TEDxSMU

About

About TED

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a conference in California 1984, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with many initiatives. At a TED conference, the world’s leading thinkers and doers are asked to give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes or less. TED speakers have included Roger Ebert, Sheryl Sandberg, Bill Gates, Elizabeth Gilbert, Benoit Mandelbrot, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Brian Greene, Isabel Allende and former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. On TED.com, talks from TED conferences are shared with the world for free as TED Talks videos. A new TED Talk is posted every weekday. Through the Open Translation Project, TED Talks are subtitled by volunteers worldwide. Through our distribution networks, TED Talks are shared on TV, radio, Netflix and many websites.

The TEDx initiative grants free licenses to people around the world to organize TED-style events in their communities with TED Talks and live speakers. Selected talks from these events are also turned into TED Talks videos.

The annual TED Prize grants $1 million to an exceptional individual with a wish to change the world. The TED Fellows program helps world-changing innovators from around the globe to become part of the TED community and, with its help, amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities. TED-Ed creates short video lessons by pairing master teachers with animators, for use in classroom instruction or independent learning.

For information about TED’s upcoming conferences, visit http://www.ted.com/registration

What is TEDx?

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.) Find out more HERE.

About TEDxSMU

Bringing together ideas and interesting people from around the world and around the corner. TEDxSMU and TEDxKids@SMU are single-day conferences in Dallas, TX.

TEDxSMU is an all- day event for preregistered participants, and the program ranges from personal discussions of physical and mental journeys to demonstrations of high-tech gadgetry. More than 550 attendees gather to hear these TEDx Talks.

TEDxKids@SMU is a half-day program designed for almost 500 middle school students plus 100 high school host who hear incredible speakers, experience hands-on demos and learn during interactive breaks. In exchange for free admission, TEDxKids@SMU, student attendees are required to complete a service project. Through projects at SMU, at school, and with local nonprofits, students who attend TEDxKids@SMU have contributed more than 3000 service hours to the community.

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Leadership Team

A native of Dallas, Texas, Heather Hankamer grew up in the film business. For over 20 years Heather was the Managing Partner and Buyer for Dallas’ oldest and most successful independent movie rental store, Premiere Video. From 2002 until 2003 she was on the Board of Directors for Women in Film.Dallas as Membership Chair and Topaz Coordinator. Heather Hankamer was also a founding Board Member of AFI DALLAS International Film Festival, which she served on from 2006 until 2009. Heather served for two years on the Festival’s Education Committee and one year as the Chair of the Programming Committee. In the third year of the Festival, Heather was named Chief Operating Officer for AFI DALLAS.

Currently, Heather Hankamer is the Executive Director of TEDxSMU and the Director of K-12 Outreach for the Caruth Institute for Engineering Education at SMU Lyle. Under Heather’s leadership the TEDx programs at SMU have grown from 2 annual conferences for the Dallas community to a year-round slate of events on and off the SMU campus. These events include the very popular TEDxSMUWomen conference and a leadership/community engagement program for SMU students. Heather also runs numerous outreach programs through the Caruth Institute. These programs include: STEM summer camps for 6th to 12th graders, a design challenge event called Visioneering and the Dallas Regional Science and Engineering Fair. Annually these events reach over 2,500 students from across the North Texas region, with over 55% of students coming from economically disadvantaged communities.

Contact Heather at [email protected]

Kristine R. Reiley joined the SMU Lyle School of Engineering staff in March 2009 as an administrative contractor for operations within the Caruth Institute for Engineering Education (CIEE).  In January 2010 she became an official SMU staff member as a  Program Specialist for the Director. From November 2010 through December 2016 Kristine served as the Coordinator for the CIEE. Kristine is now the Program Specialist for K-12 Outreach for the Caruth Institute and the Assistant Director of TEDxSMU.

Prior to joining the CIEE, Kristine was a first grade teacher at First Baptist Academy (FBA) in Universal City, Texas for eight years.  She was the first grade department chair from December 2002 to May 2009.  While at FBA, Kristine was also appointed to the Extended Learning Services (ELS) department, which offered before school activities for the elementary students.  She was the team leader for the summer activities program at FBA as well.

In addition to being an avid sports fan, Kristine spends her free time with her dog and volunteering with her church.

Contact Kristine at [email protected]

Steering Committee at TEDxSMU

Marc Christensen- Dean, SMU Lyle School of Engineering

Jim Young- Executive Coach and Consultant, The Margate Group

Carole Young- Community Advocate

Ann Fielder- Assistant Dean of Development and Communications, SMU Lyle

Krista Nightengale-Higbee- Managing Director of Better Block Foundation