Tsai is a spoken word artist who performs slam poetry — an art form showcasing poets reciting original work in front of judges. Her poetry typically focuses on issues involving race, gender and social change.

“(Tsai) sounded really enthusiastic,” said Smith, who initiated the process of bringing Tsai to campus as an artist-in-residence for the RCAH.

“I got in touch with her and did a phone interview with her and was completely blown away.”

Tsai will perform in “Breathe Words, Breathe Life: A Night of Spoken Word with Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai” at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the RCAH Theatre in Snyder Hall’s basement.

Tsai also will be part of an open mic and poetry slam session at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the same location. The open mic and poetry slam event is free and open to the public.

Tsai, a Chicago native who now lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., said her performances often are emotional.

“I was performing in New Mexico and this guy said to me, ‘That was more emotion in 30 minutes than I’ve felt in a whole week,’” Tsai said. “I’m trying to give people a real way to reflect on what is going on in their daily life.”

Terese Guinsatao Monberg, an assistant professor in the RCAH and a faculty sponsor for Tsai’s visit, said Smith is the first student in the RCAH who initiated and followed through with bringing an artist-in-residence to the college.

Monberg said Tsai’s artistic expression goes beyond words, as Tsai integrates choreography and visual arts with her poetry. Monberg said Tsai’s methods, along with her passion, are changing the face of poetry.

“(Tsai’s) main thing is spoken word, but she’s expanding what that means, politically and artistically, with what she does and who she works with,” Monberg said.

Throughout the past 10 years, Tsai has performed at several well-known venues, including House of Blues, the Kennedy Center and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. She also has shared the stage with performers Wyclef Jean, Tracy Morgan and Mos Def.

Smith said she was intrigued by Tsai because of her drive and belief system.

“(Tsai) has a progressive political philosophy that I was really drawn to,” Smith said. “She just seems like a very self-motivated, powerful person — so that was also inspiring.”

Smith said the planning process of bringing Tsai to campus involved writing a proposal and coordinating discussions between Tsai and RCAH professors.

But with Tsai’s arrival finally here, Smith said she’s most excited to see Tsai face to face.

“I’m excited to actually meet her — that (will) be cool,” Smith said. “I want to have these conversations about creativity and the social consciousness.”

To Tsai, emotion is the key ingredient to pulling the audience into her element.

“When I’m actually performing, there (are) a couple things on my mind,” Tsai said. “I really want to recreate the experience that inspired me for the audience. I want to put them right there. I want them to get the emotions, the images and the experience of what I’m talking about.”

To learn more about Tsai’s MSU visit and her spoken word art, visit rcah.msu.edu.