Aparna Polavarapu became a UNLV Rebel in August 2025, though she has long identified as one in spirit. She describes herself as someone who instinctively questions the status quo when she sees it causing harm, motivated not simply by critique, but by a desire to build something better in its place.

At the heart of Polavarapu's work is collaboration. Meaningful change, she believes, does not come from dismantling systems alone, but from creating new ones together.

She often compares this process to weaving, a hobby that closely mirrors her approach to conflict resolution and institutional change. By bringing together strands from different traditions, lived experiences, and ongoing learning within communities, she sees the potential to create something cohesive and even beautiful. When parts of that process do not work, humility becomes essential. It requires a willingness to unpick, revise, and begin again.

That same sense of storytelling and creation carries through her roles as a law professor and co-director of the Saltman Center for Conflict Resolution. In this interview, Polavarapu reflects on her path to legal academia, her work in restorative justice, and the things that bring her joy outside the classroom.

Can you walk us through your career before coming to UNLV, and what ultimately drew you to Boyd School of Law?

Before coming to UNLV, I was at the University of South Carolina. My academic path did not start in law at all. I studied neuroscience and attended MIT, but around my junior year, I realized I wanted to pursue something different. Through internships and work abroad, I became interested in law, particularly international law, and eventually restorative justice from a human rights perspective.

Restorative justice focuses on what happens after harm occurs. It brings together the person who caused harm, the person who was harmed, and the broader community to understand what happened and how it can be repaired. That means accountability, admitting harm, experiencing consequences, and actively working to repair what was done.

What drew me to Boyd Law was the people. When I started talking to faculty here, I realized how creative, thoughtful, and genuinely invested they were in one another. I also loved discovering the city beyond the Strip. The arts, performance, and theater scene made Las Vegas feel like a place where I could really thrive, both personally and professionally.

What is a recent major project you wrapped up, and how did you celebrate once it was finished?

Before leaving South Carolina, I completed a storytelling project that elevated the voices of people who were incarcerated. We created a curriculum, selected a cohort and experimented with different ways for participants to tell their stories.

The project included a film, which is now available on YouTube. Storytelling is a form of truth-telling, and thus deeply connected to restorative justice. These were stories that needed to be told.

Afterward, we celebrated with a dinner honoring the storytellers, and then I took a very long nap.

What is something that might surprise people who only know you in a professional setting?

When I left legal practice, I decided to pursue a master’s degree in international affairs and was considering academia. Right before starting the program, I realized I needed another adventure.

I signed up for a rally through west Africa, bought a car off eBay UK with people I had never met, and drove it from London to Cameroon.

When you were a kid, what did you imagine you would be doing as an adult?

In fifth grade, I wanted to be a writer. A fiction novelist, specifically.

Do you have a favorite holiday food or a family tradition that really matters to you?

Pulihara, which is a rice dish often made for celebrations. It shows up at big family gatherings, New Year celebrations, and important milestones.

What is the last book you could not put down?

I read a lot of books through the library app and love science fiction and fantasy because they offer space to explore big ideas in creative ways. Two recent favorites were The Space Between Worlds and Only a Monster. Both offered powerful commentary on humanity and power.

How do you usually explain your work to someone outside the legal world?

I explain restorative justice as a way of responding to harm that focuses on understanding what happened and creating accountability that leads to long-term change. It asks what accountability and repair actually look like and how communities can support people through that process. It is skill-building work, and it requires real investment and support to do well.

What is the biggest lesson your field of study has taught you so far?

That we always have to remind ourselves and others that learning is ongoing. It is also important to be careful, because people can claim the label of restorative justice without doing the work that it requires.

Is there a piece of your research you wish more people were paying attention to?

I would like to see more attention paid to how we understand human rights, particularly at the intersection with restorative justice.

I am also deeply interested in restorative justice in legal education. It changes how we teach, moving away from a purely casebook-driven approach and the traditional Socratic method. That shift deserves more conversation.

Finally, what is the most “Vegas” thing you have done since arriving here?

My kids are taking classes at the Circus Center, and we went to BattleBots.