Jemaima Tiatia appointed top Pacific job at Auckland University
by Mariner Fagaiava-Muller
Last week, Associate Professor Tiatia was formally welcomed into the position of Pro Vice-Chancellor Pacific with a Cook Islands turou and Fijian yaqona ceremony.
It was opened by the office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor Māori with a mihi whakatau and then a lotu by Dr Therese Lautua.
The following yaqona was led by Fijian community member Malcolm Andrews with student leaders from across Pacific nations taking part.
Tiatia (Taga, Salelologa, Fusi Safata, Siumu, Vaimoso) acted in the role before her apppointment, whilst also co-head of The University of Auckland's School of Māori and Pacific Studies.
Her academic background lies in Pacific health and mental wellbeing.
Her Masters degree looked at why young Pacific peoples were leaving traditional churches; leading her to write the book Caught between Cultures.
Tiatia's PhD examined suicide and mental health and wellbeing in the Samoan community.
She serves on the board of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission - having previously been on the Suicide Bereavement Service Advisory Group, National Depression Initiative Advisory Group, and Suicide Mortality Review Committee.
She is just the second person to hold the job.
Toeolesulusulu Damon Salesa, being the first, jumped ship to become Vice-Chancellor at Auckland University of Technology.
He is the first Pacific person to lead a university in Aotearoa.
Here's to academic excellence from brown scholars everywhere!
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Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air
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Video credit: The University of Auckland
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Cover photo: Elise Manahan Media Productions/The University of Auckland