Team 2011-2012
EXECUTIVEBOARD
ISHAANJALAN, Founder & President
Ishaan Jalan is an international student from Calcutta, India. He has served as the Founder & President of TEDxEmory since its inception in 2010. He is currently a junior pursuing a variety of disciplines. Ishaan first learned about TED by watching Pranav Mistry’s talk about SixthSense technology. Apart from TEDx, Ishaan is also the founder of The Social Fund, a non-profit technology startup. On campus, he serves as the Sustainability Chair on the Residence Hall Association Executive Board, Affiliate to the Centre of Mind, Brain & Culture, as well as the committees of several other organizations. Some of his other interests include social entrepreneurship, debating philosophy, reading fiction, and travelling. His favorite TEDx talk is Frans de Waal’s Primates 101.
JONATHANKATZNER, Director of Communications
Jonathan Katzner is a junior from Cleveland, Ohio studying Economics and Political Science. As Director of Communications on the TEDxEmory team, Jonathan hopes to energize the Emory community with the intellectual invigoration TED brings. Jonathan is also Co-President of Young Democrats of Emory and is involved on campus as a Resident Advisor. In addition to TED, Jonathan enjoys reading, singing, playing guitar, and watching and playing sports. Jonathan is a proud, yet greatly pained, die-hard Cleveland sports fan. Jonathan’s favorite TEDTalk is Hans Rosling sharing new insights on poverty.
NIKHILRAGHUVEERA, Director of Programming
Nikhil Raghuveera is a sophomore from Sebring, Florida. Interested in pursuing a career in law, he is studying Political Science, Philosophy, and Economics at Emory. Along with being Director of Programming of TEDxEmory, Nikhil’s current interests include Emory Model United Nations, Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) Team, and Young Democrats at Emory. Nikhil also enjoys playing tennis, practicing piano, spending countless hours on the Internet, and reading philosophy and literature. His favorite TEDTalk is Pranav Mistry’s talk of SixthSense.
DANASAND, Director of Operations
Dana Sand is a second-year student majoring in Journalism and Anthropology & Human Biology. From Ohio, she was the Editor-in-Chief of her nationally-ranked high school newsmagazine Spark and was named the 2010 Al Neuharth Free Spirit National Scholar. At Emory, she is a Communications Intern for the Office of International Affairs and the Halle Institute for Global Learning. She also writes and copy edits for the Emory Wheel and is Director of Student Relations for ONA at Emory. Related to her interest in global health, she is a Sophomore Advisor in Longstreet-Means and is an Academic Fellow. Her other activities include Slow Food, Relay for Life, and EUGHO. Her favorite TEDTalk is Ken Robinson’s Changing Education Paradigms.
MARVELMYRTILE, Director of Sponsorships/Finance
Marvel Myrtile is a junior from Atlanta, Georgia majoring in Economics and Political Science. His interests include jazz, finance, contemporary art and literature, and sports. Marvel recognizes that creativity and passion are essential to the human experience and believes that TEDxEmory is a perfect avenue to channel both. Since introduced to TED by a friend, he has been fascinated and inspired by the mechanism of sharing ideas that TED has created. Marvel’s favorite TEDTalk is Simon Sinek’s How Great Leaders Inspire Action.
MATTHEWMUENZER, Director of Design
Matthew Muenzer is a sophomore at the Emory College of Arts and Sciences and works on the TEDxEmory team designing graphics, posters, and flyers. Fascinated with the staples of TED—technology, entertainment, and design—Matt has, over the years, become very aware of TED’s growing presence and the immense prominence of its message. Matt is pursuing an undergraduate history degree at Emory, does freelance design work and photography, and is a movie, history, literature, technology, and typeface buff in his free time.
NIKOLOZKEVKHISHVILI, Director of Film, Media & Technology
Nikoloz Kevkhishvili is a junior at Emory University majoring in film studies with a concentration in business media, and minoring in visual arts. An international student from Georgia, Nikoloz’s passion lies in film and its immense power to affect people. At Emory, he is part of Emory T.V., Emory News Now and the Visual Arts Club. His hobbies include photography, movie making, and reading. Nikoloz’s favorite TEDTalk is Sir Ken Robinson’s Bring on the Learning Revolution.
JOYCELI, Director of Membership
Joyce Li is an international student from Dongguan, China currently studying business and international studies. As a freshman, Joyce started to volunteer with TEDxEmory and quickly became very involved with the organization because she was fascinated with the ideas that this organization could bring to the Emory community. As a TEDxEmory member, she enjoys working with other members that share the same passion in the “spreading of ideas.” She also learns to cooperate with a group of brilliant students for a common goal. Joyce contributes to the team by attracting more and more Emory students to join TEDxEmory. Along with her involvement in TEDxEmory, Joyce is also a part of Emory Model UN, Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) Team, Scholarly Inquiry and Research partnership program, and Women’s Ultimate Frisbee team. Her favorite TEDTalk is Dan Gilbert’s Why Are We Happy.
RAPHAËLLEKING-HOUIS, Director of Public Relations
Raphaëlle King-Houis is a junior graduating a year early from Emory University with a major in Economics and a minor in Visual Arts. Born in Paris and raised in New York, Raphaëlle is passionate about creative ideas and is honored to help spread “ideas worth spreading” as Director of Public Relations for TEDxEmory. Raphaëlle’s favorite TEDTalk is from Joan Halifax on defining compassion and the true meaning of empathy.
KIEFERHOCK, Director of Marketing
Kiefer Hock is a junior from Nashville, Tennessee currently majoring in Biology. As a sophomore he heard about TedxEmory and immediately became fascinated and intrigued with its underpinnings. He had always been interested with TED (favorite talk: Sir Kenneth Robinson’s “Do Schools Kill Creativity”), but as an active member in the Emory community, he wanted to tangibly orchestrate the “spreading of ideas.” As a TEDxEmory member, Kiefer focuses on aiding the marketing agenda of the team, but he also helps out with other avenues of interest. Apart from TEDxEmory, Kiefer is a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, and he greatly values the philanthropic endeavors he and his fraternity impart upon the surrounding community.
DEANQUARANTA, Sophomore Representative
Dean Quaranta is a sophomore at Emory University interested in medicine and sociology. He shares a love of baseball and good food. Dean is from Chicago, where he graduated as valedictorian and was a four-year varsity athlete. He loves to travel and experience different cultures. His favorite TED talk is Josh Levs 2011 TEDxEmory talk.
ANNIKABRAUER, Freshman Representative
Annika Brauer is a freshman at Emory from Seattle, Washington. She is an Economics major and Global Health minor and is interested in pursuing a career in global development. At Emory, she plays lacrosse and is involved with Outdoor Emory and Relay for Life. Prior to coming to Emory, she spent her time competitively ski racing, running a youth outdoor education program, working in a Neurobiology lab at the University of Washington, mountain climbing, and playing French Horn in a nationally ranked symphony orchestra. Her favorite TEDTalk is Benjamin Zander’s on Music and Passion.
SCOTTSMITH, Freshman Representative
Scott Smith is a freshman at Emory interested in studying political science with a future career in law. In addition to being a part of TEDxEmory, Scott is also a member of Young Democrats. Having lived in Boston, Massachusetts his whole life, Scott is an avid Boston sports fan, who has relished in his teams’ recent success. He also enjoys reading the news, playing sports, and following politics. His favorite TEDTalk is Keith Nolan’s about Deaf People in the Military.
ARIELLAIANCU, Freshman Representative
Ariella Iancu is a freshman at Emory University studying Neuroscience and Behavior Biology. Hailing from Los Angeles, Ariella has previously researched visual perception at UCLA and is a gold award winning Girl Scout alumna. She is also Treasurer of Turman Hall and is involved with Volunteer Emory. Her favorite Ted Talk is “the empathic civilization” by Jeremy Rifkin.
KIMBERLYDAVID, Oxford College Representative
Kimberly David is a sophomore from Queens, New York, double majoring in Psychology and International Studies. The 2011 TED Prize winner JR, Arianna Huffington, and Sarah Kay present some of Kimberly’s favorite talks. As a representative of Oxford College of Emory University, Kimberly exercises her interest in public relations and marketing to connect the satellite campus to TEDxEmory. Her interests include gastronomy, new media, and consumer studies.
STEPHANIEYANG, Webmaster
Stephanie Yang is a first-year student from Los Angeles, California who studies music performance and comparative literature. The late president of her high school human rights chapter and editor of the school literary magazine, she enjoys writing poetry and prose, analyzing classical music, painting, and traveling in addition to web design. Her passion for circulating inspiration and prior experience with TED led her to TEDxEmory. In Atlanta, she is involved in the Phi Eta Sigma honor society, Emory Poetry Council, the Ethics and the Arts Initiative, various musical ensembles, and volunteering at the High Museum of Art. Her favorite TEDTalk is Benjamin Zander’s Music and Passion.
TEAMMEMBERS
| Programming & Operations | Design, Film & Media | Speakers | Marketing | Sponsorships & Finance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew Stoiber | Ben Cheriyan | Logan Lockner | Amaan Lakhani | ||
| Kimin Huang | Kimberly Beck | Jane Singer | Raghav Rungta | Joseph Turner | |
| David Fink | Ryan Kristensen | Sreekar Jasthi | Matt O’Brien | ||
| Leyla Sokullu | Shraya Sharma | Shraya Sharma | |||
| Amanda Kamalapuri | Josh Weinstock |
