SHERMAN, TEXAS— Austin College will host the ninth annual TEDxAustinCollege Conference on Saturday, October 5, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., in the Ida Green Communication Center, Sally and Jim Nation Theatre. The event will be free and open to the public, but registration is required. Speakers will cover significant topics ranging from the complexity of medical problems and effects of parental incarceration to advice for job seekers.

This year’s theme, Illuminate, aims to bring important matters to light by offering a unique platform for thought-provoking discussions and innovative ideas. The panel of dynamic speakers will be bolstered by student-led discovery activities that will help attendees explore the ideas presented by the speakers.

The 2024 TEDxAustinCollege speakers include:

Shari Barkin, M.D.— Shari is the current Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond and the Division Chief of General Pediatrics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She graduated from Duke University in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in zoology/animal biology, and continued her studies at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

Erik Cabrera-Zamora — Erik graduated from Austin College in 2022, where he studied business administration and participated in mock trial. Today, he is a second-year law student at the University of North Texas at Dallas in pursuit of a Juris Doctorate.    

Nehal Elramly, Ph.D.— Nehal is currently an educational diagnostician at Plano ISD and an adjunct professor for Sul Ross State University.  

Nino Fincher— Nino is a Rapid Transformational Therapist in Sherman, Texas. She has been invited to speak at  many events, including a TEDx event. She has also lived in three different cultures, which gives her a unique perspective on life.

Deedee Jansen ’25— Deedee is a current student at Austin College and will graduate in 2025. She is studying engineering physics, theatre, and math. Deedee is also a member of the Alpha Psi Omega honor society.

Dallas Key ’10, J.D.— Dallas graduated from Austin College in 2010 where he studied political science and leadership studies and was a member of the Chi Tau Chi fraternity. He then attended Texas Tech, earning an MBA and a Juris Doctorate, before launching a career in corporate recruitment. He is currently the Director of Talent Acquisition at Mammoth Holdings, and has managed recruitment at Omni Hotels and Tyler Technologies.

About TED

TED is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to discovering, debating and spreading ideas that spark conversation, deepen understanding and drive meaningful change. The organization is devoted to curiosity, reason, wonder and the pursuit of knowledge — without an agenda.  TED welcomes people from every discipline and culture who seek a deeper understanding of the world and connection with others, and invite everyone to engage with ideas and activate them in their community.

TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, but today it spans a multitude of worldwide communities and initiatives exploring everything from science and business to education, arts and global issues. In addition to the TED Talks curated from our annual conferences and published on TED.com, they produce original podcasts, short video series, animated educational lessons (TED-Ed) and TV programs that are translated into more than 100 languages and distributed via partnerships around the world. Each year, thousands of independently run TEDx events bring people together to share ideas and bridge divides in communities on every continent. Through the Audacious Project, TED has helped catalyze more than $3 billion in funding for projects that seek to make the world more beautiful, sustainable and just. In 2020, TED launched Countdown, an initiative to accelerate solutions to the climate crisis and mobilize a movement for a net-zero future, and in 2023 TED launched TED Democracy to spark a new kind of conversation focused on realistic pathways towards a more vibrant and equitable future. View a full list of TED’s many programs and initiatives.

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About Austin College

Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, pre-professional foundations, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 44 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow a 13:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.