Theme: Roots

Centuries of students and scholars have grown a vast and intertwined network of research and scholarship. The passions and actions that inspire this network are sometimes unseen, unheard, and untamed. But the results are powerful and every-reaching. At the University of Georgia, we plant seeds of research and scholarship every day. And now at TEDxUGA 2023, we will explore how these seeds have taken root and flourished into ideas with the power to change the world.

Morton Theatre
195 West Washington Street
Athens, Georgia, 30601
United States

Calvin Raush

Student

Calvin Rausch is studying International Affairs, Political Science, Public Administration and Policy, and Nonprofit Management at the University of Georgia. With a strong commitment to serve, Rausch governs two university-wide student-focused initiatives aimed at addressing food insecurity and professional readiness.

Elle Dougherty

Student

With a lifelong passion for the ocean and its creatures, Elle Dougherty is completing a Bachelor's degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Science as a pre-veterinary student at the University of Georgia. In addition to her studies, Dougherty interns with the Vermilion Sea Institute assisting with whale shark and microplastic research.

Jake Goodman

Physician

Jake Goodman is a Miami-based psychiatry resident physician. With more than 2.1 million followers, Dr. Goodman is a mental health activist and social media content creator focused on fighting stigma and discrimination while empowering those experiencing mental health challenges to seek help.

Jarryd Wallace

Athlete + Speaker

Jarryd Wallace is a world record-holding sprinter and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic bronze medalist in the 200m dash. Off the track, he shares insights from his personal life and athletic journey to inspire audiences across the globe. Amidst his athletic success, Wallace graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor's degree in Communication Studies.

Jeremiah de Sesto

Student

Jeremiah de Sesto is currently completing a Bachelor's degree at the University of Georgia studying Management Information Systems, International Affairs, and International Business. De Sesto will continue his education at Harvard University where he will pursue a Master’s in Public Policy and a Juris Doctor.

K. Chad Clay

Professor + Researcher

At the University of Georgia, Dr. K Chad Clay is the Director of the Center for the Study of Global Issues and an Associate Professor in the School of Public and International Affairs. His teaching and research focusses on human rights, political violence, and political economies. Additionally, Dr. Clay is the co-founder of the Human Rights Measurement Initiative (HRMI), which develops measurable statistics for education and outreach efforts focused on understanding and defending human rights. HRMI is the first global initiative to track and report on the human rights performance of countries across the world.

Maria Taylor

Sports Host

Maria Taylor is the first female full-time host of NBC Sports’ Football Night in America. A familiar face in households all over the world, Taylor has hosted many of the most-watched sports programming and events including NBA, NFL, College Basketball, College Football, Olympics, Paralympics, and the French Open. In addition to her hosting roles, Taylor is the executive producer of an eight-part documentary series on the history of the Black quarterback in the NFL, which will be the first of many impactful documentaries to be produced by her company. Taylor graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism and a Master of Business Administration.

Mattia Pistone

Geologist + Professor

At the University of Georgia, Dr. Mattia Pistone is the Director of the Magma Mia Petrology and Volcanology Laboratory and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geology. Dr. Pistone is a Primary Investigator of DIVE (Drilling the Ivrea-Verbano zonE), an international research initiative aimed at probing the Moho (the boundary between Earth’s outer crust and the mantle) for the first time ever.

Naola Ferguson-Noel

Vet Med Professor + Researcher

Dr. Naola Ferguson-Noel is a Professor in Population Health at the Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center (PDRC) in the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia. Dr. Ferguson-Noel is an expert reference for avian mycoplasma control and diagnostics in the global poultry industry and a recipient of multiple patents for protecting poultry domestically and abroad.