Dr. Deena Kara Shaffer

Coordinator of Student Transitions and Retention, Student Wellbeing, at Ryerson University

Areas of Expertise Learning strategies; Nature-based education; Holistic education; Accessible, inclusive education; Positive Psychology

Deena Kara Shaffer, PhD, MEd, BEd, (Hons)BA, OCT is the Coordinator of Student Transitions and Retention, Student Wellbeing, at Ryerson University, and the President of the Learning Specialists Association of Canada.

Whether by immersion in nature, somatic programming, digital strategies, or arts-based provocations, Deena helps students learn how to learn, and to do so from an equity-guided, research-driven, health-promoting approach. Formerly a learning strategist with Ryerson’s Disability Services Office, and a skilled OCT teacher, Deena offers a holistic, empathic, and joy-based pedagogical stance. Deena is co-initiator of the Thriving in Action resilience intervention, and oversees the Portage paddling program and Mood Routes (external link) campus st/rolling initiative.

Deena holds a doctorate in nature-based pedagogy and learning strategies, and is also a trained yoga teacher (200 hour), restorative yoga teacher (60 hour), mindfulness meditation teacher, published poet (The Grey Tote, Véhicule Press, 2013), and a writer, public speaker, consultant on learning and well-becoming, and owner of Awakened Learning (external link, opens in new window) .