HONORARY DEGREES

ROSALIA FEJERAN MATEO
Master of Micronesian Traditional Knowledge

Mama Chai has been serving Guam and all of Micronesia as a Yo’åmte, a master traditional healer, for more than 64 years.

She is one of a few remaining indigenous experts in the field of traditional healing and specializes in massage and traditional medicinal herbal remedies for various ailments, such as skin problems, respiratory issues, infertility, pain, congestion, and women’s health.

Mama Chai is known as a Saina to many and is a World War II survivor who has long been respected for risking her life to save her sister and another young woman being held captive by the Japanese Imperial Army.

She started her apprenticeship at the age of 19 with Yo’åmte Regina Terlaje and has continued the legacy of traditional healing throughout her life, personally serving thousands of clients. 

She joined the Haya Foundation in 2014 to promote and perpetuate healing traditions and was instrumental in the opening of Guam’s first Traditional Healing Center at Sagan Kotturan Chamorro in Tamuning in 2016 and two additional centers in Agat and Yona.

Mama Chai has been active in developing the Apprenticeship Program in 2019 along with the Guam Para Hinem’lo Center for Apprenticeship and Traditional Healing Workshops. She has been teaching and guiding apprentices to learn traditional healing and is guiding two apprentices.

Mama Chai has displayed a lifetime of selfless service as an indigenous expert in the field of healing, made significant contributions to a population with whom many may not have access to services, and has served many of the most vulnerable and improved the quality of life.

 

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RLENE SANTOS STEFFY
Doctor of Humane Letters 

Rlene is a mass communications specialist of 42 years and is considered one of the leading oral-history practitioners in the region. She is proficient in the English and CHamoru languages — a skill of utmost importance in producing and documenting bilingual projects in mass media.

She is a prolific writer, journalist, speaker, and documentarian whose work is recognized for incorporating an oral history methodology; carefully framed interviews that demonstrate rigorous background research; a creative eye for place; and an interview technique that elicited the most hidden memories from informants.

She has captured the experiences of war survivors, community leaders, and traditional knowledge experts on Guam, the Northern Marianas Islands, and throughout all of Micronesia. Her work gives voice to the CHamoru people by examining their histories by documenting their personal stories and first-hand experiences.

Rlene was recognized as a Humanities Scholar by the Northern Marianas Humanities Council and the Northern Marianas College, where she reviewed and evaluated the oral history collection, resulting in a production of an hour-long video documentary to show the value of the collection.

Her strength and commitment to excellence in the field of oral history and ethnographic Documentation demonstrates a high order of creative, scholarly achievement, and  makes a significant and lasting contribution to local and regional research in the humanities and social sciences.