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).

Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana, 47303
United States

Christina and Gregory Martin

Gregory Martin is currently an Adjunct Professor of Piano at the University of Indianapolis. In addition to studying at Indiana University and Worcester College, Oxford, he has lectured across Europe. His talents and devotion as a pianist have earned him performing opportunities at Carnegie Hall and internationally with other renowned musicians, not to mention being a prize-winner in international competitions. Christina Martin is a professional clarinetist affiliated with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Her success as a musician was very apparent starting at a young age as she participated in the ISO's competitve and entry-by-audition Side-by-Side program as a high school student. She went on to IU's Jacobs School of Music to further her music education and has certainly grown and matured over the years in her playing to reach her current status as a sought-after musician.

Radio Cologne

Radio Cologne is a band originating from Indiana. They are popular among the live music scene of Muncie, Indiana.

String Party

String Party started as a group of friends playing music together at a local school's music department. Currently, the band is composed of Western Cox, Evan Helton, Will Cox, Andrew Schuler, and Dane Manning, and is managed by Matt Carson. They released their first album in August 2014 followed by a second one this past October.

Albert Jennings

Albert Jennings is a student at Ball State University. He led the Cardinal Chemistry project, which gained national recognition. Bloomberg Business Week featured an article on this initiative.

Andrew Jones

Cooking has always been a part of Andrew Jones' identity. His earliest influence was his mother, who taught him basic culinary skills and let him help prepare meals for his family. Since his days of helping in the kitchen, Chef Jones has gone through professional training at a high-scale restaurant and moved on to cooking for fine dining, banquets, and private parties.

Aric Snee

Aric Snee has a Masters of Fine Arts degree from Alfred University in New York. He is a professional glassblower by trade and holds the rank of Master Glassworker (granted by Steuben Glass). Mr. Snee is now a Glass Facilities Manager, an Instructor of Glass at BSU, and a designer for the Danish glass company Holmegaard.

Ashley Olson

Ashley Olson is a rising entrepreneur who has experience working for Starbucks Coffee. Since attending IUPUI, Ms. Olson has amassed the skills and knowledge necessary to successfully operate a business that is highly demanded by today's consumers.

Christopher Moore

Christopher Moore is currently a graduate student in BSU's Student Affairs Administration and Higher Education Program, as well as being a BSU alumnus with a BA from the College of Communication, Information, and Media where he focused in Film and Media Studies.

Chrysostomos Giannoulakis

Chrysostomos Giannoulakis is an Assistant Professor of Sport Administration of Ball State's School of Physical Education, Sport, & Exercise Science

Curtis Clock

Curtis Clock graduated from Ball State University with a Bachelor's in History in 2008. He is currently completing his Master's in Adult and Community Education and will graduate this spring. He also serves as an academic advisor at Ball State University in the freshman advising center.

David LeBlanc

David LeBlanc is a professor with the BSU Department of Biology. He holds multiple degreese from SUNY, including a PhD in Forest Biology. His research interests include "the relationships between natural and man-made environmental stresses and tree growth, mortality, and forest structure and composition" (BSU).

Farah Alam

Farah Alam is a former student of Ball State University. Ms. Alam's achievements include proposing India's first geopark as "a means to protect, educate and nurture the rocks and environment, and provide citizens with opportunities to interact more closely with their landscape".

Katie Thompson

Katie Thompson is finishing her Bachelor's degree in Family Studies at BSU and has plans to enter Ball State's Counseling Psychology program in the fall.

Kendra Thomas

Kendra Thomas is currently a PhD candidate at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. She has traveled to Africa and continues to positively impact African lives with advocacy and projects.

Kevin Nolan

Kevin C. Nolan is a Senior Archaeologist with the BSU Department of Anthropology. Primarily, he is known as an Ohio Valley archaeologist, meaning that he mostly focuses on the Middle Ohio Valley as it was during the Late Prehistoric period.

Larry Bennett, Jr.

Larry Bennett, Jr. operates a full service lawn care and landscape company to cater to both residential and commercial needs. His company is known for actively being involved with community outreach, as "where others see limitations, they see possibility".

Matt King

Matt King is a sophomore at Ball State University. As a student, he is on the Homecoming Steering Committee and is a Student Government Senator. He is the creator and CEO of iAmCareerTech.com, a social network for career technical education where over 70 schools use this system in their classroom.

Matt Mellen

Matt Mellen is a current BSU student who will be graduating in just a few weeks with a degree in Business and Leadership Communications (a degree of his own making). He wants to make a positive change in the world through venues such as his band, The Indigos, and his MGT 241 research in reforming the education system.

Michael Hicks

Michael Hicks is the George and Frances Ball Distinguished Professor of Economics and Business Research and Director at BSU. He earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Virginia Military Institute and master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Tennessee. His work has been featured on many national platforms, such as The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post.

Pat Goodman

Pat Goodman is a Senior Wolf Handler at the Wolf Park. She has been with the group since 1974 and serves as the Park's primary behavioral researcher.

Sarah Hollowell

Sarah Hollowell is a senior in Creative Writing at BSU. She is an influential speaker and writer on fat positivity, fat stigma, and fat oppression, and her work has been featured at the Taylor University Making Literature Conference and shared across many social media venues.

Trevor Cracknell

Trevor Cracknell is the Board President of Indiana Youth Rugby Foundation. He is a native of Wales across the Pond and has devoted the majority of his life to the passion and sport of rugby, from the stance of an athlete to a coach and mentor.

Yaron Ayalon

Yaron Ayalon is an Assistant Professor of History at BSU. He previously taught at the University of Oklahoma and Emory University. His educational background includes a degree from Tel Aviv University and doctorate studies at Princeton University's Department of Near Eastern Studies. At Princeton, Dr. Ayalon focused on Jewish, Ottoman, Islamic, and European history.

Zachary Netzley

Zachary Netzley currently teaches Spanish at Edgewood Middle School in Indiana. He has experience in teaching ESL (English as a Second Language) courses and serves as a youth pastor at a bilingual church (TEDx does not include religious topics).