Theme: Connection

The ETSU Creative Writing Society is hosting TEDxETSU with the theme of “Connection” on Monday, April 4, at 7 p.m. in the D.P. Culp Student Center ballroom. Seating is limited to 100 attendees for the live event in the ballroom; livestreaming will be provided in The Cave in the Culp Center for overflow. Students, faculty, and staff may pick up one free ticket per person with ID at the Carrier Center on the second floor of the Culp Center.

ETSU Culp Ballroom
412 J L Seehorn Jr Rd
Third Foor
Johnson City, Tennessee, 37604
United States

Aq Hanna

Undergraduate Student, Anthropology and Creative Writing

AQ Hanna is an emerging writer and student at ETSU attending as a Bert C. Bach Fine & Performing Arts Scholar. Their work appears in The Aurora Journal, Eunoia Review, The Mockingbird, and the Yuzu Press. When not writing, you can find them navigating the night sky or local cafes.

Cade Campbell

Undergraduate Student, Biology, Heritage Interpretation and Museum Studies

Cade Campbell is an avid naturalist, who enjoys studying and perhaps mostly, teaching others about Southern Appalachian animals, plants, and fungi. Currently studying Biology at ETSU as a Roan Scholar, he also enjoys working, researching, and volunteering with community organizations such as the Blue Ridge Discovery Center, the Friends of Roan Mountain, Rocky Mount State Historic Site, and others.

Erinn King

Master's Student, Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Erinn King is a storyteller, writer and counseling graduate student with a keen interest in personal and collective narratives. Her first career was in aviation, where she spent seven years primarily in management and corporate communications roles. Her interest in therapy as a pathway to healing and growth continues to flourish as she moves through the counseling program here at ETSU. She is from Atlanta, Georgia.

Hannah Smith

Undergraduate Student, Theatre, Communicative Disorders

I am a student, artist, and advocate for the importance of diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our being. I have Achondroplasia - the most common form of Dwarfism - which, throughout my lifetime, has allowed me to witness how differently-abled individuals are treated by society first-hand. I am immensely thankful to have been given the opportunity to shed light on the importance of this topic within my speech

Jordan Bennett

Master's Student, Communications and Storytelling

Jordan was born with Goldenhar, granting her with a trifecta of deaf, disabled, and disfigured identities. As an artist, educator, and a storyteller she grew up searching for others like her, in school, work, and the media. Unsatisfied with what she found, Jordan prioritizes bringing light to the marginalization of disfigurement in society—starting with the stories she holds so dearly. If not for herself, but for the next kid looking for themselves in the world.

Kailee Amburgey

Undergraduate Student, Elementary Education

I am a student, educator, and musician, and all of these roles have been inspired by passions in my life. Music was my first love and I have performed in numerous choral ensembles throughout my life, including several at ETSU. I am currently finishing my student teaching and I will graduate in May with a bachelors degree in Elementary Education, along with an endorsement in middle grades science and math. I plan to continue my education at ETSU and obtain a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction.

Kelle Jolly

Master's Student, Communication and Storytelling Studies

I live life creatively, composing the story of my life through art, music, and stories. I am an ukulele playing jazz singer and community organizer that likes to make thing happen. Whether I am on stage or the radio, I use my voice to encourage listeners to engage with their communities and their histories. My motto is, "If you don't support, we don't exist!"

Miranda Hall

Undergraduate Student, Media and Communications

As a lover of writing, psychology, storytelling, and public speaking, telling engaging stories through clear communication is the common theme behind my interests. Every single person tells us a story with their words, actions, and even what they do not say. Ethically using those stories and creating my own stories to share has motivated me to pursue the public relations side of the communications field. Now, I particularly love to bring story into this conversation of ethical practices in Media and Communications. I focus this interest further on international communication. Cross-cultural communication requires exactly the type of emphasis on ethics and sensitivity to story I emphasize in my studies and personal life.

Panatda (Amy) Inthavong

Undergraduate Student, International Affairs and Psychology

I am currently a senior at ETSU majoring in International Affairs with a minor in Psychology. I am originally from Vientiane, Laos. Wanting to pursue a higher education, I decided to come to the United States. I am a creative art scholar, and I am currently working for the East Tennessean, the ETSU newspaper, as an advertising assistant manager. I am passionate in discussing eating disorders, as I had experience it in the past. My biggest dream is to be working for the United Nations as a humanitarian.

The Bluegrass Buccaneers

Undergraduate Students, Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Roots Music Studies

The Bluegrass Buccaneers are students that are in the bluegrass, old-time, and roots program and are considered some of the best musicians in the country. Some of these musicians have played with top notch artists like ETSU alumni Becky Buller, Grand Ole Opry star Rhonda Vincent, and inventor of bluegrass Bill Monroe.