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, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. 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).

Mountainlair Gluck Theater
1550 University Ave
Morgantown, West Virginia, 26506
United States

Ian Israelsen

Ian Israelsen is a doctoral student at West Virginia University from Logan, Utah. He is currently working as the Lead Graduate Research Assistant in Dr. Kristen Matak’s food science lab at WVU. He believes that we are all capable of achieving our most audacious dreams through focused efforts and mindfully honoring our true selves. He is an award-winning chef and an endurance athlete. He rode his bicycle across the United States in 43 days, getting married and honeymooning along the way. He has also competed in various ultra-distance running events, the longest was a 100-mile race through the New River Gorge National Park. He spends his spare time innovating food products and playing in the woods. He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife, three dogs, a cat, and a bird.

Joe Woods

Joe Woods is the publisher of Greet Cheat Lake Magazine, founder of 1863 Media, a Business Manager and Lecturer in the WVU Davis College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, and an ambassador for community, small business, and entrepreneurship in West Virginia. Greet Cheat Lake is a monthly community publication that highlights local businesses and area families’ stories, accomplishments, and events. Woods also oversees operations, student mentorship, and student projects at The WVU Davis College Store- an educational storefront and greenhouse providing hands-on experience in entrepreneurship and business management in conjunction with local artisans and farms. He concurrently teaches an undergraduate course in Rural Entrepreneurship. Before his time at WVU and 1863 Media, Woods built professional experience in management, sales, marketing, hospitality education, and entrepreneurship. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from WVU Institute of Technology. He received a Master of Professional Studies in Food Business from The Culinary Institute of America, where his graduate work focused on business administration and food systems. Woods serves as Board President for Empty Bowls Monongalia and constantly pursues his mission to build and strengthen his local community. He resides in Morgantown, WV with his wife, SueAnn, and their two children.

Laya Chennuru

Hailing from Martinsburg, WV, Laya Chennuru is a junior with dual majors in neuroscience and psychology at West Virginia University. Throughout her time at WVU, she has worked closely with the DEI office to bring awareness to social issues on campus and has advocated for marginalized populations as a DEI Ambassador and Peer Advocate. She serves as a Presidential Student Ambassador, encouraging an inclusive environment for students and representing the university. She engaged in service abroad with WVU Global Medical and Dental Brigades, helping facilitate medical and dental clinics for under-resourced communities and public health projects. Following her undergraduate studies, she aspires to attend graduate school to become a Physician Assistant. After learning about the correlation between positive psychology and neurological mechanisms of emotional well-being, Laya became intrigued by the idea of employing an attitude of gratitude in her everyday life. In her talk, she will explore the neuroscience behind practicing gratitude and the social and emotional implications involved.

Morgan Marquart

Morgan Marquart, MLS(ASCP)CM is a board-certified laboratory scientist, and a 2023 graduate from West Virginia University with a major in Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics. During her time at WVU she was awarded the Medical Laboratory Science Achievement Award, Mu Tau Biomedical Honorary Service Award, and the Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics Navigator Award. Morgan also acted as an ambassador for the WVU School of Medicine. Currently, she works at Ruby Memorial hospital for WVU Medicine in the blood banking and hematology labs. In April of 2024, she was awarded, along with her colleagues in the blood bank, the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies Blood Bank All-Star award for their dedication to patient care and outstanding work. Morgan is proud of the hard work she and her fellow laboratorians do and is excited to make more people aware of it through her TED talk.

Tara St. Clair

A Parkersburg native, Tara St. Clair has a passion for igniting curiosity across the state of West Virginia. Working to amplify Appalachia through problem solving, Tara serves as the Program Director for the Encova Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. In her role, she provides critical direction for the development and implementation of programs in the center. Her expertise lies in developing strategies to implement new programs and expand existing programs. She has a strong commitment to building innovative initiatives that create synergistic relationships between the academic world and the community. She has developed and implemented a number of initiatives across the state. She is also an adjunct instructor for the WVU Chambers College of Marketing Department. A connector by nature, Tara has been working in the space of "ecosystem building" since she co-founded the West Virginia Entrepreneurship Ecosystem in 2019 and has since helped grow the network to engage thousands of stakeholders annually in one of the country's most rural, distressed regions. She brings a unique rural perspective, lived experience, and vibrant energy to her work in ecosystem building. She currently serves as the Co-Chair for the ecosystem and Bridging Innovation Week.