Theme: Uncharted Territory

Life is a series of next steps. Often, we find ourselves standing at the crossroads of familiarity and the unknown. To venture into uncharted territory is to encounter new challenges, opportunities, and potential risks.

This is what TEDxGrandCanyonUniversity is all about- new ideas that bring up potentials. Uncharted Territory refers to stepping outside of one's comfort zone and venturing into unfamiliar areas of growth, self-discovery, and personal transformation. It represents a willingness to explore new aspects of yourself, take risks, and embrace the unknown in order to expand your capabilities and potential.

Let's step into Uncharted Territory together.

GCU Arena Grand Canyon University
3300 West Camelback Rd.
Phoenix, Arizona, 85017
United States

Grace Valentine

Grace Valentine is a best selling author of four books and a sought after speaker who speaks nationwide. She is from South Louisiana, attended Baylor University, and now resides in Atlanta where she enjoys going on runs, writing, and eating lots of sushi. She is passionate about helping others walk in confidence and contentment, and is excited to share this passion with others.

Harrison Boe

Harrison Boe is a singer/songwriter originally from Nebraska, currently pursuing music in Nashville. He is also passionate about chess, and sharing what he has learned through these different hobbies.

Jennifer Edwards

Jennifer Edwards, a successful author, engaging speaker, and seasoned coach, is passionate about skilling-up leaders, teams and organizations around the world to have critical conversations, to collaborate most effectively, and develop meaningful influence. Recognized as a Fortune 100 collaboration and communication expert, she co-authored the acclaimed BRIDGE THE GAP: Breakthrough Communication Tools (McGraw-Hill), a work celebrated by Inc Magazine as one of the top business books to read for 2022.

Katie Mccleary

Katie Mccleary is a storyteller, professor of leadership, and a socially driven entrepreneur who helps leaders, changemakers, and creatives launch big ideas that change lives. She co-authored Bridge the Gap: Breakthrough Communication Tools to Transform Work Relationships From Challenging to Collaborative (McGraw Hill). In 2022, Inc. Magazine named it 1 of 3 business books to read. Her bridging differences framework fuels better conversations, communication, and collaborations in corporations, schools, government, and social-sector organizations, and has been adopted by many top leaders, teams, and boards across the globe. Her work has been featured in Forbes, PBS, New York Post, Apple News, Shondaland, Computerworld, Vox, and more. She is the host of “The Drive” podcast on NPR’s CapRadio with the American Leadership Forum-MV and teaches leadership in a Master’s program at Pacific University. She lives in Fair Oaks, California on a hobby farm with her children, partner, and a menagerie of feathered and furry creatures.

Kenneth Mims

Kenneth Mims is an Arizona local and a powerhouse in Neurodiversity education. He attended Hampton University and received a Master’s degree from Georgia State University. Founder of the Neurodiversity Education Research Center and the CEO of Science Prep Academy, Mr. Mims is excited to share solutions to a lack of Neurodiversity in STEM.

Michael Twining

Michael Twinning is a seasoned agriculture expert with over 50 years of experience. He's dedicated his life to food production and works with growers farming over 500,000 acres of agricultural production in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. He is passionate about the potential for agriculture to combat climate change.

Nate St. John

Nate St. John is a 3rd year college student at Grand Canyon University. He will be graduating this coming December with a Degree in Financial Planning. He is involved in many different clubs, ministers, and activities on and off campus. Nate has always been extremely interested in TED talks and feels that they have made a significant impact in the way he lives his life.

Tracy Mergler

Tracy Dando Mergler is a mom, educator, CEO of Safe Space Organization in New York, and the co-founder of Root to Rise CNY. Tracy has taken what has saved her mentally and relationally after beating an eating disorder of her own to start her own company, and now is bringing to light a new concept within mental disorders such as eating disorders. She is passionate about how our culture fails to connect mental health and the workplace as having a correlation, and believes that as employers and employees it is our responsibility to create a safe and vulnerable community inside of our workplace.