Kei Graves, Ph.D

Let me start by saying, WOW! What a remarkable experience and joy it was to present my talk, “Beauty Alone Won’t Save Us, But What We Do With It Might” at TEDxWCC last night!

I’m told there were hundreds of people present and tuned in online, and I am so grateful to have been among an excellent cast of speakers.

I want to be brief and use this space purely to reiterate what I told some of the students I spoke with last night as we prepared to take the stage.

The conference theme, “Beyond One Voice,” was perfect for this very moment in which we find ourselves as a global community.

I spoke last night of the weight of the world, holding tension, and continuing to reach for the beautiful. That rings true like the rhythm of music and life.

I also learned last night, after the talk and celebrations, of the horrific loss of life in Lebanon, and my heart and soul are heavy again. There is tension there—between the ideal, a goal for peace and an end to bloodshed, and the raw reality of innocent lives lost.

We all have an obligation and a duty to seek better for ourselves and those who come after us. I hope that each person who was present last night took away something meaningful and perhaps a renewed sense of purpose in our community.

Finally, I’d like to note that the website has been updated with my more recent publications. For students, you can also read more about my teaching practice if you’d like to learn more.

With Gratitude,

Kei Graves, Ph.D.