Shahab Ghandhari is a senior lecturer with several years of experience in interior design and architecture. He holds a Masters degree in Interior Design from the University of Manitoba as well as a Master of Architecture degree. He also holds the NCIDQ (National Council for Interior Design) certificate, and his professional experience includes healthcare, retail, residential and institutional design in various scales. He has worked in award winning architecture and interior design firms in Winnipeg and Vancouver.

Prior to joining the CUD, Shahab held academic positions in various universities and colleges across British Columbia, including the Vancouver Community College, Art Institute of Vancouver, LaSalle College Vancouver, and the Vancouver Island University. He is currently pursuing his PhD in education at the Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, and his area of research is social responsibility in design education. His teaching philosophy and methods have been largely shaped by his years of teaching experience at several postsecondary institutions in Canada, and his recent PhD studies. He encourages students to see design as an instrument that could make concrete and positive impact on their surroundings.