Michael Hassett served as a Peace Corps Volunteer from 2012-2014.  As a volunteer, he was an English Language Facilitator in the village of Fahefa, Tongatapu. 

After Peace Corps,  Michael became a Shriver Peaceworker Fellow at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) where he earned his Masters in Public Policy.  He worked in Baltimore, first as a College Access Coordinator for Baltimore Public City Schools and then as a research specialist for St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore. 

Afterwards, he went on to earn his Ph.D. in Public Policy.  His research focuses on the interplay between human resource management, job resources, job demands and how it affects the Federal workforce. 

Currently, Michael is a Budget Analyst, in the Office of International Affairs and Seafood Inspection, at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 

Michael is originally from the greater Pittsburgh region.  He enjoys traveling, reading, and history. 

Harrison Siegel served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Kingdom of Tonga from 2012 to 2014. Based in Ha'akio, Vava'u, Harrison taught English for grades 3 through 6 at GPS Houma. Harrison also directed Camp GLOW (Girls Leading Our World) and co-founded Camp GROW (Guys Reshaping Our World), two annual 5-day programs for 13 year old boys and girls that focused on women's rights, health education, and leadership capacity building. 

Harrison is currently an Associate Director at Social Finance, a national nonprofit that mobilizes capital to drive social progress through outcomes-based impact investing. His previous professional experience includes impact investing at OPIC and Quantified Ventures, and management consulting at Huron Life Sciences.

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 a Junior Analyst at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and is working on completing her masters in Teacher English to Speakers of Other Languages.

Katie Tongia served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Kingdom of Tonga from 2013-2015.  During her service, Katie taught English at Vava’u Side School, co-directed Camp GLOW & GROW, volunteered at the Neiafu public library and local university, and coached girls’ soccer teams.

Katie is FIEFIA LAHI (very happy) to be a part of the Friendly Islands family.  She now works at Peace Corps Headquarters in the Inter-America and Pacific Region. 

Autumn Thomas served as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Kingdom of Tonga from 2013-2015 through Peace Corps’ Masters International program. While also serving as an English Literacy Facilitator in the villages of Faleloa and Hoi she had the opportunity to volunteer with the United Nations Development Program and Tonga’s Government Sustainability Program on projects focusing on women and youth participation in local governance.

Autumn holds a bachelor’s degree in social science education from the University of Central Florida and a Master of Arts in International and Comparative Education from Florida State University. She currently works as a Project Coordinator for an international development NGO where she works on education programs in Central Asia and the Middle East.

Lee Hartle is a Certified Public Accountant and manager at Aronson LLC, based in Rockville, MD.  He provides a range of full service assurance services including accounting consulting and financial statement audits, reviews, and compilations.  Prior to working at Aronson, he worked in the public sector at the United States Postal Service in their accounting and finance department focusing on process improvement and risk management.  He obtained a B.S. in Accountancy at Penn State University.

Lee focuses his expertise on working with nonprofit and technology companies.  He is passionate about education and supports those organizations and companies that try to improve the educational circumstances for children.  He has experience working with and advising a variety of private school institutions and educational technology companies.

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.

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 Collete, 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 studying, 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.

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 serving as the Chief Information Officer for the National Marine Fisheries Service in Silver Spring, MD.  

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 children Kristen and Joshua, traveling, cooking, and enjoying food from around the world.

Reimen is an Australian legal practitioner and worked for 2 years as a court official in the Tongan superior courts in Tongatapu and on circuit to the outer islands. Prior to his appointment in Tonga, Reimen worked in Cambodia at a UN-backed war crimes tribunal and in private practice in Australia.  

While he currently practices predominantly in civil, commercial and international litigation in the Australasian region, Reimen continues to maintain close ties with the Tongan community in Australia and Tonga. He also maintains close ties with communities in South East Asia and the Pacific (particularly Cambodia, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines) where he grew up, worked and lived. 

Reimen holds a degrees in law and arts from the University of Queensland, and is presently undertaking a Masters in Science with the University of London, Royal Holloway College. 

Reimen is passionate about access to justice, promoting diversity, and strengthening the capacity of judicial and legal institutions to promote the rule of law and human rights in international development. He brings a wealth of experience to FoT as well as significant logistical assistance with coordinating projects on the ground in Tonga.  

As a fun fact, Reimen is the first (and to date, only) non-Tongan or Palangi lawyer to be admitted to practice at the Tongan bar.