Samantha Hurley speaks at TEDxUGA 2025

For fourth-year journalism and Spanish double major, Samantha Hurley, choosing to share about redefining perspectives was no coincidence.

As a legally blind photojournalism student, Hurley has brought a unique perspective to the field that redefines perception and proves there is no singular way of seeing the world. She has brought new perspectives to various publications, including her coverage of the Paris Paralympics for the Associated Press and contributions to The New York Times and The Guardian.

Hurley took the TEDxUGA stage to share how photography enabled her to embrace the power of her unique perspective, inspiring others to do the same. Her talk encouraged the audience to imagine what is possible when they act as experts in their own stories, shaping their narratives around their experience over expectations.

“For me it’s about showing people that there is no one way of seeing,” Hurley said. “There’s no one type of person that belongs in photojournalism, journalism or whatever space we are looking to be a part of. I hope people hear my experience and feel empowered to be themselves, but also to open doors for those who are different from them.”

Grady College’s New Media Institute (NMI) leads the planning and execution of TEDxUGA each year. The process starts in the fall semester with an application cycle, interviews and speaker selection. Once presenters are selected, they begin immediately working with TEDxUGA curation to start drafting a script. In the spring semester, each presenter is paired with a curation team led by students taking the NMI’s New Media and TED class and supported by TEDxUGA’s curators, Isabella Martinez and Peyton Owens. From January to March, these teams work closely with their presenters to help shape, clarify and organize talks.

“The TED team has been so encouraging and helpful in supporting me in the inevitable moments of stress and passion,” said Hurley. “I love that it’s a UGA class as well; I have leaned on my student team so heavily throughout this process. I’m so grateful.”

The support Hurley received started long before she was selected as a speaker for TEDxUGA. She credits much of her journey to Grady College. She states, “None of this would be possible without Grady College. Grady is full of people who believed in me even when I didn’t completely know how to believe in myself.  And that’s the work of a great mentor and a great educator. It’s about asking and not assuming what a student is capable of.”

As she reflected on her experience, Hurley also shared valuable advice for others considering stepping onto the TEDx stage themselves. “I’ve been telling everyone lately to turn their ideas, rants and passions into TED talks,” Hurley stated. “As I stressed during my talk, I genuinely believe that everyone has unique and valuable ideas to share, whether they have leaned into that perspective yet or not.”

But, for Hurley, participating in TEDxUGA was more than just a personal milestone. It was an opportunity to inspire a broader conversation about the importance of communication and student empowerment. Hurley stated, “I’m so grateful for this opportunity! At the end of the day I hope it continues a conversation, within Grady and UGA and beyond, about how we encourage our students to communicate with the world.”

TEDxUGA 2026 will be on March 27, 2026. More information on speaker selection and ticket purchases will be available in fall 2025. 

Author: Lauren A. Pike, lauren.pike@uga.edu