Policy Studies
Peace and Salaams everyone,
My name is Shiva Olyaei (she/her), a Muslim immigrant of Iranian heritage and the mother of two wonderful children; and here is a little story about the journey that brought me here to meet you!
My passion for social justice and curiosity about the complex dynamics of power led me to begin my academic path in law. Holding an M.A., LL.M., and Ph.D. in Law, I initially envisioned a future in courtrooms, but I soon found my true calling in classrooms. Teaching has allowed me to merge the deep analytical framework of law with the transformative power of public policy to create real, meaningful change.
At Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU), located on the unceded, traditional, and ancestral lands of the Kwantlen, Katzie, Semiahmoo, Musqueam, Tsawwassen, Qayqayt, and Kwikwetlem peoples, I have had the joy of developing courses and teaching in areas ranging from law to public policy, bringing global perspectives to local challenges. I am profoundly grateful to the rightful Indigenous sovereigns of these lands for the opportunity to engage in work that is deeply committed to the decolonization and Indigenization of the curriculum.
During this time, my interdisciplinary work brought me into Dr. Jennifer Hardwick’s Universal Design for Learning (UDL) community, which inspired and facilitated my involvement in KPU’s Including All Citizens Pathway (IACP) founded by Dr. Fiona Whittington-Walsh. This experience has sharpened my skills in creating inclusive, accessible, and justice-oriented learning contents and spaces particularly through UDL, trauma-informed teaching, and positionality-sensitive methods for diverse developmental and accessibility needs.
For me, education isn’t just about knowledge transfer; it’s about transformation. I am passionate about helping my students build critical thinking skills, foster resilience, and apply creativity to real-world problems. Whether it is through interactive lectures, group projects or community-based learning, I strive to equip the next generation with the tools they need to become compassionate, informed global citizens who are ready to lead with hope and bold action. After all, in Policy Studies, we don’t just study the world; we actively work to change it!