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Poet to give commencement speech

March 27, 2009
Poet to give commencement speech

This spring, renowned poet and author David Whyte will be the commencement speaker.

Whyte grew up among the hills and valleys of Yorkshire, England. A captivating speaker with a compelling blend of profound poetry and insightful commentary, he is one of the few poets to take his perspectives on creativity into the field of organizational development, where he works with a wide and diverse international clientele.

Whyte holds a degree in Marine Zoology, and is an Associate Fellow of the Said Business School at the University of Oxford. He has traveled extensively, including working as a naturalist guide and leading anthropological and natural history expeditions in the Galapagos, the Andes and the Himalayas. He brings this wealth of experience to his poetry, his lectures and his workshops.

In organizational settings, Whyte illustrates how we can foster qualities of courage and engagement; qualities needed if we are to respond to today’s call for increased creativity and adaptability in the workplace. An outstanding, sought-after speaker whose client list reads like a Who’s Who in international business, he brings a unique contribution to our understanding of the nature of individual and organizational change.

Whyte is the author of six volumes of poetry and three books of prose: The Three Marriages: Reimagining Work, Self & Relationship, (Riverhead 2009), Crossing the Unknown Sea: Work as a Pilgrimage of Identity, (Riverhead 2001) and The Heart Aroused: Poetry and the Preservation of the Soul in Corporate America (Doubleday/Currency 1994). His most recent poetry book, River Flow: New & Selected Poems 1984-2007, was published in 2007. His previous five volumes include Everything is Waiting for You, The House of Belonging, Fire in the Earth, Where Many Rivers Meet, and Songs for Coming Home.

Whyte lives with his family in the Pacific Northwest.

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