This year’s TEDxUofM features two CREES-affiliated speakers!

First-year student in the Masters in Regional Studies - Russian, East European, & Eurasian Studies specialization Baktygul Chynybaeva is an award-winning journalist from Central Asia with over twenty years of experience reporting on human rights and social justice. Her reporting has contributed to major legislative and policy changes in Kyrgyzstan, including the criminalization of bride-kidnapping, expanded recognition of domestic violence, free pediatric cancer treatment, and the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. A 2024–2025 Knight-Wallace Fellow at the University of Michigan, her current research examines the legacy of Soviet-era political repression and its influence on historical memory in Central Asia.

CREES alumna Klementina Sula (MA Public Policy 2011) focuses on helping people clarify and act on their life’s purpose. She teaches networking at the University of Michigan and works as a legacy advisor and chief learning officer to individuals and families, guiding them in building meaningful connections and long-term impact.

Both speakers will present at TEDxUofM on Saturday, March 14, from 3–6 pm, at the Power Center for Performing Arts. See the full line-up of speakers and purchase tickets at tedxuofm.com.

If there is anything we can do to make this event accessible to you, please contact us at marinjd@umich.edu. Please be aware that advance notice is necessary as some accommodations may require more time for the university to arrange.