Mary Jean Chan '12 gives a preview of her TEDxSwarthmore talk, which will address the question, "What makes a good society?"  The day-long event, also featuring talks by Swarthmore alumni, faculty, and a current parent, will take place March 31 in the Lang Performing Arts Center.

Chan, a political science honors major and English literature minor from Hong Kong, China, is passionate about heterodox economics, the intersection between politics and poetry, and other forms of literary expression. She is currently collaboratively working on organizing a conference, “The Progress Paradox: Critical Perspectives on Development,” to be held at Swarthmore April 8-16 this year. Chan was selected through the TEDxSwarthmore Student Challenge to join the speaker lineup as a student representative of Swarthmore College.