Peace begins with understanding.
It’s a simple philosophy, but for Alex Keogh, it has shaped everything. In a world so quick to divide, he has made it his mission to foster peace.
Keogh grew up seeking to build bridges of understanding wherever he went, from navigating his multicultural family to participating in his high school debate team.
When he got to BYU, his dream school, Keogh decided to study psychology.
“I really wanted to understand how people interact and resolve differences, and how they unleash creative potential together,” said Keogh. “That’s really important for me.”
After feeling prompted to take Chinese classes as a freshman and later serving a mission in Taiwan, Keogh decided on a second major — Chinese.
From struggling through Chinese 101 to winning the 2024 Chinese Bridge Competition for North America, Keogh has learned to master the language.
“We're all children of God, and I can feel that when I'm speaking with somebody in their native tongue,” said Keogh. Through communicating across cultural boundaries, Keogh has been able to build trust and foster peace in cultural, political, and spiritual contexts.
Inspired by President Russell M. Nelson’s talk “Peacemakers Needed,” Keogh and his wife Mirabella wanted to spread their passion for peacemaking on BYU campus to help students engage in more productive disagreements.
Together, they founded the Peacemaker Project.
Hosting events such as debates, expert trainings, dinners and service projects, the Peacemaker Project helps foster productive conversations across idealogical differences. This year they have reached over 1,500 students.
“Something I love about BYU is everyone is always trying to be better,” said Keogh. “To the degree we strive to be better, we can become a better BYU.”
Though the Peacemaker Project is spreading its influence to other campuses throughout the country, it retains a special role at BYU.
“Some universities we visit have a really strong focus on the academic research component of depolarization,” said Keogh. BYU, however, values peacemaking for more than just academic research. “It's not just something practical for us — it's a spiritual calling.”
Keogh’s lifelong journey of peacemaking is only beginning, even as his graduation from BYU approaches. Keogh will continue his education, hoping to earn a doctorate in organizational behavior, specializing in negotiation and conflict management. Inspired by his professors at BYU, Keogh wants to become a professor and teach his students the principles of peacemaking.
Keogh’s advice for becoming a peacemaker is to go into conversations with curiosity.
“When you go into conversations with curiosity, you're actually excited to meet people who disagree with you,” said Keogh. “It represents a part of the world and an experience that you haven't experienced.”
