Olivia Handman-Shoop

Warm and personable higher education support professional with a genuine passion for helping others. Known for my friendly demeanor, I thrive on building meaningful connections with students, faculty, and staff. Meticulously detail-oriented and resourceful, I approach every task with a focus on meeting individual needs and fostering a supportive environment. Seeking an engaging role where I can continue to make a difference through personalized student and faculty support.

• Dyslexia Advisory Council, Member, Washington, WA, 10/2020 - 06/2023, Reviewed the school's implementation of early reading comprehension screening to determine effectiveness, create plans for students above the second grade, and recommend best practices for students with dyslexia.
• CIELO Olympia Washington, Olympia, WA, 01/2019 - 03/2019, Tutored Adult students for the United States citizenship test in oral and written English., Taught history and American culture., Assisted in navigating the U.S citizenship and immigration websites and other online practices., Helped students find at-home resources for the Citizenship test.
• SPU’s School of Education DEI Committee, 08/2023 - Present, Actively participate in committee meetings to discuss and strategize DEI initiatives., Collaborate with fellow committee members to identify potential speakers aligned with the committee DEI goals., Collaborated on the creation of promotional materials to raise awareness about the event.

Conducted a comprehensive Cross-Sectional Study on Accessibility to Special Education Services from September 2019 to August 2020, focusing on the correlation between financial resources and access to disability services for students in King County.

• Engaged in in-depth interviews with families residing in King County to gain insights into their experiences accessing special education services.
• Employed rigorous data analysis techniques, including transcription and interpretation, to derive meaningful conclusions from the collected data.
• Formulated and presented recommendations for potential solutions based on the insights gleaned from the interviews, aiming to address gaps in accessibility and equity.
• Authored and meticulously edited a 40-page thesis, encapsulating the study's methodology, findings, and recommendations.

Employed at Te Roopu Taurima, an organization dedicated to supporting individuals with Maori disabilities, from February 2018 to April 2018. Was asked to work on a transformative project centered around the Treaty of Waitangi.

• Conducted thorough research by analyzing historical texts to compile insights on the treatment of Maori people with disabilities throughout history.
• Engaged with Maori elders to gain invaluable cultural perspectives and insights.
• Examined current policies and practices to identify gaps and areas for improvement in the support of Maori individuals with disabilities.
• Authored and submitted a comprehensive Treaty Claim to the New Zealand government, advocating for the rights and recognition of Maori individuals with disabilities.