Meet your Organizers- Katie Snyder

Katie Snyder is a sophomore at the University of Tulsa, majoring in Communication with an emphasis in advertising and public relations. She minors in Art and English. Katie is originally from Des Moines, Iowa (a city that she humbly considers the greatest place in the world). Katie is involved on campus with University Ambassadors, Residence Hall Association, National Residence Hall Honorary, and the NOVA Fellowship. She also works in the Golden Hurricane Athletic Media Relations Department, helping to keep statistics and assist media during TU home games for soccer, volleyball, football, basketball, and softball. Loving to stay busy, Katie also works with the Oklahoma Center for the Humanities on campus, acts as Social Media Director for Bell's Is Back, and is the marketing intern for Galaxy Home Design in Tulsa.

When she gets a break, Katie enjoys Netflix binge-watching, listening to music with her roommate, and playing volleyball. She never says no to pizza. Her favorite things about the University of Tulsa are the small class sizes that allow her to better connect with her professors, her residence hall community, and the free game tickets for all sports.

Katie was first exposed to TED when a high school teacher showed a three-minute video, "How to Start a Movement" by Derek Sivers. This was the video that sparked her passion for the TED platform, and despite having viewed hundreds of other TED and TEDx videos since, that remains her favorite. During high school, she volunteered for TEDxYouth@DesMoines and experienced the energy and challenge of organizing an independent TEDx event. She was inspired by the unique and innovative ideas that each speaker, performer, and team member brought to the table.

The University of Tulsa is so diverse, and there is so much research, service, and innovating going on around the campus. Katie was inspired by her peers and professors to bring a TEDx event to TU and showcase all of these ideas and passions. Through the NOVA Fellowship, she met Hannah, who was motivated by a similar passion to bring "ideas worth spreading" to campus.