缅北禁地

TEDxMeredithCollege, a student-organized event, was held on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, bringing the theme of 鈥淲omen in STEM鈥� to the stage in Carswell Auditorium.

The event, featuring the famous TED talk format, included six speakers:

• Lydia Denton 鈥� Teen inventor and national STEM advocate
• Dr. Amy Glazier 鈥� Astrophysicist and Meredith faculty member
• Dr. Melyssa Minto 鈥� Computational biologist, RTI International and Meredith alumna
• Tamara Terry 鈥� Engagement executive and strategist
• Briana Landis 鈥� Advocate, scientist, and Meredith alumna
• Lisa Marshall 鈥� Nuclear engineer & educator

The theme explored the vital role that women play in driving innovation, shaping industries, and solving some of the world鈥檚 most pressing challenges.

鈥淚 hope the audience came away with a deeper understanding that women in STEM face challenges beyond what is often seen on the surface,鈥� said Shukria Alavi, 鈥�27, a lead organizer for the event.聽

Positive feedback from participants shows TEDxMeredithCollege was a success.

鈥淧rofessors and attendees shared how much they enjoyed the event and how impactful it was to hear women in STEM tell their stories,鈥� Alavi said. The fact that it was hosted at a women鈥檚 college added an extra layer of meaning; it was not just a series of talks, but a powerful statement about voice, visibility, and empowerment.鈥�

She hopes the event will inspire others and be a catalyst for change.

鈥淐ompeting in STEM alongside male counterparts requires not only intellect and leadership but also relentless effort and resilience. My hope is that the talks showed the need for more support, encouragement, and recognition of women鈥檚 unique journeys in these fields. It showed what can happen when a community comes together to uplift underrepresented voices.鈥澛�

Alavi said the event, which she called one of the most meaningful milestones in her college journey, was the culmination of nine months of planning and effort.聽

鈥淭his was my first time taking on a leadership role in an American environment, and beyond organizing the event, I learned so much from [my teammates] about collaboration, communication, and cultural perspectives,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat personal growth is something I will carry with me into my professional journey.鈥澛�

Support from Meredith faculty, students, and community members was crucial.聽

鈥淭he amount of support I received from friends, faculty, and my advisor, Dr. Philip Andreae, was incredible, and I was fortunate to have an amazing team, Audrey Kramer, SarahElla Harlan, and Luannie Arreola, who made the event possible. What started as a vision became a reality through their hard work and creativity, and I feel deeply grateful for the Meredith community that stood behind us.鈥�