Meet the ALDP team

Dr. Maryam Nabavi, Program Director and Academic Leadership Coach

• Strategic partnerships
• Academic Leadership Coaching
• Advising & conflict supports

As Program Director, Maryam guides the overall design, development, and delivery of ALDP and contributes to building a culture of academic leadership at UBC. Maryam is an Academic Leadership Coach and has extensive training in group facilitation, conflict engagement, and a variety of tools and frameworks for advancing systems change. She holds a PhD in Educational Studies (UBC) and an MA in Adult Education and Community Development (OISE/UofT). She has published in the areas of faculty equity in service work, citizenship learning, and inclusive teaching and learning. Prior to joining ALDP, Maryam held a Post-doctoral Teaching and Learning Fellowship at UBC and since 2017, has worked in academic-adjacent roles - most recently at the Equity & Inclusion Office where she led strategic institutional change processes for faculty and staff, including serving as Chair of the Staff Committee of the Antiracism and Inclusive Excellence Taskforce.

Dr. Tom Scholte, Academic Director; Professor, Department of Theatre and Film

• Conflict Community of Practice
• Alumni Council
• Advising & conflict supports

As Academic Director, Tom brings the "inside" perspective of over two decades on the faculty at UBC to the development of ALDP's content. He is a Full Professor in the Department of Theatre and Film. In addition to receiving his acting (BFA) and directing (MFA) training at UBC, he holds a PhD in Systems Science from the University of Hull (UK). His research focuses on the development and application of methods of applied theatre to the modelling of complex social systems; particularly those in conflict. He has served the scholarly community as Vice-President of the American Society for Cybernetics. Tom's academic leadership includes serving in a number of key positions at the university, including Acting Head of the Department of Theatre and Film, two years as a Member of the Faculty of Arts Curriculum Committee and then three years as that committee's Chair. He has also served on the Curriculum Committee of the Faculty of Graduate and Post-Doctoral Studies and on the Dean's Advisory Council on Promotion and Tenure in the Faculty of Arts.

Olivia Sperry-Tatti, Senior Program Manager

• Nominations
• Resources
• Program logistics

As Senior Program Manager, Olivia manages all aspects of the program, including serving as the liaison with Faculties, supporting participant engagement and coordination. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Sociology and a Certificate in Community Engagement and Service Learning from the University of Alberta. Recently, she earned her Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, further enhancing her expertise in managing and executing programs.