TEDx Names Seven Speakers for 2022 St. Cloud Event

(KNSI) — The seven speakers for the upcoming TEDx St. Cloud have been announced.

Santo Cruz grew up in rural Stearns County before embarking on his legal career. He currently serves CentraCare as senior vice president and chief legal officer.

Kari-Shane Davis Zimmerman (nicknamed KSDZ by her students) is an associate professor of theology at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University. East-coast by background and temperament, KSDZ never fails to ask probing questions and does not accept soul-less answers. She asks all her students to engage their moral compass and stand up for what is true and just.

Ettien Koffi, professor of linguistics, and Mark Petzold, professor of engineering and computer science (both at St. Cloud State University), are developing technology they hope will help document and revitalize some of the 2,923 languages out of 7,111 languages worldwide that are on the brink of extinction.

Grace Leapaldt was born and raised in Saint Cloud and attended the Guang Ming Academy Chinese Immersion Program, grades 1-12. As a result, she is fluent in writing, reading, and speaking Chinese. Her dream is to work for the embassy in China.

Heather Weems is the former Athletics Director for St. Cloud State University and served in that role for ten years before she was named the first female commissioner of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference.

According to its website, TED is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks. TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment, and Design converged, and today covers almost all topics – from science to business to global issues – in more than 100 languages. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience.

The theme this year is Rattle. TEDx St. Cloud is October 13th from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. Tickets are $42. Get yours by clicking here.

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