In Brief: TEDxUArizona returning; safety chief to speak at Staff Council
The Nov. 1 event will allow for a much larger audience than the inaugural version in January, which was capped at 100 attendees.
Misha Harrison, executive director of experience, Marketing and Brand Management
Steve Patterson, interim chief safety officer
Faculty, staff and student speakers will take to the Centennial Hall stage Nov. 1 for the University's second TEDxUArizona event. This year's program, with the theme "Spirit of Wonder," will feature talks, performances and networking opportunities.
One major difference between the inaugural TEDxUArizona event, which took place Jan. 31, and the upcoming event will be the size of the audience. Only 100 people were allowed to attend the first time.
Interest in the inaugural event "far outstripped" her expectations, said Misha Harrison, executive director of experience in Marketing and Brand Management.
"In order to ensure as many members of the Wildcat community can attend as possible, we worked to obtain a full TEDx license," Harrison said. "This fall, in conjunction with Homecoming activities, we are thrilled that we can welcome more students, faculty, staff and Tucson community members to engage with our speakers and their insights."
Those interested in learning about tickets, speakers and future events are invited to sign up to receive email updates. Organizers are also accepting applications for speakers for future TEDxUArizona events, starting with spring 2024.
Videos of the presentations from the inaugural event – and public speaking tips from Diana Leonard, director of public speaking and senior lecturer in the Department of Communication, who coached the speakers on their presentations – can be found in the Lo Que Pasa stories below:
- Check out videos of the TEDxUArizona talks and learn how to deal with public speaking nerves
- See more TEDxUArizona talks and learn how to deal with technical hurdles in your own presentations
Interim chief safety officer to speak at Staff Council meeting
Steve Patterson, interim chief safety officer, will discuss campus safety updates at this month's meeting of the Staff Council. Patterson has been overseeing several safety efforts over the summer, including the development of a more consistent and coordinated campuswide response during a crisis. (Patterson outlined his priorities in a Q&A published in Lo Que Pasa in May.)
Council members will also discuss the full-day strategic planning retreat they attended on Aug. 11 at the Environment and Natural Resources 2 building.
The Aug. 29 meeting begins at 2 p.m. The full agenda is available online.
The Staff Council is a shared governance organization that represents University Staff and Classified Staff. The council meets via Zoom the last Tuesday of each month throughout the year. Meetings are open to all employees.
More information about the Staff Council can be found on the council's website. Anyone interested in becoming a Staff Council representative can apply online. Those who want more information can contact Melanie Madden, Staff Council chair and program manager for curricular affairs for Academic Administration.