A collaborative group of artists, researchers, and organizers — including performers, research advisors, and media, marketing, and outreach support — working together to bring this project to life.
Dr. Raghavan Rajagopalan
Grants & Outreach
Research
Dr. Vaidehi Rajagopalan
Psychologist
Vaidehi (Vi) Rajagopalan, Ph.D. is a Developmental/Clinical Psychologist and
Professor Emerita whose career spans more than twenty-five years of teaching and
mentoring across six institutions, along with seventeen years in clinical practice. Her
academic contributions include leadership roles such as department chair and
consultant, and she currently serves a four-year term on the Appeals Panel for the
Higher Learning Commission. Vi’s passion for the arts has been equally transformative.
An award-winning Indian classical dancer, Vi began her training at age seven and has
performed in both India and the United States. In 1991, she co-founded Abhinaya, a St.
Louis-based dance organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich
traditions of Bharatanatyam and other classical forms of India. Through Abhinaya, she
has brought performers and productions from India and the U.S. to St. Louis, creating
experiences that engage communities on both emotional and intellectual levels.
Vi’s unique integration of psychology and dance has led to invited speaking
engagements, including her analysis of personality traits for the Festival of Villains in
Washington, D.C. Her work exemplifies how art and science intersect and deepen
understanding of human behavior and its influence on social issues. Beyond the stage
and classroom, she enjoys photography and poetry, continuing her lifelong commitment
to creativity and expression.