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).

Loyola Marymount University
1 LMU Drive
Los Angeles, California, 90045
United States

Andrew Rohm

Andrew Rohm is from Detroit, Michigan. He attended the University of Michigan for his undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst for a PhD in marketing. He is a professor at Loyola Marymount University and has three role models whom he calls "the Three Toms." Tom 1 (Tom Raynor) helped him get his foot (pun intended) in the door of the athletic footwear industry; Tom 2 (Tom Carmody) helped him learn the ins and outs of the marketing industry; and Tom 3 (Tom Boyd) was his inspiration for getting my PhD and becoming a teacher. His favorite author is Japanese writer Haruki Murakami. The novels blend the everyday (like a 2 AM visit to a Denny's in Tokyo) with the weird, fantastical and supernatural.

Carol Costello

Carol Costello is from Canton, Ohio and attended Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. She is an anchor and digital correspondent for CNN/HLN. She considers herself rather shy, but wants to help others achieve what they think they cannot. Her favorite author is J. K. Rowling. She would advise college students that they should not let others define them.

Chelsie Hill

Chelsie Hill is originally from Monterey, CA but currently lives in Los Angeles. She is a professional dancer, motivational speaker and founder and owner of the Rollettes Los Angeles, the world's largest wheelchair dance team and network of over 150 female wheelchair users across 10 countries. She works with some of the world's largest mobility equipment distribution companies advocating for wheelchair users to have access to the equipment they need.

Curtiss Takada Rooks

Curtiss Takada Rooks was born in Japan, but moved around quite a lot during his childhood. He's lived in many states, including Kansas, Texas, Pennsylvania and North Carolina. He went to Dartmouth College to earn his BA's in Asian studies and economics, earned an MA in public policy studies at Trinity College, and an MA in comparative culture at the University of California Irvine. He is an educator and has had several coaching and dean positions. His mom is the biggest role model. As a military wife, she was essentially a "single mother", raising her two sons in her non-native culture. She taught him many values, including courage, persistence and generosity. His students have always served as an inspiration to him, and have created the desire to talk about the topic of being mixed-race.

Fernando Orduna

Fernando Orduna was born in Los Angeles, California. He received his BA in Interdisciplinary Studies and a Mild to Moderate teaching credential from National University. He is a Special Education educator at the Los Angeles Unified School District. He has worked in Special Education for 25 years. His advice to people with a fear of public speaking is that sometimes we have to face our fears in order to achieve something better. In his free time, he runs marathons.

Gina Choi

Gina Choi was born in Memphis, Tennessee, but considers Los Angeles her home. She attended Pepperdine University. She is currently a Advertising Account Management at Microsoft. Her favorite author is F. Scott Fitzgerald. He is the author that fanned the flame for her love of reading after she finished school. She still reread his books when I need a grand escape into imagination.

Lee Coleman

Lee Coleman is originally from New York. He spent 20 years in Honolulu, Hawaii, then Chicago, San Diego and the last 18 years in Los Angeles He attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He is the VP of Global Business Development at Viacom/MTV Networks, an entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist, and board member. He gets inspired by giving back and people that share thoughts experiences and knowledge freely.

Patrick Furlong

Patrick Furlong was born in Colorado, raised in New Mexico, and now lives in Los Angeles. He got his undergraduate at LMU and did his graduate studies at the USC Price School of Public Policy. He works in higher education has a particular niche speciality in leading complex international immersions. He is also a dad, a job he is most proud of. He is easily inspired by people with accomplishments big and small.

Van Partible

Van Partible was born in Manila, Philippines and attended Loyola Marymount University. He works in the animation industry, sometimes as a producer and sometimes as a director. One of his role models is animation character designer Dan Haskett because he is generous with his time and talent and inspires and mentors other artists. He loves sharing what I have learned from life because I have been inspired by others who have done the same for me. His favorite author is John Steinbeck because of his work and because of the fact that they were both raised in the lettuce capital of the world: Salinas, California.