TEDx University of Mississippi Presents Purpose and Potential

Annual presentation brings six speakers, plus art and music, to the Ford Center

The 10th annual TEDx University of Mississippi event features an evening of music, art, and thought-provoking short talks on Friday, February 18 at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts.

This year’s event theme is Purpose and Potential, said Meredith Anderson, a junior English major from Canton, Georgia, and assistant chief-of-staff for the TEDx University of Mississippi student organization.

“We have six speakers to spark conversation about breakthroughs in drug delivery, the sober curious movement, inspirations for biomedical design, intercultural communication, and more,” Anderson said.

The event is free, but tickets are required. Visit the group’s website to secure a ticket.

The TEDx Art Gallery opens in the Ford Center lobby at 6:15 pm, and The Mississippians jazz ensemble will perform at 6:30. Speakers and additional entertainment will take the stage from 7 to 8:30 pm.

The audience is invited to meet the speakers after the presentations.

This year’s speakers are:

Hannah Allen, executive director of the William Magee Institute for Student Wellbeing and a UM assistant professor of public health. Allen’s research is dedicated to better understanding how mental health and substance use affect achievement among adolescents and young adults. Her talk will explore shifts toward sober curious behaviors among college students.

Harrison Lee, a visiting assistant professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religion. He completed his doctorate in 2024 at Baylor University. Lee’s research focuses on normative and applied ethics with an emphasis on biomedical ethics. His talk will explore the ethics of a new and controversial method of organ donation.

Kylie Wright, CEO and founder of Mosse Medical LLC, an Ole Miss alumna and graduate student at the Baylor College of Medicine. She is a resident in orthotics and prosthetics at Shriner’s Children’s Hospital in Spokane, Washington. Wright will share the story of her calling to make life easier, one limb at a time.

Muftiat Oyindamola Adeyi, a UM doctoral candidate in English, graduate instructor, and writing consultant. Adeyi’s work emphasizes narratives of womanhood within African and African diasporic texts, bringing visibility to Africana voices in global literature. Inspired by her research, her TEDx talk will challenge perceptions of accent and language as measures of intelligence, promoting the acceptance of linguistic diversity and cultural expression through linguistic plurality.

Eden E.L. Tanner, UM assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry. After completing her undergraduate degree in advanced science at the University of New South Wales in Australia, Tanner earned her doctorate in physical and theoretical chemistry at the University of Oxford, then moved to Harvard University in 2017 as a postdoctoral research fellow. The Tanner Lab works at the interface of chemistry and bioengineering with a focus on solving problems in nanoparticle drug delivery.

Shonna Tillman, a public policy expert with a background in rural government, community, and economic development, and women’s representation in political positions. She holds a doctorate in public policy and administration from Mississippi State University. Tillman’s research focuses on the intersection of race, gender and politics, particularly the motivations and challenges faced by Black women in political leadership roles.

The event is organized by TEDx University of Mississippi, a registered student organization. Student members manage everything from speaker selection to marketing, working with Kate Hooper, lecturer in the Department of Writing and Rhetoric and a TED-licensed organizer, to produce the annual event.

“In February, we will be celebrating 10 years of success,” said Morgan McCann, a senior linguistics and interdisciplinary studies major from Huntsville, Alabama, and the organization’s president. “We invite all past organizers, speakers, members and sponsors to join us for recognition at the event.”

The group is supported by student activity fees and the Office of the Provost, College of Liberal Arts, School of Engineering, Department of Writing and Rhetoric, Croft Institute for International Studies, and Division of Access, Opportunity, and Community Engagement.

To support TEDx University of Mississippi, click here. Follow TEDxUnivMS on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.

For assistance related to a disability, contact Morgan McCann at tedx@olemiss.edu by February 11.