Rate My Professor Aitasi Mafi Uele

Aitasi Mafi Uele is an Administrator for Divisional Services at Va’a o Tautai – Centre for Pacific Health, situated within the Division of Health Sciences at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. In her capacity, she delivers vital support to the Divisional Pacific committees and extends assistance to all staff members associated with the centre. Aitasi employs her exceptional organisational skills alongside her comprehensive understanding of protocols from various Pacific Island communities to guarantee that activities at Va’a o Tautai are conducted in a manner that is culturally safe and welcoming for all participants, including visitors, community representatives, staff, and students. A native of Samoa, Aitasi has accumulated substantial teaching experience, having instructed students in both Samoa and Tokelau over several years. Her linguistic proficiency encompasses Samoan, Fijian, Tokelauan, and Tongan, enabling her to bridge cultural and communicative gaps effectively within the Pacific health domain.

Academically, Aitasi Mafi Uele possesses a Bachelor of Education from the National University of Samoa and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education from the University of the South Pacific in Fiji. These qualifications equip her to contribute meaningfully to the administrative backbone of Va’a o Tautai, a centre dedicated to offering diverse academic programmes and comprehensive support services specifically for Pacific students across the University of Otago’s multiple campuses. The centre pioneers advancements in Pacific health teaching and research, operating under the guidance of the University of Otago’s Pacific Strategic Framework 2022-2030. It facilitates broader Pacific engagement university-wide and is directed by Faumuina Professor Fa’afetai Sopoaga. Furthermore, through the Takiala Pacific Health Leadership Network—comprising Associate Deans Pacific—it steers strategic leadership for Pacific development and fosters regional engagement within the Division of Health Sciences. Aitasi’s dedicated service bolsters these essential functions, aiding the production of internationally acclaimed health professionals from the division.