Flyer for TED at MU.
@TEDXMANHATTANUNI/ INSTAGRAM
Cienna Rydman, Contributor
Manhattan University (MU) will host a TEDx event for the first time since its inaugural campus conference in 2016, with a newly formed student team planning a full-scale conference for early April 2027.
The event is led by licensee and MU students Mo Karim ‘22, a graduate civil engineering major, with Jonathan Flores ‘28, business major, and Fabian Monzon ‘25, a graduate digital media arts major currently pursuing his MBA, serving as co-organizers. The conference will feature student speakers, performers and researchers from across campus.
TEDx events are independently organized by local groups under a license from TED, the nonprofit known worldwide for its viral “TED Talks.” While official TED conferences are held on a global scale, TEDx brings the same format to local communities, universities and cities.
The organizers aim to curate between eight and 15 talks and live performances, with an intentional push to recruit student speakers. The team is open to ideas and inspiration from the campus community.
Organizers acknowledged that many students may feel intimidated about applying, often believing they need an extensive résumé or professional public speaking experience. Karim hopes to change that perception.
“The application is very simple,” Karim said. “We don’t want to intimidate people… It’s more for me to know your skills than just accepting.”
Ideas from any field are welcome, from scientific research and entrepreneurship to art, dance and music. Presentations are not limited to traditional talks.
“It doesn’t just have to be a talk either,” Karim said. “It could be performances, dance, music, stand-up comedy … literally anything that is aligned with the rules.”
Approved speakers will be professionally recorded, and their talks will be edited and published on the official TEDx YouTube channel for a global audience.
“Your idea [gets] out to the world in a matter of a click on YouTube,” Karim said.
External speakers, including doctors, researchers and entrepreneurs, have already applied. However, according to Flores, the event’s primary focus is the university’s own community.
“We want to show who we are as a university,” Flores said.
Organizers emphasized that an event of this scale requires a collaborative effort. Applications are open for four teams, and no prior experience is required: marketing and design, sponsorship and finance, production, media and speakers.
Flores explained that he was drawn to the project because he grew up watching TED Talks.
“The idea of having TEDx come to the university really brought interest to me,” Flores said. “I wanted to hear more voices within our community…”
Monzon saw the potential from an economic perspective.
“I immediately started getting ideas, speakers who we could push out to a wider audience,” Monzon said. “And it’s a good learning experience.”
The team is holding an information session from 2-3 P.M. on Nov. 12 in De La Salle Hall. Organizers will also be at the quad over the next two weeks to answer questions about the group and events.
Students, alumni and faculty are invited to apply as speakers, performers or team members. Applications are available on the official event website and through links on campus social media pages.