Dr. Kiera O’Shea, PhD, JD, MLIS, is an educator, researcher, librarian, and attorney whose work centers on educational equity, advocacy, storytelling, and transformative community engagement. Her personal experiences, combined with years of professional work throughout the South, inspired her commitment to amplifying the voices of students and families who are too often overlooked within educational systems.

Recognizing that education, law, and information access all play critical roles in addressing social inequities, Dr. O’Shea founded EPIFHANY LLC — a platform grounded in the principle of “paying it forward” through mentorship, advocacy, research, and educational consulting. Through EPIFHANY, she works to support students, educators, and communities by creating spaces for meaningful dialogue around issues that are often considered taboo or underrepresented in society.

With more than two decades in education, Dr. O’Shea has taught students from kindergarten through college and has served in classrooms, libraries, and community organizations across multiple states. Her interdisciplinary background allows her to bridge scholarship, lived experience, and practical solutions in ways that empower individuals and communities alike.

Dr. O’Shea has been featured on podcasts, webinars, and educational platforms where she continues to inspire conversations surrounding education, equity, resilience, and social impact. She was recognized as the 2019 Teacher of the Year in Madison, Florida.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Mass Communication and a Master of Science in English Education from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. She earned her Juris Doctor from Charlotte School of Law and her Master of Library and Information Science from Drexel University. Dr. O’Shea earned her PhD from University of South Carolina, where her research focused on information behavior, educational equity, and the experiences of Black mothers navigating complex systems of care and advocacy.

Since entering the field of education in 2004, Dr. O’Shea has remained dedicated to mentorship, scholarship, and service. She is the proud mother of two children: Anthony Davis, a college student, and Sedinam Genevieve, whose extraordinary journey as one of the smallest surviving infants born in Tennessee further deepened Dr. O’Shea’s passion for advocacy, resilience, and community-centered work.