In this special video episode of the Wellbeing at MSU Podcast, host Dr. Alexis Travis sits down with Kiyaana Cox Jones, a restorative practitioner, creative scholar, educator, and the keynote speaker for the 2026 Spartan Wellbeing Summit.
Kiyaana expands on her keynote theme, H.O.P.E.: Humanizing Our Practices for Evolution, exploring what it means to center people, relationships, and community in wellbeing work. Together, she and Dr. Travis discuss:
- Humanizing organizational practices, putting “People before task”
- The socioecological model and how H.O.P.E. shows up at each level
- What it means to bring the Okanagan Charter to life on a university campus
- The power of doing this work with students, staff, and faculty
- Why “blooming together” creates more resilient communities
Kiyaana also reflects on standout moments from the Spartan Wellbeing Summit, including the student panel, a powerful resilience activity led by UHW’s own Lisa Laughman, and insights about collective responsibility across campus.
If you’re passionate about restorative practices, campus wellbeing, or creating environments where people can truly thrive, this conversation offers practical inspiration and a renewed sense of connection.
Read the Transcript here (transcript generated by AI, and may contain errors)