• MA→PhD BCBA and Special Education, University of Iowa, supplemental fluency in Arabic

  • Graduate Cert in Public Health,

    University of Iowa

  • MSED Special Education / MA TESOL & Counterterrorism, MIIS / City College CUNY

  • MPS in UX Design, Maryland Institute College of Art

  • Graduate Cert Transdisciplinary Studies, &TNC

  • BA English, Brigham Young University

    Supplemental studies in vocal performance, dance performance and Spanish

Kruger National Park, South Africa, 2002

“Ms. Hoppe has achieved what the NYCDOE claims to be impossible.” — Valerie, CEO and lawyer

Hello Friends,

I transform systems of harm into structures of care through research, design, and art. My approach is rooted in justice, shaped by global experience, and tempered with humor and self-awareness.

As a UX designer, educator, and researcher, I specialize in translating complex ideas across disciplines and cultures. Currently pursuing an MA-PhD in ABA at The University of Iowa, I draw on more than a decade of teaching and consulting across seven countries—from Brazil and Thailand to Saudi Arabia and England.

My interdisciplinary work bridges design, disability justice, and harm reduction. I lecture nationally, and I’ve helped secure legal victories for disabled students against the NYC Department of Education. As a former Professor of English and NYC Teaching Fellow, I have earned a perfect evaluation from the U.S. State Department for my pedagogical practice.

When I am not reforming systems, I am learning harp, painting abstract art, and writing lyric essays and poems. I’m also a former Walt Disney World performer, which taught me that even the most magical experiences require serious behind-the-scenes work. In another (younger) life, I swam with the Naval Academy guys, ran half-marathons throughout Utah, and hiked Mt. Fuji.

I like a good avocado, a good matcha, and a good potted plant. Mint green, citron yellow, haint blue, and pale lavender are some of my favorite color combinations. I serve on the Board of Wright House of Fashion.

Iowa City, IA, United States of America, 2026

Shelli Hoppe translates between worlds; she’s been translating her whole life.