Meet Katie Graves: Our February Leading Woman of the Month

We are so proud of Katie Graves, our February leading woman of the month. Get to know Katie with this Q&A session we had with her today!

Name: Katie Graves

Major: Journalism with an emphasis in Strategic Communications

Hometown: Edgerton, Missouri

What are your career goals?

After I graduate with my bachelor’s degree I plan to go on to law school to study criminal law. My ideal career would be to work as an attorney for International Justice Mission, a global organization that works to combat human trafficking, sex trafficking, labor trafficking, property grabbing. I also really care about Christian ministry, and I plan to serve toward that end for the rest of my life.

What are you involved in at Mizzou?

At Mizzou I serve in a campus ministry called Veritas. I am also the vice president of events for our campus chapter of International Justice Mission. Additionally, I am a part of Tour Team, and I was a Kinder Scholar last summer through the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy. I also have had the pleasure of going on four Mizzou Alternative Breaks trips, two of which were Theta MAB trips.

What are you involved in outside of Mizzou?

I serve as a leader in the middle school ministry at the Crossing Church and I worked last year in the executive office of the governor.

What's your favorite thing that you're involved in and why?

My favorite thing that I am involved in apart from Theta is definitely Veritas because all of my other commitments stem from my faith and the growth I have experienced in that ministry. This group of people has truly challenged me to serve more, and I could not have navigated the anxieties of college without God and this community.

What are you passionate about?

In addition to my passion for the fight against human trafficking, I also really care about learning. I am an avid reader, and I also love learning from my friends and the intricacies of their stories. I would enjoy nothing more than to spend a day on my grandma’s couch listening to her talk about her life. I’ve found that listening rather than speaking is the best way to grow in empathy and develop an appreciation for people’s unique experiences.

What's your favorite thing about Theta?

My favorite thing about Theta is the expectation of a certain level of vulnerability in our chapter. We are held to a high standard to share our lives with one another and to boldly embark on the messiness of trying to love one another. One of my favorite things about my Theta sisters is the ways they accept the broken parts of me and compensate for the things I lack.

Do you have a specific favorite Theta memory?

My favorite Theta memory was spending last summer in Washington, D.C. with three other Thetas. There were many funny moments from the summer, but we can all agree that the best was taking a ferry across the Potomac River to Alexandria, Virginia as a giant thunderstorm attacked our tiny boat. The four of us were entirely soaked from the pelting rain and rising waves, but I have never been more happy to have mascara running down my cheeks.

What do you do in your free time? I spend a lot of time reading and buying too many plants (as I kill them). I also love to go hiking and on various camping trips around Missouri. I’m a big fan of road trips and I will gladly drive several hours for a concert or to see a friend. I also really enjoy holing up in Uprise for a day or going to Ragtag for a film.