Theme: Seeds for the Future

TEDxUniversityofDelaware’s sixth community wide event will be held on Friday, Sept. 30 at 5 p.m. in Mitchell Hall and will be live streamed as well. All members of the University of Delaware community are invited to attend. Tickets are available on the TEDxUniversityofDelaware website, www.tedx.udel.edu. The event will also be livestreamed for community members who are not able to attend in person. Doors open at 4:30 p.m.

The theme of this year’s event is “Seeds for the Future” and features six speakers from UD faculty, staff, students, and alumni. The event will have two students, one staff member, two alumni and one faculty member. These TEDx talks represent some of the most compelling ideas worth spreading this year from the University community.

Mitchell Hall
The Green
Newark, Delaware, 19716
United States

Elizabeth Finkle

Wellbeing Practitioner

Elizabeth Finkle is an experienced worksite wellbeing practitioner with 16 years demonstrated history in designing environments to promote lasting health and wellbeing. Beth’s purpose is to help organizations create the conditions for people to thrive, work in effective ways and feel joy. Throughout her career, Beth has worked in a variety of employer settings including hospitals, health insurance companies, national sports teams, manufacturing sites and most recently higher education at the University of Delaware. Her superpower is people, with a flair for simplicity and she loves working on complex people scenarios. She is a demonstrated leader in organizational health initiatives, employee experience design, program planning and professional development creation.

Jacob Herz

Student

Jacob Herz is a senior Media Communications major with History and Journalism double minors at the University of Delaware. On campus, he is involved in the Blue Hen Leadership Program, The Crew, Athletic and Event Operations, ComUDy, WVUD, and Club Ultimate Frisbee. In his free time, he loves watching movies, collecting vinyl records, and hiking. Jacob would like to thank his friends and family for all the support.

Jennifer Rodstrom

Customer Experience (CX) Professional

Jennifer Liner Rodstrom is a customer experience (CX) professional with 20 years experience both as a consultant and on the corporate side. Jen has extensive experience communicating customer insights, improvement programs, and CX concepts in a relatable way that drives customer-centric transformation across organizations. She has delivered insightful and engaging presentations at company, industry, and customer experience events for audiences of 20-200+. She received her Honors B.A. in International Relations and Spanish from the University of Delaware, and her M.S. in Applied Communication research at Boston University. Jen is married with two teenage sons, one who is transgender, and she is passionate about supporting LGBTQ+ rights for all, particularly children. In her free time she likes to sit with her dog on her lap doing the NYT crossword.

Kisha Porcher

Assistant Professor

Kisha Porcher, Ph.D. is an assistant professor of English at the University of Delaware, a mother scholar-practitioner, and agent of change for students. She works deliberately to disrupt anti-Blackness and racism in spaces she occupies, and holds others accountable to dismantle and disrupt anti-Blackness and racism in their respectable spaces. The work she does is for the freedom and legacy of her family, community, and society.

Nadia Sheikh

Student

Nadia Sheikh is an undergraduate at the University of Delaware. Her passions stem from curiosity about the mind and just how complicated it is. She is also an advocate for mental health in her community by committing to research and clinical work within the psychological field. Nadia is the Volunteer Coordinator of Chalkboard Charities, a local Delaware non-profit dedicated to providing medical education to underserved communities. She hopes her talk inspires others to focus on their mental health and to advocate for others through the power of not only words but action.

Natalia Husby

Epigenetics Researcher

Natalia Husby is a UD alumna who studied neuroscience and behavioral epigenetics for her master's degree. She now works for EpiCypher - a biotechnology company that develops research tools for epigenetics. When she’s not nerding out over science, she enjoys reading, hiking and spending quality time with her family, friends, and dogs.