TEDxOhioStateUniversity's 14th Annual Event:
March 22nd, 2025, 12pm
@ The Fawcett Center
Event LivestreaM
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MEET YOUR 2025 SPEAKERS
Abigail Andre
Professor Abigail André's passion for helping people inspired her to pursue a career in environmental law and environmental justice. In 2010, she joined the Department of Justice, and achieved success in high-profile cases. Despite her success, André continued to encounter situations where the law fell short in addressing the needs of the people it was designed to protect. After nearly a decade of litigating on the federal level, André returned to school to study this disconnection. Through her study of the impact of disasters on marginalized people, André explains how there is no singular solution, no “silver bullet” to achieve disaster justice, rather, action and coordination at multiple levels is needed.
Jaclyn Caccese
Public safety is often talked about as a top priority, but the health and well-being of those who keep us safe are sometimes overlooked. Dr. Jaclyn Caccese is shining a light on the hidden effects of concussions in law enforcement officers. These invisible injuries can have a big impact on their lives and how well they do their jobs. She’s calling for a change—one that focuses on protecting the minds of those who protect us, with better care and proactive steps to tackle these silent challenges.
Matthew Grizzard
Hey did you catch the latest episode of…? TV and media have been known to generate a sense of community around those who follow the same series or sagas, however, recent research has shown that media may hold a greater influence on our personal schemas. Dr. Matthew Grizzard is exploring how our judgment of story characters mirrors the way we assess real-life moral situations. He suggests that we apply similar moral frameworks when evaluating fictional characters’ actions and that by analyzing characters’ choices and motivations, we reveal the underlying moral assumptions that guide our broader ethical decision-making.
Harrison Blake-Goszyk
Harrison Blake-Goszyk spent his entire life searching for an explanation as to why others found him strange. After being diagnosed with autism and learning about the stark inequalities those in the community face, Harrison sought ways to mend the gap of belonging between autistic people and their peers. Drawing from professional and lived experience, he illustrates practical methods for carving a place in the world for people like himself while discussing the power of not explaining yourself and existing as you are.
Terrance Hinton
Dr. Terrance Hinton examines how education challenges conventional boundaries and fosters transformation in overlooked spaces, including prisons. Drawing inspiration from the Ohio Prison Education Exchange Project, his talk highlights the power of shared learning experiences between incarcerated individuals and outside students. Through these interactions, Dr. Hinton illustrates how education promotes healing, personal growth, and meaningful social change in unexpected contexts.
Mike Hudoba
While creating the iconic “Script Ohio” with DNA Origami, Dr. Micheal Hudoba, Department Chair of the Department of Engineering, Computer Science, & Physics at Otterbein University, took on the role of a scientist and band director. Learn about how his impressive, but seemingly impractical, Guinness World Record is a prime example of the power and process of science.
Rebka Lile
At the age of ten, Rebka Lile made the long, emotional journey from Ethiopia to the United States, beginning a new life, with a new family in Akron, Ohio. Now a junior at the Ohio State University, Lile reflects on her experience as an international adoptee, sharing the unseen and nuanced challenges she has faced. Through moments of doubt and resilience, Lile explores how she has come to embrace her multifaceted identity, weaving together the influences of her heritage and upbringing. Her talk offers a heartfelt exploration of the ongoing journey of self-discovery in the face of change and uncertainty.
Paloma Martinez-Cruz
Tens of thousands of Mexican-style restaurants dot the American landscape with common imagery, menu items, alcoholic drinks, and atmosphere. Have you ever stopped to think about the harm that cartoonish stereotypes about Mexican culture can cause when these are massified and perpetuated by restaurants geared toward non-heritage consumers? Dr. Paloma Martinez-Cruz delves into this issue while also uncovering the anti-Mexican sentiments that non-heritage-owned Mexican restaurants perpetuate.
Jamie Strange
Long before the “Save the Bees” movement, Dr. Jamie Strange has been an advocate for the bees. Throughout his career, Dr. Strange has been working to understand how aspects of bee health impact their conservation. His research focuses on the things that make each species of bee sick, the parasites that attack them, and environmental changes that affect them. Little did he know that his life would be changed in ways he never imagined, and the bees he worked so hard to save would be a saving force in his life.
2025 Performance Groups
Introducing Dance of the Soul: a traditional Chinese dance organization at The Ohio State University dedicated to celebrating and preserving the beauty of Chinese culture through the art of movement. Through elegant and expressive storytelling, we bring history and tradition to life, blending grace, emotion, and technique. Our performances incorporate classic elements such as silk fans, water sleeves, and oil-paper umbrellas—hallmarks of traditional Chinese choreography that have been cherished for generations. With each dance, we strive to inspire, educate, and share the richness of Chinese heritage with our Ohio State community and beyond.
Introducing OSU Inayaat: a premier Indian Classical Dance Team at The Ohio State University founded in 2016. Inaayat, meaning grace in Hindi, strives to celebrate the art form of Indian Classical Dance and provide students with an open space to continue to practice their traditional dance form. Our members have dance backgrounds in Bharathanatyam, Kuchipudi, and Kathak, enabling each person to bring her own experiences to our culturally-rich performances. We choreograph multiple pieces that align with an overarching theme to present to members of the university and the surrounding Columbus community. We believe that art can be crafted to inform and educate audiences with new ideas and perspectives. OSU Inaayat’s overarching mission is to advocate and celebrate traditional art forms in order to increase cultural awareness and empower the Ohio State community.