The University of Guam announces the appointments of six academic administrators.

“Each of these individuals has shown unwavering dedication to UOG’s mission of Ina, Deskubre, Setbe and to the well-being and success of our students,” UOG President Anita Borja Enriquez said. “I am looking forward to working with them in their new roles as we propel the University forward.”  

Senior Vice President and Provost 

Dr. Sharleen Santos-Bamba has been named Senior Vice President and Provost after a nationwide search. Dr. Santos-Bamba now fills the position vacated by Dr. Enriquez when she became the 12th President of UOG.

A UOG alumna, Dr. Santos-Bamba joined UOG 20 years ago as a part-time instructor in the English Department at the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. In 2015, right after she received tenure as faculty, she stepped up to be the Associate Dean at the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. She served as interim Vice Provost, beginning in January 2022 and as interim Senior Vice President in August 2023.

She holds a Ph.D. in English from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a graduate certificate in Management Development from Harvard Graduate School of Education, a Master of Arts in Literacy Education from Pacific Lutheran University in Washington State, and a Bachelor of Arts in English from UOG.  

 

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Interim Vice Provost

Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

Dr. Pamela Peralta is the Interim Vice Provost, Office of Research and Programs. She joined the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) in 2020 and led ORSP to achieving a streamlined grant management system and a tenfold increase in grant applications.

She holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix, Hawaii; a Doctorate in Education in Organizational Leadership from Argosy University, Hawaii; and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations with emphasis in French Studies and Hispanic Studies from Mills College, California.

Dr. Peralta will also continue in her role as Director of Grants and Contracts.  

 

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Director

Water and Environmental Research Institute (WERI) of the Western Pacific 

Dr. Yuming Wen is the new Director of the Water and Environmental Research Institute (WERI) of the Western Pacific. Dr. Wen joined UOG as a tenure-track assistant professor of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) 19 years ago. He has conducted numerous research projects on water and environmental issues in Guam, the Northern Marianas, and the Federated States of Micronesia.

Dr. Wen received a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences with emphasis on GIS, spatial analysis and modeling, and remote sensing, from the University of Rhode Island.

He holds a Master of Engineering in Surveying from Southwest Jiaotong University, China, and a Bachelor of Engineering in Surveying, from Shandong University of Science and Technology, China. 

 

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Interim Dean

Student Success 

Dr. Gena Rojas will lead Enrollment Management and Student Success as Interim Dean.

Dr. Rojas began her career at UOG in 1991 as a secretary at the School of Business and Public Administration and continued her classified service as program coordinator III at the Financial Aid Office and eventually joined the ranks of UOG faculty. She served as Extension Faculty at the College of Natural and Applied Sciences and as faculty in the School of Business and Public Administration and was the director of the Regional Center for Public Policy. She now returns to her roots in student affairs.

Dr. Rojas received her Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Public Policy and Social Change from Union Institute & University in Ohio. She earned her Master’s Degree at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Public Administration and International Affairs, and her Bachelor of Science in Public Administration from UOG. 

 

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Interim Associate Dean

College of Natural and Applied Sciences

Dr. Maika Vuki is the new Interim Associate Dean in the Colleges of Natural and Applied Sciences. He has spent 19 years as an instructor at UOG and 15 years at the University of South Pacific.

He has taught General Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, and Physical Chemistry at the undergraduate level, and Environmental Chemistry and Electrochemistry at the graduate level. He chaired UOG’s Chemistry Program for 14 years.

He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Southampton, a Master of Science in Chemistry from the University of Auckland, and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of the South Pacific.

 

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Interim Associate Director

Telecommunications and Distance Education, Online Learning 

Professor Andrea Sant is the new Interim Associate Director, Telecommunications and Distance Education, Online Learning. She joined UOG in 2006 where she has been teaching in the Division of English and Applied Linguistics (DEAL). She has served as the program chair for DEAL and the Master of Arts in English Program as well as on the Faculty Senate and WASC Report Writing Team III.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Sant led the Online Teaching Resources (OTR) team in the creation of the I Meyeng UOG-Certified Online Teacher program, a 100-hour faculty development training series to enhance the University’s capacity to teach online with Moodle.

Dr. Sant holds a Ph.D. in American Literature from Miami University (Ohio), A Master of Arts in American Literature from New Mexico State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature from North Arizona University.