Theme: The Future is Us

TEDxKids@SMU is a one-of-a-kind experience and the first ever TED style conference for kids. Middle school students in 6th, 7th and 8th grade from across North Texas will come to SMU’s campus to engage with big ideas and great conversations. This day is dedicated to kids; adults are asked to sit in the balcony while high school volunteer hosts sit with the students on the main floor. During the breaks the energy and raw curiosity of 800 young minds all in one room is contagious: ideas are presented on stage then debated with the speaker, partners demonstrate the latest technology and teach creative expression, and all the while future leaders are being formed. The experience is free of charge and in return each student gives 4 hours of service back to their community. Now that’s an idea worth spreading!

If your school has never attended a TEDxKids@SMU conference or has not not attended in the past 2 years please email your school name, contact name and contact email to tedxkids@smu.edu

McFarlin Auditorium
6405 Boaz Lane
Dallas, Texas, 75205
United States

Cecil McDaniel

Cecil McDaniel currently serves as Keller Independent School District’s Chief of Schools, having joined Keller ISD in July 2013, as Chief Administrative Officer. Before arriving in Keller, he served as Deputy Superintendent for Tyler Independent School District for six years. He also held several positions in Richardson Independent School District for 11 years. As an administrator over the years, Mr. McDaniel has always asked a single question: “What’s best for the kids?” He discovered that he enjoyed helping people and organizations realize their potential and that his own success was most gratifying when it contributed to the success of those around him.

Greg Harper

Greg Harper is CEO of Harpervision Associates, a firm dedicated to the development and implementation of cutting edge technology for businesses purposes and co founder of Gadgetoff. He is a long time strategic technology advisor to private equity firms and leading Wall Street investment banks as well as major public corporations. As the designer of systems ranging from telepresence and distance learning to digital media production, Greg has been awarded sixteen U.S. patents and has 8 pending. Greg is a frequent speaker at major conferences worldwide on next generation media and technology trends. His many TV appearances and conference presentations can be seen at www.harpervision.com.

James Thompson

James Thompson is a ninth grader at Imagine International Academy of North Texas. In addition to watching the same ten TED talks on repeat; he enjoys reading, writing poetry, acting, and scrutinizing and evaluating the affairs of the American Government. He attended his first TEDx talk last year, and is excited to have the opportunity to inspire youth all across North Texas and the world.

Jennifer Hughes

Jennifer L. Hughes, Ph.D., M.P.H., is an Assistant Professor and Licensed Psychologist at the UT Southwestern Center for Depression Research and Clinical Care (CDRC). She is the head of the CDRC Risk and Resilience Network, which aims to build partnerships with local schools and youth community organizations to implement mental health promotion and suicide prevention programs, as well as to work together to better understand resilience and risk in youth. Dr. Hughes is focused on understanding the value of struggle, including positive struggle, in building resilience. In her free time, she creates positive struggle for herself through her Women's Adventure Club! For more information, please visit: http://profiles.utsouthwestern.edu/profile/59801/jennifer-hughes.html

Leslie O'Hare

Leslie O’Hare is the President of Leslie O’Hare Media in Dallas, Texas. In addition to Leslie being one of the leading authorities in her field as a TEDx empowerment speaker; she is also a prolific faith/business transformational and motivational keynote speaker as well as the author of her upcoming book titled Be Bold, Be Patient, Be Alert, Be Ready. Over the past 20 years Leslie has been widely recognized for her accomplishments as an Off-Broadway actress, entrepreneur, radio personality, ABC affiliate television talk show host, television director/producer/writer, theatrical director, philanthropist and publisher of L The Leslie Magazine. Leslie brings real life-changing messages to her audiences. She speaks from the heart with realness and humor. She has become an inspiration to so many by sharing her story and captivating audiences. She’s made a positive imprint on the lives of many people across the country. Learn More About Leslie O'Hare at: www.LeslieOhareMedia.com

Matt Dietz

Matt Dietz currently serving the U.S. Air Force PhD Fellow at the University of North Texas where he studies US Policy, Strategy, and History. He is an instructor pilot with more than 2,500 flight hours. He has traveled around the world and even had to opportunity to live abroad with his family. Through all of this, he has developed a passion for teaching history as an ongoing event, not just a stuffy list of dates and things that happened a long time ago.

Matthew Sipes

As an educator for 15 years, Matthew Sipes has served as a teacher, coach, campus administrator, and district administrator. Currently, Matthew is the Director of Expanded Learning Pathways for Plano ISD where he works with campuses to provide students with access to non-traditional learning experiences. He is an advocate for student equity and believes teaching is one of the noblest professions. As an Ed.D. student at SMU, Matthew is studying the factors that drive teacher-student relationships and whether students perceive the teaching profession as noble.

Melanie Calzada

Melanie Calzada studied Civil & Environmental Engineering at Rice University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in May 2012. She worked in the engineering and consulting fields for five years before making the decision to pursue an MBA in Strategy & Entrepreneurship and Management at SMU, graduating in August 2018. She is passionate about mentoring and non-profit commitments, and currently is a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters as well as a Junior Board Member of Communities in Schools of the Dallas Region, Inc. (CISDR).

Nathan Hudson

Nathan W. Hudson is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. He was born in Frederick, MD and received his PhD in Social/Personality Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2016. His research focuses primarily on understanding people's desires and attempts to change their own personality traits. He also studies people's motives and goals in their romantic relationships. Professionally, Nathan's ultimate goal is to understand who people want to be and what they want from their closest relationships--and to discover ways to help them move toward making those desires a reality. Outside of the lab, Nathan is an avid outdoors-man, is active in local sports leagues, and believes in living life to the fullest.

Neha Husein

Neha Husein is a human rights entrepreneur specializing in social media strategy and app design and a senior at SMU majoring in human rights and marketing and minoring in advertising and sociology with a nonprofit focus. She is the Founder and CEO of Just Drive, an incentive based app that rewards non-distracted driving. In 2017, Neha researched institutional diversity at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa as an SMU Engaged Learning Fellow. Neha contributes to campus life as a Resident Assistant, the Marketing and Social Media Coordinator of the Embrey Human Rights Program, and a food blogger for the SMU's HerCampus chapter. She enjoys blogging about veganism and sharing fun dessert recipes!

Neha Jayarajan

Neha is a junior at Plano East and a candidate of the IB program. Outside of school, Neha participates in numerous extracurriculars and activities: she competes on her school’s speech and debate team, loves to play volleyball, and is a Girl Scout- in fact, her Gold Award project for Girl Scouts is what inspired this talk! Outside of her professional life, Neha is an animal-lover, amateur baker, and a music enthusiast.