New Zealand appoints first university leader of Pacific heritage

New Zealand higher education has achieved a diversity milestone with 바카라사이트 appointment of its first vice-chancellor with Pacific Islands heritage.

Samoan-New Zealand academic Damon Salesa, a prizewinning historian and 바카라사이트 first Rhodes Scholar of Pacific Islands descent, has been chosen to run Auckland University of Technology (AUT) after long-serving incumbent Derek McCormack retires in March.

The appointment puts Dr Salesa at 바카라사이트 helm of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s newest and fastest rising university. AUT cracked 바카라사이트 top 250 in this year¡¯s?온라인 바카라?World University Rankings after debuting in 바카라사이트 top 800 in 2016.

His ascension coincides with a policy focus to improve Pacific people¡¯s participation in higher education through 바카라사이트 10-year??and a move to?increase competitive funding?of research by and about Pacific Islanders, among o바카라사이트r measures.

Dr Salesa is currently pro vice-chancellor (Pacific) at 바카라사이트 University of Auckland. He previously co-headed Auckland¡¯s School of M¨¡ori Studies and Pacific Studies and directed 바카라사이트 Asian/Pacific Islander American Studies Programme at 바카라사이트 University of Michigan.

He completed his doctoral studies at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford and has authored books including?Racial Crossings, which won 바카라사이트 international Ernest Scott Prize in 2012, and?Island Time: New Zealand¡¯s Pacific Futures?in 2017. He is a fellow of 바카라사이트 Royal Society of New Zealand and serves on its council.

New Zealand¡¯s minister for Pacific peoples, Aupito William Sio, congratulated Dr Salesa and AUT for ¡°enabling¡± 바카라사이트 country¡¯s first vice-chancellor of Pacific heritage. ¡°It feels like a new dawn,¡± he tweeted.

Dr Salesa, an Aucklander by birth and 바카라사이트 son of a Samoan factory worker, described AUT as a ¡°pace-setter¡± in New Zealand¡¯s social, educational and economic transformation. ¡°[It] has been 바카라사이트 most remarkable story in Aotearoa New Zealand tertiary education, showing how 바카라사이트 pursuit of excellence can be set on a foundation of service, inclusion and close relationships with our communities, businesses and stakeholders,¡± he said.

AUT said 바카라사이트 appointment had followed a global search for a new leader. Chancellor Rob Campbell said that 바카라사이트 university council had been ¡°impressed by Damon¡¯s vision of 바카라사이트 critical contribution AUT can make to Aotearoa New Zealand and 바카라사이트 Pacific through quality research and teaching, and 바카라사이트 role of Te Tiriti o Waitangi [Treaty of Waitangi] throughout 바카라사이트 work of 바카라사이트 university¡±.

john.ross@ws-2000.com