AJ Calhoun

Artist, Change Agent, Christian, Designer, Educator/Teacher, Entrepreneur, Explorer, Foodie, Idea generator, Photographer, Policy maker, World traveler, Writer/Editor

AJ is a 2016 Fulbright Grantee and a 2015 graduate of Furman University where he was a Herman W. Lay Scholar. His interdisciplinary curriculum has focused on sustainability, design, international trade, rhetoric, photography, entrepreneurship, urbanism, and public policy. He holds degrees in Urban Studies and Political Science. AJ has participated in and led numerous research projects across the globe dealing with social activism, viral information, political unrest, media bias, the urban form and art theory. At Furman, AJ held leadership positions in numerous student and community organizations. He is most proud of his work founding the Furman Creative Collaborative, the Found Space Theater Project, and TEDxFurmanU. AJ has gained experience working with such organizations as The European Parliament, Apple Inc., Samaritan’s Purse International Relief and the Executive Office of the President of the United States on topics as diverse as media production and trade negotiation. AJ spends his free time listening to audiobooks, shooting 35mm photography, experimenting with new recipes, and learning about flags.

Helping people become more creative. Finding solutions to complex problems. Traveling to all the places I so often see in pictures. Reading.

Design, Entrepreneurship, International Trade and Devolopment, Logistics, Photography, Public Policy, Rhetoric, Strategy, Sustainability, Urban Studies

In the spring of 2012, my freshman year, I was successful in gaining a TEDx license on behalf of Furman University. Over the next year I organized students, faculty and staff alike to fundraise, plan and ultimately execute the first TEDxFurmanU conference. I established a tradition of passing the organizer’s torch each spring to another freshman so that they also could learn by leading the TEDxFU team. Although organizers changed, I continued to provide guidance through two more successful events. We sent two representatives to TEDActive both in 2013 and 2014. Eventually expanding our initial on-campus conference to one of the largest venues in the state of South Carolina. Our team grew from the two of us who had submitted that first application in a kitchen to forty strong. After my graduation the TEDxFurmanU program is stronger than ever, it is the most diverse and one of the most energetic organizations on campus and was recently named “Organization of the Year.” There is no question that my involvement in the TEDx movement has been instructive and inspiring.

Vexillology