Michael is a Budget Analyst at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).  

Previously, he was a Shriver Peaceworker Fellow at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC).  For his first year, he worked in the Baltimore City Public School system as a college access coordinator where he designed and created the Commodore-to-College program that connected students and their parents to universities and colleges across the Greater Baltimore area. For his second year, he worked for St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore as a research specialist, where he wrote policy and issue briefs to direct programmatic and funding decisions for the organization.

Michael is a returned Peace Corps Volunteer from the Kingdom of Tonga, where he served from 2012-2014. As a Peace Corps Volunteer, he taught English in a rural primary school. He also served, twice, as an AmeriCorps volunteer as a team leader for a work-readiness program for inner-city foster youth, in Pittsburgh.

He earned his Ph.D. and Masters of Public Policy from UMBC and his Bachelors in History and Political Science from La Roche College.

Harrison Siegel is a Director at Social Finance, where he develops impact financing models to drive greater economic mobility and global health outcomes.

Prior to joining Social Finance, Harrison worked with the social enterprise finance team at the United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and Quantified Ventures, an outcomes-based capital firm. Before working in impact finance, Harrison began his career as a life sciences consultant at Huron Consulting Group and served as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Kingdom of Tonga.

Harrison holds an MA in International Development & Economics from Johns Hopkins University – School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and a BA in History from Washington University in St. Louis.

Chiara Collette Hassett was a Peace Corps Volunteer in the village of Ta'anga on the island of 'Eua from 2012 to 2014.

Chiara served as an English language facilitator and taught English to classes 3-6 and trained teachers on effective teaching practices. Chiara also helped her school principal complete his Bachelor's of Education and led an aerobics and walking group.

Since Peace Corps, Chiara has taught kindergarten, first and third grade in Maryland and lives with her husband, fellow RPCV Michael Hassett. Chiara is currently working as an Administrative Officer at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and recently completed her masters in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.

Tu’amelie Mahe served as a Primary school teacher in the Kingdom of Tonga from 2000 -2014. He started as a Senior Assistant Teacher Diplomate in Niuafo’ou Island at GPS ‘Alele’uta for 3 years and then became the principal of GPS Tongamama’o for another three years. He was also a teacher at GPS Popua in Tongatapu but attached at the main office for 2 years at the Filing system Units.

He was then transferred to ‘Eua where he worked at GPS Ta’anga  and became the principal of the school for several years. With the help of PCV Chiara Collette, Tu'amelie started studying for his bachelor's of  Education in 2013 before traveling to Fiji, on a New Zealand Aid scholarship award for three years for further studies at the University of the South Pacific,  where he graduated with a Bachelor in Education.  

After his tstudies were completed, Tu’amelie became an Education Officer for school grant and asset management at the Ministry of Education and Training in Tonga, a position which he continues to serve. 

Tu’amelie is originally from the island of Vava’u in the Kingdom of Tonga.  He enjoys teaching, traveling, and watching movies.

Shanda is a lawyer specializing in the representation of financial institutions in litigation matters and investigations.  

She is currently Senior Vice President & Senior Company Counsel for a large financial institution. Previously, she was a partner at the law firm K&L Gates LLP. Shanda graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, where she was the Editor-in-Chief of the University of Pittsburgh Law Review. Before heading to law school, Shanda graduated from West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Sociology. 

Throughout her legal career, Shanda has led or served on various committees and organizations focused on the development of women lawyers. 

Shanda lives in Highland, Maryland with her husband (board member, Roy Varghese) and their children, Kristen and Joshua.

Reed Rising was born in Guam and grew up in Southeast Asia, primarily in Indonesia. He attended the University of Rochester where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Economics with a Minor in Anthropology. Reed had the opportunity to travel with and study the operations of an anthropologist in West Papua who managed a program which supported the transition of local Papuan tribes into a monetary economy while preserving their traditional culture.

Furthermore, Reed was Philanthropy Chair at his social organization where he organized fundraising events for several charities. Reed is committed to building education in the Kingdom of Tonga and supporting their disaster relief. He has a Master of Science in Cybersecurity Technology and currently works as a Cybersecurity Consultant in the public sector.

Maka is a Business Advisor in his own business advisory firm, MPBAA Ltd in Auckland, New Zealand.   

Previously, he was a High School teacher in Tonga, a Bank Officer for ANZ Banking Group, a CEO for a motor vehicle dealership in Auckland, and a Service Delivery Manager for Transdev Auckland Ltd, who manages the Auckland Metro trains.

He wears many hats: Operations Management, Financial Accountant, and an entrepreneur.  He is involved with the Pacific Island community, in New Zealand, giving his spare time to charitable work with various community groups.

He lives in Auckland, New Zealand with his family: two sons, three daughters, and two beautiful granddaughters. 

Aleda has over 20 years of experience in Early Childhood Development, Primary School-Aged Educational Leadership, as well as Youth Advocacy.  She served in Tonga as a US Peace Corps Volunteer from 2013-2015. While in Tonga she focused on English literacy and leading Camp GLOW (Girls Leading Our World). After serving in Tonga, Aleda moved to The Netherlands and worked for Women Win, an organization that promotes girls' leadership through sport.  

Aleda served in the Peace Corps a second time with her husband, Kevin, in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, from 2018-2020. In Ethiopia, Aleda worked with her village's Health Center to promote maternal health. She also developed and directed a Tigray region-specific Camp GLOW. 

She and Kevin now live in Prescott, Arizona. Aleda works as a remote reading specialist with the Santa Fe Unified School District. She is also attending graduate school full-time, studying to become a Licensed Clinical Family Marriage Counselor (LFMT & LCPC).  Kevin is a Surveyor for the US Forest Service and works in the Prescott National Forest.

Todd grew up on a small farm in Pennsylvania.  He met his Tongan-born wife 'Anau, in 2008, while was living in New Zealand.  They married in Tonga in 2010, and Todd has had an ongoing relationship with the Friendly Islands ever since!  

Over the past decade, Todd has been involved in a number of projects, in Tonga, relating to photography, filmmaking, rural development, climate change, education, and deportation.  Todd has a great passion for the Tongan language and culture and he most enjoys late-night discussions around the kumete with friends.

He hold a bachelors in anthropology and education from Lincoln University (USA), and a masters in environment and society from the University Of Waikato (NZ).  He is currently a climate change disaster risk management coordinator for MORDI TT. 

Todd, 'Anau and their two children are currently living in Auckland, New Zealand and they hope to relocate back to Tonga in the near future.

Neomai Maka is a high school teacher in Auckland, New Zealand.

She was born and raised in South Auckland, New Zealand. Her parents originate from the villages of Fua’amotu and Tatakamotonga in Tonga. She comes from a family with 6 siblings the youngest being her adopted 6 year old sister who is the centre of her world.

She has a varied background in education and advocacy. From being the cultural officer in the Pacific Island Students Association to being the President of The Red Cross student branch at The University of Auckland. She has also been an Engineering Student Ambassador for the University. She has joined various mentoring programmes from the university working with high school students to provide extra tutoring and career advice.

She spent her first year of teaching overseas in Tonga at Queen Salote College. While she was there she volunteered for Camp Glow which was a programme aimed at empowering Tongan girls to goal set and aim for self-improvement.

Neomai is passionate about helping her community in whatever way she can. She has volunteered for Habitat for Humanity. She has been the Auckland-Manukau Youth Convenor for the Methodist Church of New Zealand and has a long history of working with youth in Vahefonua – The Tongan branch of the Methodist Church of New Zealand.

Her hobbies include coffee, reading and writing. Neomai is passionate about travelling – she has travelled around the Middle East, Europe, the Pacific Islands and America on her own. Neomai is a cultural freak and loves learning about different people and cultural practices when she travels.

Roy Varghese is a proven leader with a passion for developing, coaching, and mentoring individuals and teams to maximize their potential. For the past 20 years, he has served in leadership capacity at public and private sector organizations. He has also volunteered on the boards of several non-profit organizations, since his youth. He is currently a program executive with the US Courts.  

Having grown up in India, Roy has a keen understanding and appreciation for the opportunities and challenges for a non-governmental organization in a developing country. Roy has a Masters in Business Administration from Johns Hopkins University and is pursuing a PhD in Public Policy at the University of Maryland Baltimore County.

In his spare time, Roy enjoys spending time with his wife Shanda, children Kristen and Joshua, traveling, cooking, and enjoying food from around the world.