Seven CHESS students, faculty and alumni selected to speak at 2026 TEDx UNC Charlotte

Undergraduate students, faculty and alumni from the College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences have been selected to speak as part of the 2026 TEDx UNC Charlotte event to be held on Saturday, Feb. 21.

Speakers were chosen through a competitive application process that is open to all in the community. Once selected, the speakers spent time in coaching sessions to hone their delivery and prepare for the event. This year’s theme is “reimagining.”

Three CHESS undergraduate students are presenting their ideas during the first block. Jasmine Oliver and Neha Panajkar are giving a joint talk on the “placemaking narrative in food halls.” Noah Hughley will be discussing “pop culture politics.”

Current UNC Charlotte employee A.J. Simmons is an alum of CHESS, earning a MA in psychology. He will speak during the first block about localized food and food security.

Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow Amanda Brock Morales will share ideas about ancestral landscapes and archeology during the first block.

The second block will begin at approximately 3:30 p.m. and feature two notable CHESS faculty members and researchers.

Alyssa McGonagle will discuss workplace support for employees with chronic health conditions, highlighting research and strategies from her recent book.

Kendra Jason will share ideas about “unbelonging in the workplace” from her career of research studying health and organizational behavior.

• Saturday, Feb. 21
• 1 to 5 p.m., split into two blocks with a 30 minute intermission
• Cone University Center, McKnight Hall