TEDxYouth@NCSSM

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Atlas Lad

  Atlas Lad, a North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics student, has a passion for the intersection of business, medicine, and innovative system design.

• Chigozie Obi

  Chigozie is a junior at NCSSM who enjoys volunteering at the "A Time for Science" Museum, competing in Model United Nations, and playing both the Viola and Piano. He's considering a career in Chemical Engineering and Political Science. He also hopes to further his interests in the Research in Chemistry Program at NCSSM. Chigozie hopes to attract attention to the growing dangers of AI-generated misinformation and envisions a future where artificial intelligence is used responsibly as a tool for discovery rather than a force that erodes truth and public trust.

• Daniel Aldrich

  Daniel Aldrich is the Dean’s Professor of Resilience at Northeastern University, where he directs the Resilience Studies Program and co-directs the Global Resilience Institute. An award-winning scholar, he has authored six books and more than 115 articles, with globally funded research that examines social capital, public policy, and disaster recovery. A 1992 graduate of NCSSM and a Morehead Scholar at UNC Chapel Hill, Aldrich went on to earn an MA from UC Berkeley and both an MA and PhD from Harvard University. A four-time Fulbright fellow supported by organizations such as the National Science Foundation, the Rasmussen Foundation, the Abe Foundation, and the Japan Foundation, he has built a career that spans continents and crises, culminating in a body of work that illuminates how communities withstand and rebound from shocks.

• Faith Bynum

  Faith Bynum, CPA, MBA is a Certified Public Accountant, author, speaker, and entrepreneur who helps business owners build clarity, confidence, and sustainable success. As the Principal of Faith Bynum, CPA, PC and author of Build Faith in Your Business, she combines financial expertise with lived experience to empower others to grow with intention. Born and raised in North Carolina, Faith is deeply passionate about education, service, and creating opportunities that allow individuals and communities to thrive. She believes that when people understand their numbers, they gain the freedom to lead with purpose.

• Matthew Welsh

  Matt Welsh, Head of AI Systems at Palantir Technologies and an NCSSM alumnus from the Class of 1992, has built a distinguished career spanning academia and industry, previously serving as a Computer Science professor at Harvard University and an engineering leader at Google, Apple, and multiple startups. Holding a PhD in Computer Science from UC Berkeley, he brings a deep understanding of how people, systems, and innovation intersect.

• Shadiya Urmanova

  Shadiya is a junior at NCSSM Durham, though I used to attend Ardrey Kell High School in Charlotte, NC. In my free time, I love to be outside, read, write, dabble in instruments, and play intense board games. I hope to become a family physician in the future and help countless people, but for now, I believe one of the most impactful ways to help others is by using words thoughtfully and purposefully.

• Steven Anthony Brown Jr.

  Steven Anthony Brown Jr., a Lexington, North Carolina native, has built a distinguished career at the intersection of science, technology, and creativity. A graduate of the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, he earned a B.S. in Physics with a minor in Mathematics from UNC Chapel Hill before completing both a Master’s and PhD in Applied Physics at George Mason University, where his dissertation centered on Space Weather and the Sun’s influence on the upper atmosphere. His professional path includes key roles at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, and the National Reconnaissance Office, advancing research that strengthens national security missions. He now serves as a scientific advisor at the Space Development Agency, shaping the agency’s 10-year technology roadmap and contributing to its receipt of the prestigious David Packard Award. A dedicated musician for more than 15 years, Steven also serves as lead keyboardist at Grace Covenant Church and looks back fondly on his time in jazz band and the Colours Gospel Choir at NCSSM.

• Vivvan Grover

  A high school student originally from Fort Collins, Colorado, Vivaan explores these ideas through his interests in medical research, public speaking, tennis, and performing with his band, all of which have shaped his understanding of how we communicate, connect, and influence one another. His message is grounded in a simple, powerful question: What if the smallest decision you make today is the one that changes everything?