Ava Shahi, MAPP, CAPP, IDI

• B.A. – University of California, Berkeley 
• MAPP (Master of Applied Positive Psychology) – University of Pennsylvania

• CAPP (Certification of Applied Positive Psychology) – The Flourishing Center 
• IDI (Intercultural Development Inventory) Certified Facilitator – IDI, LLC 

Location: Southern California | Teaches: CAPP Online 

Ava is a first-generation Iranian-American woman whose passion for equity, inclusion, and human rights greatly influences her work. She began her career teaching health education in under-resourced Bay Area high schools, then transitioned into university recruiting and program development. Ava has lent her expertise to several reputable 501(c) nonprofits — such as ColorStack and Peer Health Exchange — which focus on enriching the well-being of young people.

Leveraging her background in Anthropology and Ethnic Studies, Ava went on to design and facilitate DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) training programs within the tech industry, including roles at Zoom and Gusto. In her most recent position at Sanofi, she provides wellness education and training for early-career talent and hiring teams, drawing heavily on the principles she learned through the Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) program.

In addition to her corporate work, Ava currently serves as an Assistant Instructor in the MAPP Program at the University of Pennsylvania for both The Humanities and Human Flourishing (MAPP710) and Foundations of Positive Interventions (MAPP602). She is honored to support future Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) cohorts as they journey into greater flourishing! 

 

My background as a child of immigrants has profoundly shaped my identity. As a young teen, I joined my mother in women’s advocacy groups and human rights demonstrations. Through those experiences, I learned the power of using one’s voice to advocate for positive change. Since then, I’ve been immersed in conversations around human rights, social justice, equity, psychology, and cultural anthropology – and have been especially fascinated by stories of resilience.

After a deeply challenging event forever changed my family life, I traveled nomadically for years in search of community, hope, and optimism. I spent much of that time living in Oahu, where I gained transformative and unforgettable experiences.

During this period, Martin Seligman’s Learned Optimism profoundly impacted me and inspired me to pursue a Master’s in Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP). Joining the MAPP program was a dream come true. My ultimate goal is to share the knowledge I’ve gained with my professional and personal communities – particularly teens and young adults, immigrant communities, and bicultural/biracial youth. I’m also committed to further exploring the relationships between well-being, multiculturalism, and identity, which was the focus of my capstone project.

 

“Everything will be OK in the end. And if it’s not OK, then it’s not the end.” – Anonymous

 

Although it can be tough for me to stick to rituals (thanks, ADHD!), I still love starting the day with a fresh cup of coffee. After that, I spend some quality time tending to my three “landlords” (my cats) and sneak in a short, effective meditation to set a positive tone for the rest of my day.

I’m an advanced open-water scuba diver and have done nighttime shipwreck dives up to 100 feet below sea level! I also love surfing and surf-skating in my free time — I get completely immersed in flow whenever I’m in the water or on my board. I’m always up for chatting about the hobbies and passions that bring us joy, so please don’t be a stranger!

 

1. Gratitude
2. Humor 
3. Love 
4. Fairness
5. Perspective Wisdom