Shandell Houlden, PhD

Dr. Shandell Houlden (she/her), co-chair of the Fireweed Learning Commons, is a teacher, researcher, and community learner who works at the intersections of education, technology, media, and environment. She teaches at Royal Roads University and is part of projects ranging from research on digital governance and polarization with the Cascade Institute, to public holistic media education, to bioregional work rooted in Cascadia.

She is a mother, wife, sister, and daughter with a deep love for the lands and waters of Southern Vancouver Island. She is grateful to live on the unceded territories of the Pacheedaht First Nation, which continue to teach her what it means to be human in times of great transition.

Her passions include disability justice and depth education through nature connection practices such as animal tracking, hide tanning, and other ancestral skills. She also serves on the board of Earthkin Wilderness School.