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).

Wharton Center for Performing Arts
750 East Shaw Ln
East Lansing, Michigan, 48824
United States

Benjamin Kagan

Benjamin Kagan, 16, founded Chicago Vaccine Angels at 14 and has continued his work for over a year, constantly searching for new ways to assist and expand outreach. Benjamin is here to spread the message that anyone at any age can make a difference. Each person on this earth has their own special skills that can be used to help others. His technology, communication, and leadership skills coupled with a goal to help people during an unprecedented time were what allowed him to assist so many.

Eric López Maya

Eric López Maya, Ph. D is the Founder and Director of the Mexican Institute of Mindfulness, a leading Institution in Mexico and Latin American with close to 20 years of experience. He is also a Certified Teacher-Trainer in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction trained at the Center for Mindfulness at UMass Medical School, and at Brown University Mindfulness Center. Eric has led and collaborated in mindfulness research projects in many countries. He was also appointed as a Postdoctoral scholar at UCLA, conducting research on the effects of mindfulness in Latinos. Dr. López has extensive experience teaching mindfulness in companies and organizations, is passionate about working in multicultural settings, and developed mindfulness programs at a Fortune 500 company.

Harsna Chahal

Harsna Chahal is a third-year undergraduate student here at #MSU with a dual-major in Neuroscience and Human Biology and minor in Science, Technology, Environment, and Public Policy (STEPP). During her spring semester as a general assembly representative for ASMSU representing Lyman Briggs College. In the Michigan Legislature, there have been more than a dozen attempts to remove the tax since 2016, but none has moved out of the Tax Policy Committee. She has worked with state representatives, senators, and universities to help get a bill passed that would eliminate the pink tax in the state of Michigan. With help from Pad The Mitten and Mitten Menstruation, two Registered Student Organization on campus, that aided in passing a bill to provide free menstrual hygiene products in all restrooms on MSU’s campus. Outside of school, Harsna helps administer the COVID19 vaccine and interns with Family Counseling and Psychiatry as well as Michigan State University Pediatrics.

Jaime Sweigart

Jaime Sweigart, D.O., is an MSUCOM alum and board-certified psychiatrist located in Southeast Michigan. During her residency at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, MI she discovered her passion for psychedelic neuroscience and depth psychology leading to several publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at local and national conferences.

Jennifer Steenburg

Originally from Canada, Jennifer Steenburg, MSN, RN, CCRN, has been an ICU nurse for over 25 years in Houston, Texas. Over the past couple years, she has been seen on NBC, ABC and in the Houston Chronicle, discussing the COVID pandemic. Also, she spoke at the inauguration of Sigma members and Texas Board of Volunteers. Jennifer holds an MSN in nursing administration and is certified in critical care. She oversees the Medical ICU and the Neuroscience Departments, as well as a few other smaller specialties. Over the years she has led her team with Ebola, Hurricane Harvey, SNOVID (the famous Houston Freeze), and most recently COVID. She is the mother of 4 boys, 1 attending MSU with 4 bonus children of her husband's. Between them, they have 4 dogs, 2 cats, 21 chickens, 4 turkeys, and 1 duck.

Marcia Williams

Marcia is the Founder and Managing Partner of USM Supply Chain, an innovative supply chain consulting business based in New York, and certified as a Minority Business Enterprise by the NY and NJ Minority Supplier Development Council. Marcia obtained her degree in Accounting and shortly after flew north to Michigan State University in pursuit of an MBA. Over her 15 years of experience in supply chain, Marcia has helped mid-sized and large companies flourish including Alcoa (aluminum), Cummins Inc. (automotive), Lindt Chocolates (food), and Coty (beauty). She is also a self published author of Transforming Supply Chains with Maria, whose major contributions were in cost reduction and streamlining the Supply Chain through six sigma and the functionalities that technology brings.

Nicholas Leonard

Nicholas Leonard is an art and design education doctoral candidate and visiting lecturer, researching digital technologies and creativity with a focus on ontology and epistemology at Northern Illinois University, USA. Prior to that, he was an elementary art educator in Michigan. He received his undergraduate degree in art education from Hope College, USA, and his master's degree in art education from the University of Nebraska at Kearney, USA.

Nicolas Leonard

Nicolas Leonard is an Art and Design Education Doctoral Candidate and Visiting Lecturer at Northern Illinois University and an officer for the National Art Education Association's Ecology and Environment Interest Group.

Trey Malone

Dr. Trey Malone is an agricultural and food economist whose research focuses on how food supply chains in the United States. Winner of multiple research awards, Dr. Malone’s insights have appeared in popular press outlets including USA Today, New York Times, and NPR Marketplace. His talk will focus on what we can learn from the surprisingly resilient U.S. food system during the COVID-19 pandemic.