Samoan Ambassador to keynote Pacific Islander Student Conference

Published: April 09, 2015 | Read Time: 1 minutes

Southern Utah University will welcome His Excellency Mr. Aliioaiga Feturi Elisaia, Ambassador of Samoa to the United Nations/U.S., and Honorable Ms. Sela Tukia, Consul General of the Kingdom of Tonga to the U.S., to participate in the University's inaugural Pacific Islander Student Association (PISA) Conference on Friday, April 10.

The conference, organized by SUU's Pacific Islander Student Association, will explore the cultural motivation, ideologies and perceptions of higher education among Pacific Islanders.

This visit from both the Samoan and Tongan government is a historical visit for the university, as both explore ways to make higher education more accessible and impactful for Pacific Island students.

The University places a high priority on student and cultural support, and it shows. Proportionally, more minority students—Pacific Islanders included—successfully graduate from SUU than at any other public university in Utah.

SUU Vice Provost for International Affairs, Dr. Stephen Allen, views Friday's visit as an important first step in the University's heightened efforts to recruit, accommodate and—most importantly—support students from various cultural origins.

“This will be a wonderful cultural celebration and a start to a meaningful partnership with the nations of the Pacific Islands,” Allen explained.

For more information on the Ambassador of Samoa's and Consul General of Tonga's visit to Southern Utah University, please contact SUU Cultural Outreach & Ministry Relations Officer, Tevita Sekeni II, at 435-586-7927.

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Tags: International Affairs

Contact Information:

435-586-5400
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