Theme: Made You Look! Beyond Perception

"Made You Look - Beyond Perception" will expose a very simple concept; our perception is our reality. Through interactive installations of illusion and perception art, TEDxclevelandstateuniversity will showcase experiences where initial perception does not align with reality and push participants to open their minds to new possibilities. It will inspire participants to break through perceived barriers and explore new and innovative ways to impact the community and expand their minds.

Waetjen Auditorium
2001 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio, 44115
United States

Adrienne Boissy

As the Cleveland Clinic’s Chief Experience Officer and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Patient Experience, Dr. Adrienne Boissy knows as well as anyone that there’s more to good health than medicine.

Bill Bowen

Dr. Bill Bowen is Professor of Public Administration and Urban Studies at the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University. Dr. Bowen has acted in a long diversity of roles representing faculty and shaping the environment for teachers at his university.

Chris Ramsay

With over a decade of study under his belt, Chris Ramsay, professional K9 specialist, can interpret the language of dogs – both vocal and physical.

Chris Webb

Chris Webb is a social innovator and artist from Cleveland, Ohio. As a recognized spoken word artist, filmmaker and playwright, Chris travels the world speaking about violence, poverty and oppression and offers unique insights on how to facilitate change.

Jacob Cramer

Inspired by the loss of his grandfather in 2010, Jacob has worked passionately to fight ageism. His efforts have been chronicled in the Huffington Post, Delavida Journal and has earned him 2nd place at Future Problem Solving International.

Jason Perz

Jason Perz runs thrillerbmx.com and travels the country speaking about his experiences battling addiction, bullying, and overcoming the odds. He inspires others to have faith in their journeys.

Julie Wilkes

Julie Wilkes is a published author, entrepreneur and owner of Seven Studio. Julie has a Master's Degree in Exercise Physiology from The Ohio State University, and a Bachelor's Degree in International Business from Marietta College. She is a Master Fitness Trainer/Instructor through ACE and Fitour and presents workshops, lectures and certifications on a regular basis.

Mary Verdi-Fletcher

As a pioneer and Founder of the Dancing Wheels Company & School, Mary Verdi-Fletcher created America’s first physically integrated dance company. With over forty years of experience in arts administration and advocacy, Mary has lead thousands of Americans with disabilities to landmark change in legislation for personal care assistance and accessible mainline public transportation.

Michael Schwartz

Michael Schwartz served as president of Cleveland State University (2001-2009) and prior to that, Kent State University (1982-1991). Among his many accomplishments, Dr. Schwartz has left an indelible imprint shaping an urban university and changing its identity.

Peter Dunham

Dr. Peter Dunham is an Associate Professor of Archaeology at Cleveland State University. His professional career has been decorated by numerous grants, awards and discoveries in archaeology. He won Thomas J. Watson Fellowship (IBM) to fund a year of undergrad archaeological field research in Latin America. Dunham won 9 straight major grants from the National Geographic Society for archaeological investigation of ancient Maya resource exploitation and exchange in Belize. Raised some $5 million in grants, gifts, and in-kind support for field projects in Belize Launched study of the use of archaeological and indigenous imagery in nation building on banknotes, especially in Mexico

Rich Cochran

Rich is a nationally-recognized conservationist who had been Chagrin River Land Conservancy's Executive Director for 10 years when CRLC and seven other Northern Ohio land trusts merged to form Western Reserve Land Conservancy in 2006. At that time, he became President and Chief Executive Officer of the largest land conservancy in Ohio.

Timothy Tramble

As the Executive Director of Burton, Bell, Carr Development Inc., Timothy Tramble has worked tirelessly to transform the poorest neighborhood of Cleveland without displacing existing residents, but rather by attracting non-traditional residents. A proud graduate of the CSU Levin College of Urban Affairs and a graduate of CSU Public Administration Masters program, Timothy Tramble embodies the future of Cleveland’s resurrection.

Ton Van Den Bogert

Dr. Van den Bogert currently holds the Parker-Hannifin Endowed Chair in Human Motion and Control in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Cleveland State University. After training as a physicist and mathematician, Ton van den Bogert became a graduate student in the department of veterinary anatomy where his equestrian fascination began.