Elmhurst University to host second annual Tedx April 1

After a sold-out inaugural event, TEDxElmhurstUniversity is back. The theme of this year's event is "FIRSTS." The April 1 event will feature a diverse group of speakers discussing topics ranging from autism to public art to slang and more.

This year's speakers represent a cross section from Elmhurst University and the greater community. They include:

• Rajee Aerie, Class of 2007, an actor, model, product specialist and speaker. Her talk is about "How Love Can Transform Your Setback Into a Superpower."

• Rafael Blanco, M.F.A., a public artist and assistant professor of art at Elmhurst University. His topic is "Public Art as a Public Service."

• Gena Cox, Ph.D., an industrial and organizational psychologist. Her talk is "Skirting Career Quicksand: A 'Yes … And' Strategy."

• Liza Gabrek, MPH, Class of 2023, a graduate student in the master of public health program at Elmhurst University. Her talk is titled "Second Firsts."

• William Hirstein, Ph.D., a professor of philosophy at Elmhurst University. His talk is titled "Is Human Consciousness Actually Private?"

• Neeraja Kumar, a high school student whose talk is about "Walking the Path of Firsts Towards Adulthood."

• Marvin Malone, MBA, Class of 2023, creative project manager at NBCUniversal and an MBA candidate at Elmhurst University. His talk is about "Speaking to the Crowd."

• Lukas Munoz, Class of 2023, an economics and philosophy student at Elmhurst University. His talk is titled "A Dream Deferred."

• Morgan Ogunleye, Class of 2023, an Elmhurst University nursing student. Her talk is titled "The Art of Unlearning."

• Felicia Shakespeare, Class of 1996, an educator, author and founder of A Purpose Driven Woman LLC. Her talk is "You Are Your Brand: Building From the Inside Out!"

• Sarah Strom Kays, Class of 1990, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of the Department of Communication and Media at Elmhurst University. Her talk is titled "Say What? Slang is More Than 'Being Hip.'"

• Angela Williams, Class of 2006, a school administrator, learning behavior specialist, and faculty director of Turning Pointe Autism Foundation. Her topic is "Fears, Failures and Firsts in Autism."

TEDxElmhurstUniversity 2023 will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 1, in the Mill Theatre. Tickets for Mill Theatre seating is sold out, but you can join the waitlist. Check the website, elmhurst.edu/tedx, for details about an on-campus livestream option.

For information, email marketing@elmhurst.edu.

TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, and today covers almost all topics - from science to business to global issues - in more than 100 languages. Meanwhile, independently run TEDx events help share ideas in communities around the world. More than 3,000 events are now held annually.

Last year's TEDxElmhurstUniversity featured 14 talks whose videos have since garnered thousands of views on TED.com and YouTube. They also can be viewed at elmhurst.edu/TEDx.

Elmhurst University is a leading four-year institution of higher education that seamlessly blends liberal learning and professional preparation to help students reach their full potential. Founded in 1871, Elmhurst now offers more than 70 undergraduate programs of study, more than 20 graduate and certificate programs in flexible formats, and the Elmhurst Learning and Success Academy for young adults with differing abilities. Elmhurst University is among the top-ranked colleges and universities in the Midwest, according to U.S. News & World Report.