Tālofa lava and warm Pacific greetings!

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Natasha Saelua as the inaugural Director of the Pacific Islander Center for Student Excellence (PICSE). PISCE is made possible by the efforts of students, staff, and faculty in conjunction with the Chancellor's UCLA Native American and Pacific Islander Bruins Rising Initiative. The Initiative has three main components: enhancing UCLA's intellectual community devoted to Native American and Pacific Islander peoples, supporting inclusive and equitable student experiences, and providing meaningful support for Native American and Pacific Islander staff.

Dr. Natasha Saelua is a Samoan educator, researcher, and community advocate committed to advancing equity and inclusion in higher education. Natasha graduated from Vanden High School in Fairfield, California, earned her B.A. in History and Political Science and M.A. in Asian American Studies from UCLA, and completed her Ph.D. in Higher Education and Affairs from Indiana University. She has worked as a researcher, evaluator, and trainer for several years, serving local, regional, state education agencies and institutions of higher education in the continental U.S. and in the Pacific jurisdictions. Natasha was a founding board member for Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC), and currently serves as the assessment lead for the Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Educators Network (NPIEN).

An experienced scholar in her own right, Natasha remains a vital alumna to UCLA's Pacific Islander community and has mentored and fostered emerging Pacific Islander leaders throughout the years. We are honored and thrilled to have her knowledge and expertise to spearhead such an historic position and look forward to working with her and many others to grow efforts on campus and beyond. Please help us in congratulating and warmly welcoming inaugural PICSE Director Natasha Saelua!

Fa'afetai,
UCLA Asian American Studies Center