Isapela joined SID-US in September 2023 as a Program Associate. Graduating from the University of Oregon in 2023, magna cum laude, Isapela obtained her BS in Political Science and Indigenous, Race, and Ethnic studies—bringing a BIPOC perspective and academia-focused Pacific Islander advocacy experience to the SID-US team.
Outside of SID-US, Isapela continues her education at American University, pursuing an MA in International Affairs: Comparative and Regional Studies (Asia-Pacific). As a former Student Assistant for the University of Oregon Secondary Special Education and Transition program, Isapela is well acquainted with supporting research on and the dissemination of accessibility services, specifically as it relates to ensuring equitable coverage within disenfranchised spaces. She is excited to form a deeper relationship with the international development community, as a part of SID-US.
Additionally, as a member of the Moana-Oceania and Tongan-American communities, Isapela is particularly interested in strengthening educational resource accessibility for the Oceanic community and seeks to contribute to DEI initiatives relevant to the aforementioned efforts.