Shaw University shifting HBCU narrative with inaugural campus TEDx Talk  

RALEIGH — Shaw University students will usher the TED brand to campus with a focus on the relevance of historically Black colleges and universities in the evolving educational landscape. 

TEDxShawUniversity is March 24 at 2:30 p.m. on campus in Estey Hall. The series of talks will explore innovation, forward-thinking and the future.

Shaw University will be the second HBCU to host TEDx speakers. 

“We are honored and excited to be recognized by TED as a platform that amplifies ideas worth sharing,” said Lynette Wood, the dean of the Shaw University School of Business & Professional Studies. “TEDxShawUniversity represents a significant milestone for our institution, highlighting our commitment to innovation and forward thinking. This recognition reinforces Shaw University’s role as a catalyst for transformative ideas and underscores the importance of diverse voices in shaping the future. We look forward to sharing thought-provoking ideas that have the power to inspire positive change and contribute to the broader conversation on innovation and progress.”

The TEDxShawUniversity speakers are:

• Nakya Carter, Shaw University senior, double majoring in mass communications and business management 
• Alaya Mack, Shaw University junior, majoring in accounting, minoring in business administration 
• Evingerlean Blakney, Ph.D, Shaw University alumna, founder of Evingerlean Worldwide Inc. and Blakney Global Solutions Inc.
• Sarah Glova, Ph.D., business innovator, technologist, entrepreneur
• Cynthia Barnes, a LinkedIn Top Voice and founder of women. sell. better.™

Raleigh-based Earfluence will produce video recordings of each TEDxShawUniversity speaker. Earfluence is the platinum sponsor of TEDxShawUniversity. 

“When we learned that Shaw was organizing a TEDx event, we knew we had to be a part of it,” said Cee Cee Huffman, a senior podcast producer at Earfluence  “As a Raleigh-based production agency, we’ve observed Shaw’s deep roots in the community and their dedication to amplifying underrepresented voices. Aligning with our mission, we are honored to have the opportunity to help spotlight these stories that need to be heard.”

March is Women’s History Month, and the event will highlight “herstory,” a reframing of history emphasizing the role of women and told from the viewpoint of women. Estey Hall, the host site for TEDxShawUniversity, is the first structure in the United States constructed for the higher education of African American women. Built in 1874, Estey Hall is Shaw University’s oldest building and recognized as a historic landmark in Raleigh.

“TEDxShawUniversity allows us to showcase the innovative spirit that defines Shaw University and HBCUs,” said Sybil Stewart, an adjunct instructor at Shaw University and the TEDxShawUniversity organizer. “Our aim is to shift the narrative surrounding HBCUs by highlighting the role of innovation in our institutions’ evolution and emphasizing their ongoing relevance in shaping the future. We’re also proud to elevate ‘herstory’ themes in honor of Women’s History Month.”