Early Bird

Speakers announced for TEDx MSU Denver

Sept. 12 event to feature eight faculty members, three alumni, multiple students and one very recognizable university president.

By Dan Vaccaro

July 10, 2019

Roadrunners answered the call. More than 100 members of the Metropolitan State University of Denver community submitted applications to speak or perform at TEDx MSU Denver on Sept. 12.

“The interest was extraordinary,” said Cathy Lucas, vice president of strategy and University lead for the signature event. “There were so many great pitches, and the selection committee had to make some very tough decisions.”

The committee ultimately settled on 17 TED talks and two performances. Presenters will share their big ideas on topics as diverse as the limits of free speech in today’s political climate and the case for why human beings should start leaving Earth for space right now. The two performances will feature MSU Denver students. 

Tickets for the daylong event will go on sale next week. The Early Bird will have all the information you need to spend the day supporting your colleagues and current and former students.    

To accommodate faculty members and students whose schedules will prevent them from attending the program, the planning committee intends to organize viewing parties that will allow people to drop in throughout the day. More info to come on those soon. For staff planning to attend, please be sure to check with your supervisor prior to purchasing a ticket.  

Speakers

Senior leadership

Janine Davidson, Ph.D., president

Faculty

David Bechtold, Ph.D., associate professor, Management

Charlie Buckley, Ph.D., assistant professor of special education, and Jo Buckley, bilingual paraprofessional

Katia Campbell, Ph.D., associate professor, Communications Studies

Ivo Georgiev, Ph.D., affiliate faculty, Computer Engineering

Dave Gingerich, affiliate faculty, Aviation and Aerospace Science

Travis Heath, Ph.D., associate professor, Psychological Sciences  

Katrina Little, lecturer, Nursing

Emily Ragan, Ph.D., associate professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Students and alumni

William Anderson (B.A. history, ’08)

Matthew Candelaria and Colton Lee, current students

Katrina Chaffin, current student

Tyler Kingsbury (B.S. biology, ’19)

Emily Yetzbacher (B.S. social work, ’17)

Community members

Kristen Blessman, president and CEO, Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce

Heather L. Bulk, CEO, Special Aerospace Services

Carrie Morgridge, vice president, Morgridge Family Foundation

Entertainers

Student dance group led by Nicole Predki, lecturer, Human Performance and Sport

Student band Tonguebyte