Theme: Big Ideas. Real-World Thinking.

TEDxMNSU unites the network of Mankato through the power of ideas. TEDxMNSU is a university event that is co-branded with Minnesota State University, Mankato. Our mission is to bring together a dynamic group of thinkers and doers in an educational setting to build new connections that will lead to collaboration, progress, and bold new ideas.

Minnesota State University, Mankato
117 Centennial Student Union Mankato, MN 56001
Mankato, Minnesota, 56001
United States

Brian Frink

Artist and Educator

Interested in art from a young age, Brian Frink’s experiences expanded in the art-forward neighborhood of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. He has received numerous grants and awards including two McKnight fellowships, six Minnesota State Arts Board grants, a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, a Wisconsin State Arts Board grant, and a Jerome Travel and Study grant. In 2010 he was named a Distinguished Faculty Scholar at MNSU and he was honored with the 2019 Douglas R Moore Research Lecture. Brian received his Master's of Fine Arts at UW-Wisconsin and taught at Minnesota State University-Mankato for 32 years. He has exhibited his work widely and maintains a studio practice.

Cindra Kamphoff

Sport & Performance Educator and Author

Dr. Cindra Kamphoff is a Professor in Sport, Performance, and Exercise Psychology in the Department of Human Performance at Minnesota State University-Mankato. She is also an award-winning keynote speaker and certified mental performance consultant. Her clients have included Verizon Wireless, Target, and Walmart. She has provided mental training for the Minnesota Vikings for multiple years, working one-on-one with the players. She is the author of an Amazon bestseller, Beyond Grit: Ten Powerful Practices to Gain the High Performance Edge, and the corresponding workbook. She is the founder of the High Performance Mindset podcast and her work has appeared in New York Times, Forbes, The Huffington Post, and USA Today.

Coralyn Musser

Director of Engagement and Community Service Outreach

Coralyn Musser works as the Director of Outreach & Engagement at MEI – Total Elevator Solutions. She is passionate about how companies can help others by ramping up their volunteer efforts. She enjoys sharing how compassion and generosity can be built into company culture and how this can be achieved. Coralyn currently sits on the Partners For Housing’s board, is an active member of her church, and volunteers with a variety of organizations. She likes being active, ocean diving with her husband, and engaging with her son.

Daniel Sachau

Positive Pyshcology Educator

Dr. Daniel Sachau is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Minnesota State University-Mankato. He teaches Psychology courses in Motivation, Marketing Psychology, Social Psychology, and Organizational Development. Professor Sachau is a Distinguished Faculty Scholar and is the Director of the Organizational Effectiveness Research Group. Professor Sachau’s research includes various social psychology topics and “me-search” such as the psychology of golf.

Erin Gonzalez

Registered Dietitian

Erin's own personal struggles with food and her body led her to become a registered dietitian. After realizing the traditional approach to nutrition was not working long-term for herself or her clients, Erin embarked on a whole new journey of understanding how our relationship with food and our body shapes our eating behaviors. Erin's passion lies in helping others free themselves from rigid food rules, relearn how to listen to our own internal hunger and fullness cues, and find a way of eating and moving that honors emotional, physical, and mental health. She helps people become the expert of their own bodies again!

Heather Von Bank

Family Science Educator

Dr. Heather Von Bank is a Professor and Department Chair of Family Consumer Science at Minnesota State University-Mankato. She teaches courses on Parenting Education, Lifespan Development, and The Role of Play in Development. In 2013, Dr. Von Bank co-authored her first book, "The Power of Playful Learning: The Green Edition”; her most recent publication is an online textbook titled "Lifespan Development: Telling the Human Story." She has presented on the topic of play and development at local, regional, national, and international conferences.

Jonathan Hicks

Recreational Educator

Dr. Jonathan Hicks is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Services at Minnesota State University-Mankato. He teaches courses related to natural resource conservation, with emphasis on the management of park and wildland spaces. His practitioner roots are in environmental education. Today, he works closely with community partners to foster positive connections with the natural world. Dr. Hick's work has not gone without recognition, receiving the Duane Orr Teacher of the Year Award in 2020-2021. He has also authored several publications on human-wildlife relationships, and regularly speaks on the topic at state, national, and international conferences.

Kristen Cvancara

Communcation Studies Educator

Dr. Kristen Cvancara is a Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Minnesota State University-Mankato. Kristen has been studying harmful communication practices for two decades to better understand how we learn them and to what degree we use them. Kristen facilitates leadership and professional development seminars and is currently writing a book. Her work with students has earned her the “Dr. Duane Orr Teacher of the Year” award from the MSSA (2013-2014), and her Fulbright work and international research collaboration earned her the “Global Citizen” award from MNSU (2012).

Poorna Malavath

Professional Climber and Recreational Activist

Poorna Malavath is the youngest girl to have scaled Mt. Everest. Poorna dedicates a significant amount of time empowering young schoolgirls through education and training on the basics of climbing. The aim of her expeditions is to inspire young people by propagating her philosophy of "if I can, you too can."

Thad Shunkwiler

Health Educator

Thad Shunkwiler is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Science at Minnesota State University, Mankato. In addition to his academic work, he is a licensed behavioral health provider and has over 10 years of experience in helping people with mental health and substance use disorders. Professor Shunkwiler’s research includes understanding how building resilience prevents addiction and suicide. He has presented at numerous conferences and his work has been featured in both television and print media.

Tori Hope Petersen

Foster Youth Activist, Speaker, and Author

Tori Petersen is an author and speaker who is passionate about improving the foster care system. In 2021, Tori was named Mrs. Universe and uses her platform to bring attention to suffering families and children waiting in foster care. She is the founder of a 501c3 nonprofit called the Beloved Initiative, which raises awareness around the issues of foster care, adoption, and human trafficking from the perspective of survivors. She is the CEO of Story Strong, a platform and resource for survivors to heal by telling their stories.