Theme: INSPIRING IDEAS AND MEANING

TEDxAzusaPacificUniversity is an independently organized TED event that brings together the smartest thinkers, best ideas, and greatest teachers based on the theme Inspiring Ideas and Meaning. A half-dayTEDxAzusaPacificUniversity affords APU students, faculty and staff the opportunity to deepen community engagement with values, character, ethics and new ideas. We hope to give our great community leaders the chance to inspire and those who attend to be inspired.

901 E Alosta Avenue
Azusa, California, 91702
United States

Bryan Clay

Bryan Clay is a 4 Time US National Champion, 3 Time World Champion, the 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist and 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist in the Decathlon, earning him the historic title of “World’s Greatest Athlete.” From a small town on the Island of Oahu to the World Stage, he reached the top of the Olympic Podium against all odds. Diverted off the troubled path of his childhood, Bryan went on to reach the pinnacle of Track and Field over the course of a storied 12-year career of unmatched technical discipline, true grit, and hopeful determination. Today, he shares his story of redemption and success all over the world as a motivator, advisor, husband, father and ambassador of active, healthy living. Also a Philanthropist, Bryan continues his mission of Building Champions and Changing Lives at the grassroots level. The Bryan Clay Foundation promotes the far-reaching benefits of an active, healthy lifestyle to kids and families throughout our communities and around the world.

Edgar D. Barron

A native of California, Edgar has held a number of dynamic and diverse positions including those of Vice President of Communications and Creative Services at Promise Keepers, Founding and Senior Pastor of Journey Christian Fellowship, Management Consultant to numerous organizations including Focus on the Family, Azusa Pacific University, Open Door Ministries, Promise Keepers and several local churches. Prior to his service in the non-profit sector Edgar spent 16 years in the aerospace defense industry with Hughes Aircraft Co. in the Los Angeles area. His primary areas of focus were Industrial and Systems engineering. Edgar joined the staff at Azusa Pacific University in May of 2010 as the Executive Director of Multi Ethnic Programs where he provides leadership in the areas of racial reconciliation and minority student development.

G. James Daichendt

James Daichendt, Ed.D. is Associate Dean and Professor of Art History at Azusa Pacific University in southern California. He is the author of: Shepard Fairey Inc., Artist/Professional/Vandal; Stay Up! Los Angeles Street Art; Artist-Teacher: A Philosophy for Creating and Teaching; and Artist Scholar: Reflections on Writing and Research. He is currently writing the official biography of artist Kenny Scharf. In addition Dr. Daichendt is the founder and chief editor of the academic journal: Visual Inquiry: Learning and Teaching Art and is an art critic for KCET, the nation’s largest independent public television station. Jim holds a doctorate from Columbia University and graduate degrees from Harvard and Boston universities.

John Thornton

John Thornton is the L.P. and Bobbi Leung Chair of Accounting Ethics at Azusa Pacific University’s L.P. and Timothy Leung School of Accounting, where he teaches accounting ethics and forensic accounting. His research on accounting ethics has been published in several academic journals, and he has served as Chair of the American Accounting Association’s Public Interest Section, Chair of the AAA’s Professionalism and Ethics Committee, and held senior leadership positions at Washington State University and the U.S. Air Force Academy. Dr. Thornton is a CPA with a Ph.D. in Accounting from Washington State University. He is married to Alyssa, with sons Joshua, Benjamin, and Jacob, and believes that ultimately only two things in life matter.

Leslie Wickman

Dr. Leslie Wickman is
 chair of Engineering & Computer Science, as well as director
 of the Center for Research in Science, at Azusa Pacific University. Stanford- and Willamette-educated Wickman also works with government-sponsored think tanks on technical
and political aspects of national aerospace and defense issues. Some of her recent projects include national security impacts from climate change, assessment of future human spaceflight missions, fighter pilot proficiency studies, and sustainable water reclamation techniques. For more than a decade Wickman worked as an engineer for Lockheed Martin, where she received commendations for her contributions to NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope and International Space Station programs and was designated as Lockheed’s Corporate Astronaut. Another noteworthy achievement is her role in R&D, simulation, and programming of the Bellagio Fountains in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Michael Bruner

Michael Bruner is an Assistant Professor of Practical Theology at Azusa Pacific University. He was born and raised in the Philippines, attended the University of Washington and Princeton Seminary, and received his Ph.D. in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. He is a resident scholar at the Huntington Library in San Marino and has worked in the church as an ordained minister, in business as a dot.com and advertising executive, and in publishing as an editor. His main vocations, however, are writing and teaching, in both academia and the arts. He lives in Pasadena with his wife Jenna and their two children, Arabelle (8) and William (3). He is an avid exercise enthusiast and loves the outdoors and traveling.

Ryan T. Hartwig

Ryan T. Hartwig, PhD, is associate dean of the college of liberal arts and sciences and associate professor of communication at Azusa Pacific University in Greater Los Angeles. His first book, Teams That Thrive: Five Disciplines of Collaborative Church Leadership (with Warren Bird) was recently published by Intervarsity Press. Ryan earned a PhD in communication from the University of Colorado Boulder. His scholarship has been published in the Journal of Applied Communication Research and Group Facilitation, and recognized with several awards from the National Communication Association. Ryan has taught classes in group, organizational and leadership communication for more than ten years, and he has led, trained and developed teams for more fifteen years in universities and churches.