Board Members
The board of higher education is made up of six members.
- Reverend Dr. Leanavaotaua Sekuini Seva'aetasi, Board Chairperson
Reverend Dr. Sevaaetasi is one of the two returning members from the previous term and is the newly elected Chairperson of the Board of Higher Education. Reverend Dr. Sevaaetasi has been a member of the Board of Higher Education for 20 years. He has been the Minister of the Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa in the village of Tula for 26 years. Reverend Dr. Sevaaetasi holds a Masters of Sacred Theology from Yale and a Doctorate of Ministry from Pacific School of Religion, Berkley, California. He has been the General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in American Samoa and Secretary for Congregational Christian Church Missionary Committee for over 20 years. Currently serving as the Chairperson of the Board of Higher Education.
- Monsignor Viane Etuale, Vice Chairperson
Monsignor Viane Etuale is a former teacher, principal and Director of Catholic Schools for over twenty-five years. His educational background includes Marist Brothers High School, Mamoa Theological College, Mount Angel Seminary in Portland, Oregon and the University of San Francisco where he earned a Master of Arts in Education/School Administration. He currently serves as Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Samoa-Pago Pago. He is also the Vice-Chairperson of the Board of Higher Education.
- Reverend Elder Dr. Si'ulagi Solomona Jr., Board Member
Reverend Elder Dr. Solomona Jr. is a former student of the American Samoa Community College (ASCC), who became one of the first five students to join the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) in 1980 and served the PTK as the Vice President. He also was a member and President of the Student Government Association (SGA). Reverend Elder Dr. Solomona Jr. returned to ASCC as an Instructor and Chairman of the Social Studies department. He is a member of the American Samoa Humanities Council and is an instructor of the AGAPE Bible College. He currently serves as the Senior Pastor of the Victory Chapel Christian Church in Pava’ia’i and holds a Doctorate in Public Administration from Golden Gate University.
- Dr. Moreli J. Niuatoa, Board Member
Dr. Moreli J. Niuatoa is an educator with over 25 years of teaching, administrative, and management experience. Currently, Dr. Niuatoa serves as the President of the Kanana Fou Theological Seminary. He has taught in private and public schools in both American Samoa and the United States. In addition to his vast experience as a teacher and administrator, Dr. Niuatoa is first and foremost a student himself. Dr. Niuatoa holds an Associate of Arts degree, a Bachelor of Divinity, a Master of Arts in Religious Education and a Doctorate in Philosophy. He is currently working on a Master of Psychology degree.
- HC Tauiliili Lauifi, Board Member
HC Tauiliili is the second returning Board member who has been on the Board for over 10 years. He currently serves as the President of the American Samoa Veterans Association (ASVA) and the President of the U.S. Navy & U.S. Coast Guard Association of American Samoa. He also continues to serve his Church and Community as the Deacon of the Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa (CCCAS of Fitiuta & Iliili) and a member of the Village Council of Fitiuta/District of Manu’a.
- Mrs. Elena Sabrina Taule’ale’a Tavai, Student Representative
Mrs. Elena Sabrina Taule’ale’a Tavai is the newly elected student representative to the Board of Higher Education 2016-2017. She graduated high school in 1994 from Honolulu Hawaii, and has returned to College to complete her Associate’s degree. As a second year student, Mrs. Tavai hopes to support her fellow students by being the voice of the student body within the Board of Higher Education.
Contact BHE
Tiare Tupua
BHE Administrative Assistant
Telephone: 684-699-9155 x406
E-mail: t.tupua@amsamoa.edu
BHE Rulings & Actions
- August 28, 2015
- Board of Higher Education Self Evaluation Instrument approved
- Board of Higher Education Self Evaluation Results
- Board of Higher Education 2015-2016 Annual Goals
- Board of Higher Education Minutes
- Board of Higher Education Policies:
- New Policy 1004: Comprehensive Program Review and Assessment of Instructional Programs, Student Services, and Administrative Services
- Revision of Policy 2001: Board of Higher Education Code of Ethics
- Revision of Policy 2002: Board of Higher Education Code of Conduct
- New Policy 2002.1: Board of Higher Education Violation of the Law, Code of Ethics, and Conduct
- New Policy 2002.2: Board of Higher Education Conflict of Interest
- Revision of Policy 2005: Board of Higher Education Establishment of Board and College Policies
- New Policy 2007.1: Board of Higher Education Self Evaluation
- Revision of Policy 3007: Budgeting and Forecasting
- Revision of Policy 4006.1: Degree Requirements
- Revision of Policy 4008.1: Staff Appointment Types
- Revision of Policy 4200: Employment of Non Residents
- Revision of Policy 4208.1: American Samoa Employment Preferences
- Revision of Policy 5108: Faculty Teaching Load
- Revision of Policy 7001: Budget
- New Policy 7000.5: Financial Emergency Plan
- New Policy 7212: Reserve Funds