Theme: Reality Check

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).

Diamond Theater in the Zoellner Arts Center
420 E. Packer Ave.
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, 18015
United States

David Peterson

Student at Lehigh University

David Peterson, a current Junior at Lehigh University from the San Francisco Bay Area, is studying Industrial Design with a minor in both Business and Entrepreneurship. He is a Division one lacrosse player, volunteers as an EMT with Lehigh's LUEMS, firefighter in training, part of student Senate, and runs Lehigh’s territory of college truckers, a student run summer storage and shipping company.

Jessica Foy

Student at Lehigh University

Jessica is a senior double majoring in psychology and health medicine society. On campus she served as the president of Alpha Gamma Delta, worked as an Orientation Leader, and currently serves as a resident assistant. She is also known for her creation of podcast Sorry We’re Open which she will highlight in her speech today.

Krishna Gubili

Analytics and Data Science Leader

Krishna is an analytics and data science leader. He spent a large part of his life searching for his ancestor, who was one of 1.3 Million Indians sent as indentured laborers to sugar plantations in replace of slaves. His debut book, VIRIAH is about the search and the connections to sugar slavery, British colonialism as well as the sad reality of modern day slavery in Middle east. VIRIAH has received excellent reviews including one from Mahatma Gandhi's great granddaughter and historians and academicians globally. It is available on amazon, kindle and IBooks. He lives in Easton, PA.

Oana-Alexandra Chirilă

Romanian Historian of Islam and Researcher

Oana is a Romanian historian of Islam and a Fulbright Visiting Researcher at Lehigh University. She has a Bachelor’s in History, a Master’s in Islamic Studies and one in Religious Studies, and is currently a PhD Student in Literary and Cultural Studies at the University of Bucharest. Largely, her academic work focuses on the status of intoxicants in various forms of Islam.

Sayed Kalimullah Abed

Assistant Professor of Special Education

Kalim is an Assistant Professor of Special Education at Kabul Education University. He was a Fulbright scholar at Lehigh University and holds a Master’s in Special Education from this University. Currently, Kalim is a PhD Student in the same field at Lehigh.