TEDxEMU

This video gives you an idea of presenter's content at the TEDxEMU 2012 event. Use it to find the presentations that are of interest to you.

This talk will consider capturing learning in the moment - the magic that happens between a mentor or teacher & the student. What are the qualities of an effective teacher/mentor? What are the qualities of an inspired student? A meaningful partnership brings together the intellect, emotion, spirit, and will from both parties - along with the human factor (being who you are and allowing others to be who they are). This presentation shows various ways this human relationship has been captured across campus with EMU staff, faculty, and students across Student Affairs and Academic Affairs. Peggy Liggit is currently the Interim Director of the Bruce K. Nelson Faculty Development Center. She earned her Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Biology (Univ. of Nevada-Reno, 1994) and her undergraduate degree in Biology with certifications in secondary biology and chemistry education (Northern Arizona Univ., 1981). Peggy has been on EMU's campus for fourteen years, serving two years as Director of Academic Assessment and twelve years as professor in the Department of Biology teaching and conducting research in science education. She is interested in learner-centered teaching, organizational change theory, and personality and learning style inventories for relationship-building.

Howard Booth shows you’re never too old to be fit. You might look your age, but you don’t have to feel it. Howard talks about how in only a few hours a day, you can feel young again, and maybe even compete next to him in a triathlon.

Dr. Neff will discuss the societal impact of raising girls to believe that physical appearance is the most important demonstration of worth in our society, and inspire women to reevaluate the foundations of their self-esteem, sense of purpose and goal-orientation in life. Dr. Heather Neff is the Director of the Eastern Michigan University McNair Scholars Program and is a Professor of English. Neff studied at the University of Michigan, the Sorbonne and the Universities of Basel and Zurich in Switzerland. A specialist in African American Literature, Neff is the author of five novels, including the American Library Association Honor Book "Wisdom," and the human trafficking story "Leila: The Weighted Silence of Memory." Neff has received the Eastern Michigan University Distinguished Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching and is a Michigan Distinguished Professor.

"Pipa" is a very traditional string instrument in China with a long history. This piece shows a very beautiful combination of Chinese music with foreign Instrument. Yunxi Chen was born in Shanghai, China. She began to play piano when she was five, and started to play harp when she was 19. She is an international student transferred from Macau University of Science and Technology. Her major is Marketing, minor is General music. This is her third year study in Eastern Michigan University.

Upon finding out that a hopeful student affairs practitioner received an undergraduate degree in geology & math, the first question that many people ask is "why", generally followed by "what would you have done instead?" This talk will explore the idea that a STEM degree combined with a lot of undergraduate involvement can actually provide a student with a set of skills and perspectives that fit right into studying student affairs. Caroline Horste received her Bachelor of Science degree from EMU in April 2011 (professional geology with a minor in math) and is midway through an MA in college counseling. She currently works as a graduate assistant in EMU's department of Campus Life and volunteers with SafeHouse Center in Ann Arbor as a domestic violence crisis counselor as well as with Prince of Glory Church in Madison Heights as a pianist. Her future goals include being a counselor in a higher education setting focused on women's health and forever being an extreme rockhound hobbyist.

This year, the VISION Volunteer Center is trying new approaches to connecting EMU students with non-profits and causes in their community. By focusing on two steps -- redefining community and redefining space, VISION is moving toward a better community connection. Jasmina is the program coordinator of the VISION Volunteer Center in the Department of Diversity and Community Involvement at EMU. Her favorite part about her work with VISION is that she can work with a number of social issues and so many passionate students. Jasmina received her Master's degree in Public Policy from the University of Michigan in 2009. She enjoys eating cheese and trying to speak Spanish to anyone who will listen.

As agents of change, we all have both the capacity and the responsibility to make an ethical choice to examine and challenge how dominant Western cultural ways of thinking have isolated us from recognizing the realities of our ecological existence. This presentation is about hope beyond the violence of modern human culture, suggesting we confront our assumptions about existing as individuals separate from and superior to the greater ecological systems to which we belong. John Lupinacci is a doctoral candidate in the urban education program at Eastern Michigan University, where he is also adjunct faculty and teaches social foundations of education. He has taught at the secondary level in Detroit, and is co-author of the book EcoJustice Education: Toward Diverse, Democratic, and Sustainable Communities. His experience as a high school math and science teacher, an outdoor environmental educator, and a community activist all contribute to researching the relationships between schools and the reproduction of the cultural roots of the ecological crises.

In the last days of October 2011, the world reached a new milestone: 7 Billion People. Yet as the number of people on the planet continues to grow, the tools we have at our fingertips to engage with the 7 Billion continues to make the world smaller. Innovation drives this process and we live in an unprecedented time when individuals can literally effect change on a global level. Armed with the right tools, anyone can unlock their potential for innovation and have a lasting impact on our world. Scott Simpson holds a B.A. in Marketing & Management from Hillsdale College. Scott started his career with the global commercial real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield in their Financial Services Group. In 2004, Scott co-founded an online auction brokerage company with multiple locations in Southeastern Michigan. Scott joined Google as an Account Executive in the Dedicated Client Division, working with some of the company's largest Business-to-Business clients. He is now Manager, Online Sales for Google's New Client Acquisition's team.

"Break Everything" is an original song that captures crucial moments in the life of the artist through lyrics and melody. "Heavy energy sinks in as if there are no walls. What now? What now? Tension rises quick as if the ceiling don't exist and I want out, but there is no way out." Antonia Moses is a singer/songwriter based out of Detroit, Michigan. She began singing and performing at the age of 13 and taught herself how to play the acoustic guitar when she turned 18. She has performed at numerous venues in the Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor area, including the Ypsilanti Heritage festival and the Ann Arbor Art Fair. Growing up in a family full of artists, musician and writers, Antonia was heavily influenced to pursue a career in the arts. She is currently a junior at Eastern Michigan University studying Arts Management with a concentration in music.

Reclaiming play as a priority in our lives can transform and perhaps even heal us in powerful and unexpected ways. Unfortunately, from the moment we leave childhood, our inner sense of play is attacked. Whether it's in our workplaces, schools, or homes, play is thwarted by a pervasive culture of seriousness and productivity. But what if play is just as important as genetics or personal choices when it comes to health, quality of life, and longevity? Would we set different priorities? Through science and personal anecdotes, we will explore the play-health connection. And hopefully, in the process, reawaken the playful child that lives within all of us. Husband, dad, physician, author of The Art of Roughhousing, and champion for play. Anthony has appeared on The Today Show, in The New York Times and many other media outlets to advocate for play. He is also a health and parenting writer for TIME Magazine's online opinion think tank, TIME Ideas. He frequently speaks to groups about the importance of play and offers parent-child play workshops around the country. Anthony lives with his wife and three young daughters in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Our consumer culture often exploits impoverished countries while perpetuating mass destruction of our natural resources. In this powerful and incredibly informative speech Beth shares the life changing challenges she faced creating an ethical product and her time working on the largest environmental court case in history occurring in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Beth Doane, a 2004 EMU graduate, launched her first fashion company at age 22, created a consulting firm focused on sustainability, and is planting more than a million trees across Central and South America. She speaks nationally about her journey from fashion designer to social entrepreneur. Her work has been featured in Glamour, In Style, People, FOX, and many more. Hemispheres Magazine nominated her a "Hero" for her environmental achievements in 2010 and was featured in the book, 100 Making a Difference, alongside Michelle Obama and Steven Spielberg. She's created ground-breaking collaborations and partnerships with corporations such as Aveda, L'Oreal, Earth Day Network, and The World Wildlife Fund. Her fashion brand RainTees launched at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in 2008 and became an internationally selling brand in its first year. Today, RainTees works with non-profit partners in over thirty- eight countries and operates a pen pal program linking fans with thousands of at-risk youth in developing nations. She has written an award winning children's book entitled ''From the Jungle'' and currently resides in Los Angeles, CA, and leads inspirational retreats and seminars.

Diana and Wayne created D.A.R.L.I.N.G. as a student organization at the University of Massachusetts. She grew up in a traditional Chinese household. His childhood started in the Caribbean and spanned Brooklyn to the Amish countryside of Pennsylvania. Their story criss cross multiple social and cultural boundaries from dating to marriage and family as well as being professionals and business partners. One of their living mottos is "when everyday is Valentines, why celebrate just once a year?" This is a story of living love with conscious attentiveness to race, culture, and diversity as global citizens. Dr. Diana Wong is an Associate Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship in the Department of Management. Her research examines development of strategic alliances, the impact of cultural mythologies on global leaders, cross cultural interactions across multiple boundaries, indigenous knowledge on environmental sustainability, and accidental entrepreneurship in career transitions. Diana is also the creator of the statewide MI Shifting Gears program which enables the career transition of corporate professionals to career opportunities in the new economy. She is a global citizen with a life that spans both coasts while living in Ann Arbor with her partner and two children.

"A Dancer Comments on Ambiguous Chads and Misplaced Mathematical Formulas" is a short spoken-word essay that choreographically combines carefully-crafted verbal language with gestural movement to offer a multi-layered meditation on teaching. The performance makes use of body metaphors and images drawn from dance to explore pedagogical ideas, while at the same time offering a visual counterpoint and reinforcement of those images and metaphors through choreographed movement. Lisa Ferrugia Atkinson is a dancer, writer and teacher based in Ann Arbor, MI. She holds a BA in creative writing from Carnegie Mellon University and a Master of Fine Arts in dance from The Ohio State University. Her professional background includes three years as an editorial and archival assistant at Carnegie Mellon, and five years as a company dancer for Laboratory Company Dance in Pittsburgh, PA. She is also an experienced grant writer for the arts. She currently teaches in the dance program at Eastern Michigan University, and her most recent published work appears in Volume 34 of Dance Chronicle.

With over 25 years working in the higher ed environment, Martha has come to see the act of providing quality customer service as more than just a way to deal with unhappy people. She now views the delivery of great service as a sharing of our time and talents - as we teach, learn, assist, mentor, listen, and yes...serve one another. Follow her as she shows how EMU's 7 Quality Service Standards are a blueprint towards achieving daily success, with a healthy dose of universal kindness thrown in for good measure. As a supporter of Eastern Michigan University, discover how you can make a difference in the lives of the campus community. Martha is a 1987 graduate of Eastern Michigan University, and has served on staff at the Recreation and Intramurals Department for the past 16 years. In 2007, she finalized the report of the AQIP Project: Quality Service Delivery, co-presenting the results across the EMU campus and at the annual conference of the Higher Learning Commission. Inspired by her experience at the Disney Institute, Martha continues to discover new approaches to the art of delivering quality service. She's presented numerous workshops and presentations on a variety of service topics. A mother of three, a volunteer with the Relay For Life of Ypsilanti and Sigma Kappa Sorority, Martha also enjoys singing at church and working every day with some of the greatest people on earth. Her husband, Carlos, is her strongest supporter, always encouraging her to "go the distance."

Noah Pylvainen, who graduates from EMU this spring, talks about the lost art of public spaces. Many activities which were once associated with traditional public space are now enjoyed online. While older cities thrive from their public spaces, many new cities struggle to create them. Noah’s presentation describes what makes good public space and why it is still an essential part of our communities.

Ted Coutilish, EMU Associate Vice President, University Marketing & Communication, teaches the audience how to be successful in the workplace. With a look at culture, politics, organization and a whole host of topics, he addresses things you may not have thought about as an employee

Aijalon Wallace will read two poems from his upcoming book, In the Ancient land of Israel the Valley of Aijalon, about a boy from Detroit and a girl from Palestine who are set apart by their cultural differences. The poems are titled "Sell Out" and "Box Chocolates" which are based on life challenges and lessons experienced by the author. Aijalon Wallace was born and raised in Detroit, MI. He is now majoring in Communication and President and Founder of I.M.A.G.E. (Inspired Motivational Activist Gearing towards Education), a performing arts group at Eastern Michigan University. When he first discovered his passion as an artist in 2006 he joined "Inside Out Literary Arts" and was featured on the Russell Simmons documentary, HBO Brave New Voices (2008-2009). Aijalon has had the pleasure of opening for poet laureate and Oprah Winfrey top ten writers Nikki Giovanni, Five time Winner of Apollo Jessica Care Moore, American poet Saul Williams and Governor Jennifer Granholm.

"I'm Every Woman - Leadership Redefined" serves to touch upon the role of females leaders across institutional settings and across generations. Eboni M. Zamani-Gallaher is Professor of Educational Leadership and Coordinator of the Community College Leadership Program in the Department of Leadership and Counseling at Eastern Michigan University. She holds a Ph.D. in higher education administration with a specialization in community college leadership and educational evaluation from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Zamani-Gallaher's teaching, research, and consulting activities largely include psychosocial adjustment and transition of marginalized collegians, transfer, access policies, and women in leadership. Her research has been published in various journals and scholarly texts, including Equity and Excellence in Education, Higher Education Policy, National Association of Student Affairs Professionals Journal and New Directions for Student Affairs. Currently she is co-editing the 4th edition of the ASHE Reader on Community Colleges. Her most recent work includes co-authoring The Case for Affirmative Action on Campus: Concepts of Equity, Considerations for Practice (Stylus Publishing), co-editing The State of the African American Male: A Courageous Conversation (Michigan State University Press) and the ASHE Reader on Organization & Governance in Higher Education, 6th edition (Pearson Custom Publishing).

A person must have a willingness, and ability, to live in a world of should and should not, rather than in a world of can and cannot. When the moral dimension is lacking, it often leads to a nihilistic view of life. Without a moral point of view, you are more likely to suffer a harm of some sort or another. You only need to view the news on any given day to witness the countless social tragedies that result from an insufficient consideration of others. A moral point of view is necessary for a life of meaning and fulfillment. Dr. Henry J. Hastings is currently a full time lecturer in the College of Business at Eastern Michigan University. He teaches the Legal/Ethical Environment of Business and International Business Ethics. Dr. Hastings is a licensed attorney and has a doctorate from the University of Michigan in Educational Foundations and Policy, with a concentration in values, ethics, and morality. During the course of his professional career Dr. Hastings has been a high school teacher, an assistant prosecuting attorney, a guardian ad litem for neglected and abused children, and a successful businessman and a practicing attorney.

Creativity is expected, but the process of getting there is not respected. The workplace of the present still values seeing staff in the act of working: hunched over a computer, in a meeting, drawing on a white board, producing paper reports. But sometimes we get our best ideas while going for a swim, on a duck walk, playing ping pong or even lying on the floor of our office, staring at the ceiling. How can today's creative thinkers change the culture of our workplace, to make it a place where creativity happens? Kathy, EMU director of Admissions, started her career in higher education as Dean of Women at Central Methodist College in Missouri. From there, she came to EMU, having never heard of Ypsilanti or Eastern Michigan University. Obviously, she finds this environment a good one, both personally and professionally, since she has been at EMU now for 33 years. Her role model is her father, who retired from the Army as a Colonel, wrote a few books on international peacekeeping, then went to law school for fun. Although all 3 of her children have EMU degrees, Kathy does not...yet.

Curator, Gregg Costanzo has a few words to say about the TEDxEMU 2012 event. At the end he is presented with a gift and thanks.

It is time we stopped holding jobs hostage. The jobs proposed today are often from the old linear industrial revolution. They pollute, cause social injustice, and operate for profit alone. Will these jobs help the environment, people, or ecosystems? Will they address the non-linear systems of the more complex real world? Or will they pass these external costs on to the consumer as they have been doing? Those industrial revolution jobs are based on ideas that are 200 years old when the world had 1 billion people. We do not live in that world anymore. Chris Mayda, Professor of Geography and Sustainability at Eastern Michigan Univeristy, offers classes steeped in the sustainable mindset—accepting Earth's limits and examining how everything is connected. She believes that the mindset offers a positive lifestyle and job opportunities for the coming generations. The sustainable mindset is not about prescribed practices, but a way to think. It is interdisciplinary and encourages coopetition when working non-linearly within complex systems. Her textbook a "Regional Geography of the US and Canada: Toward a Sustainable Future" acknowledges what our countries are and what they can be as they move toward the Ecological Age.

Director of CloseUp Theatre Troupe, Gayle Hurn, will give an inside view of the creative process of CloseUp Theatre Troupe and the creation of scenes meant to engage students in active questioning. Joined by Kathy Walz, Program Coordinator at The Wellness Center and members of the CloseUp Troupe, Gayle will unpack the process of creating original theatrical works on a college campus and discuss the importance of collaboration, balancing art and information, the importance of remaining relevant in a fast paced technology driven environment, and the possibilities of using theatre as a method of engagement throughout the college campus. Gayle Hurn joined the Eastern Michigan University community in 1996 and became a member of CloseUp Theatre Troupe in 1999. After completing her bachelor's degree, Gayle pursued an MFA in Drama and Theatre for the Young also from EMU. During her graduate studies, Gayle became the Graduate Assistant for CloseUp and founded two high school peer to peer theatre troupes in Southeast Michigan. In 2008, Gayle became the Director of Close-Up, working with The Wellness Center's Kathy Walz to continue the long standing tradition of educational theatre that encourages audiences to think, laugh, question and feel.

This talk will introduce the "Multi-Dimension" model of privilege, which is a holistic, comprehensive approach to teaching the concept of privilege. Additionally, exercises and suggestions will be offered to practitioners around effective application and pedagogy of the Multi-Dimension model; ultimately helping to create greater awareness and understand of privilege as students, practitioners, and community members. Justin W.S. Ford is currently a second year masters student in the Educational Leadership program, and the Graduate Assistant for the LGBT Resource Center at EMU. He earned his B.A. in Communication from Michigan State University in 2010 with a specialization in interpersonal and intimate communication. Justin has enjoyed nearly two years at EMU serving as a graduate assistant in both the Women's Resource Center and the LGBT Resource center, and as a graduate instructor for UNIV courses. He is primarily interested in leadership development, student development, and success factors for underrepresented student populations

Melissa Ginotti will offer a high-speed introduction to a few student development theories that provide a foundation for understanding the work and worth of student affairs within the context of higher education. She will share her own unique spin on the big take-aways from that knowledge base, to inform our day to day experiences together as a campus community focused first and foremost on student success. Melissa works as Director of Campus Life, the student activities office at Eastern Michigan University, where she has been employed for the past 17 years. She completed her Bachelor's (1986) and Master's (2003) degrees from EMU, and is the proud parent of a recent EMU graduate!

Two students discuss their very different life paths that ultimately led them to same destination. Ultimately the two narratives hope to demonstrate - through laughter and solemn reflection - that people are often travelers with long stories, no matter what the surface may seem. Orlando has had quite a career at EMU. Probably one of the most recognizable faces on campus, Orlando decided to get involved his sophomore year with the CloseUp Theatre Troupe and has been on a role ever since. Orlando served a small part of the EMU community as an Resident Adviser in Best Hall. He also had the starring role Bud in EMU Theater's production of "Bud Not Buddy." Orlando is also an anchor on the campus' cable channel and a radio personality on the campus' internet radio station. He has numerous awards and recognitions at EMU including Gold Medallion Award for outstanding mentorship by a student, NAACP Image Award and is a MLK Humanitarian. Orlando will be graduating in the near future with a BA in Electronic Media and Film Studies.

The words 'video games' and 'charity' are an unlikely pair of terms to find strung together in a sentence. Yet a number of individuals have become active supporters of charitable causes thanks to playing video games. What does this mean? Can video games make an impact on real world problems? In this discussion, Zach Wigal of Gamers Outreach Foundation will share how video game enthusiasts are combining their passion for gaming with charitable action to create an entirely new field of philanthropy that is engaging individuals in the philanthropic process like never before. Zach Wigal is a digitally minded entrepreneur with a passion for the interactive entertainment industry. At the age of 17, Wigal founded Gamers Outreach Foundation, a 501©(3) non-profit organization that facilitates services which use video games in ways that improve the lives of others. Wigal also serves as the Charity Chapter President within the Entertainment Consumers Association, the non-profit membership organization that represents game consumers in the US & Canada. He is a four time recipient of the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Award, and is currently pursuing a degree in marketing at Eastern Michigan University.

Dewey will define sleep and its stages and discuss the importance of sleep and its impact on our lives. He will delve into the magnitude of sleep deprivation, addressing how many people are affected in this country and list the negative effects of its far reaching impact. He will also discuss ways to increase life productivity by becoming better sleepers, including a revolutionary, scientifically proven new method. Dewey Sims was born and raised in Southeast Michigan. He attended Hillsdale College and graduated with a B.S. in Marketing and Biology. He has been in the medical sales industry for over 20 years. In addition, he is an inventor and entrepreneur, holding 6 patents.

Sometimes, we're left with less than adequate tools to get the job done on our own. However, through discovery of the talents and tools others have, together, we can do so much more! Watch this concept unfold between Thomas Bawden and Jay Jordan as two drummers learn to make use of one single fragmented drum set. Jay is in his second year at Eastern Michigan University, studying for a degree in General Business and a minor in Sociology. A Cincinnati, Ohio native, Jay is exploring opportunities to create community as part of recovery of the Detroit-Metro area through business, especially through the arts. Currently he is helping start a campus student organization "Unite" that will facilitate communication between as well as coordinate efforts of the Christian student groups on campus. Thomas is a Sophomore at EMU majoring in Mathematics for Secondary Education. He is from Northville, Michigan, and plans on teaching high school math. He is a strong believer in the power of music and its ability to connect.

Presentations can be among the most painful experiences in both school and the working world -- and that includes listening to them. The way most of us give presentations is broken and ineffective, but it doesn't have to be that way. What if small changes in the way we prepared to speak could drastically improve our dynamism and effectiveness? Gordon will explain a smart and simple approach to creating presentations that engage audience and inspire action. Gordon is a Michigan native, EMU grad (2010) and founder of Fluent Presentations, a company that helps individuals and businesses improve their presentation skills. His blog, "Be Fluent" is regularly syndicated by a variety of outlets focused on presentation skills. He lives in Saline, MI with his wife Anna and daughter Miriam.