s rural communities. Annie is also committed to protecting the programs Granite State seniors count on, such as Medicare, Social Security, and medical research funding for diseases that affect older Americans. With her late mother, who suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease, Annie coauthored a book entitled “The Last Dance: Facing Alzheimer’s with Love and Laughter.” Before taking office, Annie and her father toured the state speaking out about Alzheimer’s Disease and the burdens it places on families and caregivers. In Congress, Annie has championed legislation both to increase funding for research on finding a cure to this deadly disease, and to provide vital support for caregivers who work full-time looking after their loved ones. Annie graduated from Dartmouth College in 1978 as part of the College’s third class that included women students, and from Georgetown University Law Center in 1984. Annie is a member of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, and before her election to Congress she maintained a private adoption practice in which she helped hundreds of New Hampshire families adopt children. Annie was born and raised in Concord, New Hampshire. Annie’s late mother, former State Senator Susan McLane, was a pioneer for women in New Hampshire politics. Her late father, Malcolm McLane, was Mayor of Concord, a New Hampshire Executive Councilor, and one of the state’s most prominent attorneys for over 50 years. Annie and her husband Brad, an environmental lawyer, now live nearby in Hopkinton where they raised their two sons, Zach and Travis.

Ann McLane Kuster

US Representative 2nd Congressional District, New Hampshire

Ann McLane Kuster has served as the U.S. Representative for New Hampshire's Second Congressional District since 2013. She came to Washington determined to put an end to the gridlock, and during her time in office she has established a record of working across the aisle to get things done for her constituents in the Granite State. A strong advocate for seniors, students, veterans, and women and their families, Annie has always been committed to fighting for the issues that matter most to Granite Staters, like increasing access to higher education and affordable health care, and cutting waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government to ensure our taxpayer dollars are used wisely.

Atom's Mother

Electronica Band

Atom’s Mother is a local, ethereal electronica band consisting of Steve Pierce and Matt Zayatz. Most recently Atom’s Mother has composed and performed soundtrack ambiance for silent films at Dartmouth College’s Lowe Theater for the release of the book Fantasia of Color.

Dia Draper

Director, Strategic Initiatives

Dia Draper is often described as a “warm spirit” with a gift for inspiring others to live with joy and intention. Her ability to help others laugh at life’s absurd twists causes those who cross her path to stop and take notice. Her curiosity for the human experience has led her around the world asking her favorite question: “What’s your life about?” and helping people discover the answer. Dia is a two time graduate of the University of Virginia, where she developed a passion for the intersection of leadership, business and education, work that she is fortunate to pursue as an educator and entrepreneur. She is a member of the senior leadership team at The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College with a focus on initiatives that promote a healthy community, culture and climate, and co-founder of The Gift Crate, a gift service in support of those surviving or newly diagnosed with cancer and other critical illnesses.

Ema Reid

Marketing Manager, New Balance

Ema Pasic Reid is a Marketing Manager at New Balance within their North America division. Prior to this role, Ema was an Account Director at Brand Networks, a venture-backed technology startup in the social media space. Ema was born in Sarajevo, Bosnia and grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts from Northwestern University and, recently, her MBA from Tuck's School of Business.

Eva Donnelly Crews

Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker

Eva Donnelly Crews thru hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2012. She now lives in Nashville with her husband whom she met while hiking the AT. She will be discussing her experience and how the trail changed her life.

Kate Speer Fisher

Kate Speer Fisher is a mental health advocate who got a second chance at life after years struggling with mental illness and misdiagnosis. She will be discussing how embracing her fear and vulnerability saved her life.

Katie Speer Fisher

Director of Sales & Marketing at King's Row Coffee

Kate Speer Fisher is a digital storyteller who discusses mental health recovery and the importance of sharing vulnerability for sake of connection. By day, she is the director of sales and marketing for King’s Row Coffee and currently lives in Hanover, NH with her partner and their pup, wafflenugget.

Linda Fowler

Professor of Government, Emerita

Linda L. Fowler is Professor of Government and Frank J. Reagan Chair in Policy Studies, Emerita, at Dartmouth College, where she continues to teach and conduct research. She directed the Dartmouth’s Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for Public Policy and Social Sciences from 1995-2004. Previously, she was Professor of Political Science in the Maxwell School at Syracuse University. She holds her B.A from Smith College and her MA and PhD from the University of Rochester. Prior to obtaining her PhD, Fowler worked at the Environmental Protection Agency and for a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.