What is TED?

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 30 years ago, TED has grown to support its mission with multiple initiatives. The two annual TED Conferences invite the world’s leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes or less. Many of these talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Sal Khan and Daniel Kahneman.

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.)

What is TEDxUniversityofMississippi?

In 2015, The University of Mississippi hosted its first TEDx event at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts. As an R-1 research institute and Mississippi’s flagship university, we believe it is our duty to promote and disseminate the best ideas to the biggest possible audience.

Selection Process
In the spring of 2016, the TEDxUniversityofMississippi Student Planning Committee submitted a public call for speaker nominations and topic proposals. This call went through various outlets, such as UM Today, The Oxford Eagle, and social media. After nominations were submitted, the student selection committee used a blind process to select the speakers they thought best represented ideas worth spreading. Students did not know the name, gender, or race of any speaker nominee. Faculty member, Marvin King, a member in the African American Studies department, oversaw this process.