From left, Muturwan Choay, Micronesian Studies graduate student; Dr. Cheryl Sangueza, UOG associate professor of Education; Dr. Mary Therese Cruz, Interim Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences; Dr. Sharleen Santos-Bamba, Interim Senior Vice President and Provost; Dr. Michael Clement, UOG associate professor of History, and Dr. Christopher Rasmussen, UOG assistant professor of History.

The conference, with its theme “Between Nations/Across Seas: The Transnational and Transcultural Pacific,” was a collaboration between Stockholm University and the University of Turku.

The annual conference brings Pacific knowledge and scholars across the globe. The conference hosted academics and researchers from across Europe, New Zealand, Micronesia, and various islands of the Pacific.

In one of the UOG team’s presentations, Witi Ihimaera, a keynote speaker, Maori author and anthologist best-known for his 1987 novel “The Whale Rider,” said he enjoyed hearing the "powerful women” presenters from UOG. 

The UOG team presented the following research papers or chaired panel discussions:

• “Teaching the Children of Micronesia” by Micronesian Studies graduate student Muturwan Choay.

• “Animuyi i Bos-måmi: Navigating Hidden Curriculum at the University of Guam,” by Dr. Cheryl R. Sangueza, Dr. Mary Therese F. Cruz, and Dr. Sharleen Santos-Bamba. Dr. Santos-Bamba is the Interim Senior Vice President, Dr. Cruz is Interim Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, and Sangueza is a professor at the School of Education. 

• Dr. Mary Therese F. Cruz chaired the presentation “Small Islands: Communities, Customs & Knowledge.”

• History professor Dr. Christopher Rasmussen’s presentation had the title “US Consul to Guam Captain Samuel J. Masters: Commerce, Empire, and Modernization in the Western Pacific, 1853-1857.”

• Choay presented “Pathways to Success by Pacific Islander Students in STEM Across the Seas of the Islands of Opportunity Alliance.”

• History professor Dr. Michael R. Clement offered a presentation about “Chenchulé: Indigenous CHamoru Reciprocity as Resistance to Colonial Development under Governor Felipe de la Corte (1855-1866).”

“We represent so much more than our study. We represent our university, our mentors, our island, our culture ... we left a memorable impression of Guam through our presence and our presentations,” Dr. Santos-Bamba said. 

Dr. Sangueza said being positive during interactions at conferences will leave a good, lasting impression of UOG delegates and the university.

“Take time and pride in developing and practicing your presentation because your message will be heard and that's what people will remember us by,” Sangueza said, adding later: “people are always observing and creating their mental image of who we are.”

The only master’s student presenting alongside Ph.D. candidates, Choay received praise for the quality of her visual and oral presentation.

“My academic journey at UOG taught me that positionality is a valuable perspective for research. It gave me a sense of pride to be a ‘regional expert’ on an international stage,” Choay said.

For more information, contact:

Muturwan Choay
Communications & Outreach Coordinator
CLASS Dean's Office
Phone: (671) 735-2852
Email: choaym@triton.uog.edu