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"The Master of Public Policy program has a great reputation. I was attracted to the program’s holistic curriculum and incredible faculty, and I knew the program would prepare me to confidently enter the field of public policy."
Student Profile: Matia Theodosakis
Public Policy master's student in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
My name is Matia Theodosakis and I am a Master of Public Policy student at SFU. I grew up in the Okanagan Valley on the unceded traditional territories of the Syilx people. Before coming to this program, I worked mainly as a creator of story-based, interactive educational materials. My current research focus on accessibility in post-secondary institutions, particularly for students with psychiatric disabilities. Academic ableism is a barrier to opportunities for so many talented people with diverse and valuable experiences and perspectives, and I want to help make higher education more accessible. Part of this work is being open about my positionality as a person with lived experience and raising the issues of mental health and disability within academic spaces. I am also interested in Indigenous policy and intersectionality-based policy analysis.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO COME TO SFU?
The Master of Public Policy program has a great reputation. I was attracted to the program’s holistic curriculum and incredible faculty, and I knew the program would prepare me to confidently enter the field of public policy.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR RESEARCH OR YOUR PROGRAM TO A FAMILY MEMBER?
I am fortunate to have a family that has always supported my work, and they have had to listen to me talk about my research too often. But I would describe my research as: I want to figure out what barriers students with disabilities face and how policy can reduce those barriers, and I also want to help amplify and support the resiliency of students with disabilities.
WHAT ARE YOU PARTICULARLY ENJOYING ABOUT YOUR STUDIES/RESEARCH AT SFU?
I have really enjoyed the opportunities for activism and meaningful work within my program. As a member of our program’s mental health committee, I have had the opportunity to work in equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives, promote mental health within our program, and work with my incredible classmates.
Contact : mtheodos@sfu.ca