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 the Performing Arts
750 E Shaw Ln
East Lansing, Michigan, 48824
United States

Amanda Allard

Amanda Allard is from Sealy, Texas. Allard received her Bachelor's degree from Concordia University in Austin, Texas, and earned her Master of Arts in communication from Michigan State University where she is also a PhD candidate studying communication in the department of communication at Michigan State University. Amanda can water witch, which (no pun intended) means she can use two metal prongs or a stick to find water underground. She says that anomaly means breaking the status quo and standing up for what you believe in, even if it goes against the grain of what everyone else is doing.

Black Poet Society (BPS)

The Black Poet Society (BPS) is a poetry performance group consisting of four members who aim to promote cultural diversity and inclusion through their poetry. This year represented by group members, Reece, Felix, LeAisha, and Joya, they express their commitment to social change through personal decisions and empowering creativity. Reece, a 22-year-old first-generation college student, and entrepreneur, is passionate about promoting cultural diversity and inclusion. Felix believes in the power of determination to create change, while LeAisha's poetry explores femininity and womanhood. Joya encourages others to embrace their true selves and promotes inclusivity. The Black Poet Society is an anomaly on campus as it celebrates individuality and empowers the unique qualities that make each of us who we are.

Daniel Martin

Daniel Martin and his team are constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible in Magic, Speaking, and Entertainment to create something that is truly incredible and unlike anything you have ever seen. From the largest Theaters, Universities in the nation to Fortune 500 companies around the world, there is a reason he has won awards such as Entertainer of the Year! There is a reason why so many event professionals and brands turn to Daniel Martin year after year.

Dixon's Violin

You've never heard violin like this! The world's premier visionary violinist, Dixon's life mission is to inspire people - and he has done so at over 1,000 concerts across North America, including over ten years at Burning Man and Electric Forest, plus radio, TV, and film appearances. A former technology leader and symphony violinist from Michigan, Dixon walked away from a distinguished career to follow his dream full-time and invented a whole new music genre. Dixon now improvises on a 5-string electric violin with a looping system he developed to create an all-live one-man symphony. Find out more on Dixonsviolin.com

Eric Waggoner

Eric B. Waggoner is a Managing Director and Wealth Management Advisor at Waggoner Financial Group, as well as an Adjunct Professor at Michigan State University and Lansing Community College. He has multiple professional designations, including CFA, CFP, CLU, ChFC, and AEP, and manages over $50 million in assets. Waggoner has received numerous awards for his work in financial advising and recruiting and is a member of several professional organizations.

Felix Kronenberg

Felix Kronenberg is from Hannover, Germany. Kronenberg was formerly the president of the International Association for Language Learning Technology (IALLT) and is currently the Director of the Center for Language Teaching Advancement (CeLTA) and associate professor in the Department of Linguistics, Languages, and Cultures at Michigan State University. He is finishing a book called the “Physical Language Learning Spaces in the Digital Age” and co-editing a volume on “Language Program Vitality in the United States: From Surviving to Thriving in Higher Education.” Kronenberg says that anomaly means to question why we normalize the things we normalize while being hesitant to normalize other things.

Greg Mahr

Gregory Mahr is a psychiatrist in Detroit, Michigan, and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Beaumont Hospital-Dearborn and John D. Dingell Veterans Affairs Medical Center. He received his medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine in 1983 and has been in practice for more than 20 years. He says that he has one of the largest collections of personal dreams in the world. To him, Anomaly means that which doesn’t fit with our traditional cultural norms.

Isaac Record

Isaac Record is from East Lansing, Michigan, and originally from Windsor, Maine. Isaac trained as a computer engineer as an undergrad, and then I earned my PhD in philosophy of science. He is a professor at Lyman Briggs College, where he is the Founding Director of the Collaborative Experiential Learning Laboratory (CELL). He says that anomaly is the name we give something that doesn't fit our expectations. It's an invitation to learn something new.

Sejuti Das Gupta

Sejuti Das Gupta is from Kolkata, India. She’s been friends with her best friend since they were ten which is a huge feat in and of itself and describes Anomaly as something different or abnormal. She completed her doctoral studies from School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. She received the Felix Scholarship to conduct her doctoral research in Development Studies. Her book has been published by Cambridge University Press in 2019, Class, Politics and Agrarian Policies in Post-liberalisation India. She is currently a professor at James Madison College.

Shannon Anderson

Shannon Anderson is from Rensselaer, Indiana. Shannon has a master’s degree and has taught for 25 years dealing with students of all ages. She has tackled many feats and gained acclaim for her many works including the National Farm Bureau Book of the Year award and the Good Housekeeping Top Rated Picture Book of the Year award. Anderson has also been featured on the Today Show where she was named one of 10 teachers who awed and inspired the show. She says that Anomaly is something that is considered abnormal.

Zachary Brennan

Zachary Brennan is from everywhere as described by himself. Zachary spent around 14 years in military or government service in a variety of intelligence and federal law enforcement roles, learned Arabic at the Defense Language Institute, and is currently preparing to graduate medical school and obtain a cardiothoracic surgery residency. He spends some time learning lock picking and magic tricks to impress his nieces and nephews.