Rate My Professor Anna Seiuli

Anna Seiuli is a Wellbeing Counsellor at the University of Otago's Student Health Services, having joined the Mental Health and Wellbeing team in 2019. Trained in Otago and of Samoan descent, she specializes in supporting student wellbeing, with a focus on Pasifika communities. Before transitioning to the University of Otago, Seiuli spent ten years at Otago Polytechnic in roles such as Counsellor, Student Advisor - Pasifika, and Consultant within Student Success. These positions involved providing guidance to Pacific students, fostering their academic engagement, and addressing their specific cultural and wellbeing needs in tertiary education.

Seiuli holds a Bachelor of Social Services. Her academic interests center on Pasifika student experiences in health education programmes. She co-authored the publication 'Pasifika student experience in a Bachelor of Midwifery programme' in the New Zealand College of Midwives Journal (2018), which examined challenges and supports for Pasifika learners. In collaboration with Otago Polytechnic colleagues, she contributed to research employing Talanoa methodology and Spacifichology framework to enhance retention and success in midwifery studies. This included a 2022 presentation at the ITP Research Symposium titled 'Studying midwifery in Aotearoa New Zealand: Pasifika students' experience,' involving interviews with all eligible Pasifika students since 2016 to inform culturally responsive learning environments. Additionally, Seiuli co-presented 'Resilience in Practice' at the 2018 Pacific Education Forum with Barbara Fogarty-Perry, addressing resilience for industry professionals. Her contributions extend to OPSITARA research on Pasifika perspectives in midwifery. Through these efforts, Seiuli has influenced student support practices and Pasifika inclusion in health disciplines.