Guest: Stella Chiajulam

*Content Warning: this episode discusses death and dying

Stella Chiajulam is a project planner for Programs and Quality Assurance at the Centre for Teaching and Learning at the College of New Caledonia (CNC), where she supports quality assurance initiatives including but not limited to program review, student feedback mechanisms, and supports accreditation processes. Alongside her work in higher education, she serves as the Lead Shop Steward for CUPE 4951, advocating for fairness, accessibility, and equity for workers across the institution, and the composite local union serving 5 individual units.

Stella is proudly autistic and has ADHD, and her neurodivergence shapes both her perspective and her purpose. With lived experience navigating the challenges of government, academic, and corporate public systems, she brings a candid, nuanced understanding of how structures often fail the people they are meant to serve—particularly those who are marginalized. Her work and advocacy are grounded in the belief that systems can change, and that change begins with recognizing the value of every person’s ways of thinking, learning, and being.

Outside of her roles in education and labour advocacy, Stella runs a consulting practice that focuses on helping individuals and organizations align their values with their operations. She is also a trained end-of-life doula, offering compassionate guidance, emotional support, and dignity to individuals and families during some of life’s most vulnerable transitions.

Stella holds a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in English and Anthropology, disciplines that deepen her understanding of stories, culture, and human behaviour. In Fall 2026, she plans to pursue a Master of Arts in Disability Management at the University of Northern British Columbia, furthering her commitment to creating workplaces and institutions where disabled and neurodivergent people can thrive.

Across her professional, academic, and advocacy work, Stella is driven by a powerful blend of empathy, analysis, and determination. She speaks openly about the barriers she has faced as a neurodivergent person and uses her voice to champion meaningful inclusion—beyond checkboxes and buzzwords. Her perspective bridges lived experience with institutional insight, making her a strong advocate for systemic redesign, community care, and equitable access to resources and opportunities.

Whether she is supporting students and educators, guiding teams through conflict and growth, or standing beside workers in moments of uncertainty, Stella’s work is grounded in the same core belief: everyone deserves support that recognizes their humanity, honours their complexity, and empowers them to flourish.

Music: J’y suis jamais allé, composed by Yann Tiersen, edited by Harper Friedman

Podcast Editing and Transcript: Paula Gaube