Theme: Globalization and Multiculturalism

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).

TEDxNazarethCollege
4245 East Avenue
Rochester, New York, 14618
United States

Bruce Pilato

President, Pilato Entertainment, Marketing, & Media, artist manager, journalist, educator

Pilato is an adjunct professor at Nazareth University’s School of Music and has written for USA Today, Variety, and Rolling Stone. He has interviewed three of the Beatles and countless other music stars (details: https://pilato.com/about-us). Pilato is a graduate of Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications. His area of specialty is public communications — TV/radio production, recording and speech communication.

Hilda Chacón

Chairperson, Nazareth World Languages and Cultures

Dr. Chacón is a professor of Spanish and Latin American cultures and literature. She has a background as a journalist and has served as a TV producer in her native country (Costa Rica). She completed her Ph.D. in Latin American literatures and cultures at The Ohio State University.

Jed Metzger

Nazareth Professor & the Rosemarie Beston Chair in Social Work

In addition to teaching, Dr. Metzer is the Rosemarie Beston Chair for International and Global Studies in Social Work. Jed has led or co-led six study abroad trips to India, traveled there three other times to support the work, and hosted six delegations from India. He also co-led two study abroad trips to Kingston, Jamaica, and one to Velky Novgorod, Russia. He received his Ph.D. and Master of Social Work degrees from New York University.

Lauren Schmidt

Owner, A Tree That Grows

Ms. Schmidt is the CEO of A Tree That Grows, http://www.travelatreethatgrows.com, a social enterprise working to disrupt the volunteer travel industry by empowering teens to turn their passions into global impact projects. She works to partner with organizations in Tanzania to develop learning resources for underserved communities, merging both online and in person experiences. She has a Masters Degree in Social Work from Columbia University and has worked with students on projects ranging from musical therapy to sustainable fundraising.

Lisa Hiley

Nazareth Associate Professor

Dr. Hiley teaches in the communication sciences & disorders program and is coordinator of the developing child and families minor at Nazareth University. She has a Ph.D. from University of Rochester, an master’s in communication sciences and disorders from Penn State University, and a bachelor’s in communication sciences and disorders from Nazareth.

Mark Weber

Clinical Associate Professor, Nazareth School of Business and Leadership

An expert in marketing and international business, Weber co-developed and is the director of the business, artificial intelligence, and innovation (B.S.) major and serves as the director of the business leadership (B.S.) major. He has earned multiple college honors for student mentoring. While an international leader for two corporations, he led teams or negotiated contracts in over 20 countries on 125 international trips. Weber received his bachelor's degree in marketing and advertising from Ohio University and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Dayton.

Patty Beach

CEO, LeadershipSmarts

Beach’s LeadershipSmarts company makes the hard work of inclusive leadership simple to understand and easy to do. She received a master’s in organizational development from Pepperdine Graziadio Business School, a master’s in geology from The University of Tulsa and a bachelor’s in geology from The University of Oklahoma. She created the seen, heard, understood, valued, and appreciated (SHUVA) acronym to break down and codify how to build high-quality working relationships. In 2021, she published her book, The Art of Alignment: A Practical Guide to Inclusive Leadership.