Community Invited To Attend TEDx University Of Montana Western On March 21

Community members are invited to take part in a full day of ideas, conversation, and connection at TEDx University of Montana Western, to be held Saturday, March 21, 2026, on the University of Montana Western campus. Designed with rural communities in mind, the event will explore how resilience can be built around complex and challenging topics through talks, workshops, and shared experiences. Attendance is open to the public, with tickets available while space allows.

Hosted by Montana Western’s Theatre and Environmental Sciences departments, TEDx University of Montana Western will feature eight filmed TEDx talks that will later premiere on YouTube, giving attendees the opportunity to be part of a live studio audience. In addition to the talks, participants will have opportunities to engage directly with speakers, attend interactive workshops, enjoy live performances, and take part in a provided lunch during the day-long conference.

TEDx University of Montana Western aims to strengthen academic culture on campus, encourage critical thinking, and promote collaboration across disciplines. Sponsored by the Fund for Experience One, the event provides a multidisciplinary forum for sharing ideas that reflect Montana Western’s mission and values while fostering dialogue between the university and the broader community.

Speakers selected for the event are either connected to the local community or address topics that support the university’s academic focus. Together, they represent a range of perspectives and lived experiences that highlight the importance of adaptability, innovation, and collaboration in rural settings.

TEDx is a program of local, independently organized events created in the spirit of TED’s mission of spreading ideas. While TED provides general guidelines for the TEDx program, each event is independently organized and reflects the community in which it takes place.

Scheduled speakers include:

• Beth Bennett, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Sociology, Idaho State University

• Lori G. Byron, MD, MS, Board Chair, Montana Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate

• Cody Ferguson, Ph.D., AICP Candidate, New Market Lead, Houseal Lavigne

• Nicole Jarvis, MS, Founder, Bee Haven Gardens

• Matthew Madsen, MPH, CHES, Research Associate II, Western Transportation Institute

• Abigale McClaflin, BS, Environmental Sciences

• Pedro Marques, Executive Director, Big Hole Watershed Committee

• Ted Montalvo, BS, Environmental Sustainability

For more information about the event, including speaker details, the schedule, and how to attend, visit the TEDx University of Montana Western webpage or contact Stephen Seder, Assistant Professor of Theatre, at stephen.seder@umwestern.edu.