Theme: Our Changing World

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).

854 Galway Lane
Columbia, South Carolina, 29209
United States

Bobby Donaldson

Dr. Donaldson teaches courses in United States history and African American intellectual and cultural studies, with an emphasis on the American South. In addition to the United States history survey class (1877-present) and the Introduction to African American Studies, Professor Donaldson teaches courses on African American intellectuals, African American Biography, the Harlem Renaissance, the Civil Rights struggle in South Carolina, and research methods in African American Studies. Currently, Professor Donaldson serves on the Board of Trustees of Wesleyan University and holds as a 2005-2006 fellowship at the W. E. B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research at Harvard University.

Charles Bennett

Charles L Bennett MD PhD MPP is the South Carolina Smart State Chairman for Medication Safety and Efficacy at the University of South Carolina. Previously, Dr. Bennett was the A.C. Beuhler Chair for Medical Economics at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and the Kellogg School of Management. Dr. Bennett’s scientific research builds on a theme initially developed by Louis Pasteur- the “prepared mind” as a central foundation to ground breaking transformative scientific discovery. Dr. Bennett is the author of more than 400 medical and policy publications and the principal investigator for over $20 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health. He is the first medical oncologist to receive a PhD in public policy from a “think tank”- the RAND Corporation’s Public Policy program. Having a “prepared mind” has been critical in Dr. Bennett’s ground-breaking discoveries that have improved the lives of tens of millions of persons worldwide.

Maria Fabrizio

Maria Fabrizio is an illustrator and designer who believes smart ideas make beautiful work. A Master of Fine Arts graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University, Maria runs her design business in Columbia, SC while maintaining her daily illustration blog — Wordless News as featured on NPR’s Morning Edition. A 2004 Visual Arts graduate of South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, Maria now serves on the school’s Board of Directors as its first alumni member. Maria’s first book Cultivating Creativity: Daily Rituals for Visual Inspiration,published by FW Media, will be available in 2015.

Stephen Ridley

Dr. Ridley received his Doctor of Medicine from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine in 2001. He subsequently completed his specialty training in Emergency Medicine at Palmetto Health Richland, graduating in 2004 with additional certification in Emergency Ultrasound and Hyperbaric Medicine. While there, he received the Sydney Burns Award for Compassion. He is board certified in Emergency Medicine and practices at both Palmetto Health Baptist, where he has served as Chief of Emergency Medicine, and Palmetto Health Richland where he teaches in the Emergency Medicine Residency Program. His academic interests include emergency ultrasound and the integration of developing technologies with medicine. Dr. Ridley is Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Soma Management, Inc.,which manages Soma Access Systems LLC.

Tom Mancke

Thomas Mancke is a 26 year Hammond School faculty member. He is a former science teacher and currently the Naturalist in residence. Mr. Mancke is the creator of the Middle School’s Early Technology Week, which is a famed Hammond experience and is similar to a shop class for natural technology. Mr. Mancke stays connected with the upper school through a club run by Mr. Jody Lumpkin and his annual attendance of the senior trip.

Will Furlong

Rev. Will Furlong is a Sr. Engineer and Director of Africa Programs at Water Missions International (WMI). In this capacity, Will is responsible for the oversight of country directors in WMI’s Africa offices: Malawi, Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya and manages projects in countries without a WMI office, such as Burundi, Rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Togo, Ghana and others. Will is an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church and served as a Senior Pastor in the Florida Conference from 1998 to 2010 when he joined WMI where he is currently on appointment in extension ministry by the Bishop of the Florida Annual Conference. Will has a Master of Divinity degree from Duke University and Master of Engineering and Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degrees from the University of Florida. Prior to seminary, Will was Vice-President and Engineering Division Manager for Jones, Edmunds & Associates, Inc., a large, interdisciplinary engineering consulting .rm in Gainesville, Florida.