Michael is a Budget Analyst in 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.

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

Harrison Siegel is an Associate 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.

Reed Rising grew up in Southeast Asia, primarily in Indonesia. He attended the University of Rochester where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Economics and was Philanthropy Chair at his social organization. Reed later obtained his Master of Science in Cybersecurity Technology and currently works as a Cybersecurity Consultant in the public sector.

Due to his multicultural background, Reed is extremely adaptable. Whether it be leading projects at his workplace, being captain, coach, and commissioner of sports teams and leagues, leading his local D&D group as dungeon master, participating in piano competitions, or traveling with an anthropologist through the remote villages of West Papua, Reed has proven himself to be versatile and a reliable leader that supports the FoT mission with his passion and his diverse skills and experience.

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.

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.

Melissa D. Katoa is a proud Tongan who has served as a volunteer for over 20 years in her community. Melissa has served voluntarily for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints since 1995 serving in both Leadership and Teaching roles. In 2014 Melissa was appointed as a Justice of the Peace (J.P.) in and for the state of New South Wales by the N.S.W. Governor General, Professor The Hon. Dame Marie Bashir. In the same year, Melissa organised and funded her own project named “Hope for Ha’apai” which consisted of a team of Tongan Registered Nurses who flew to Tonga from Australia to help the rescue mission efforts of Niu’ui Hospital under the direction and supervision of Dr Tevita Vakasiuola and the Tongan Medical Team after Cyclone Ian struck the Islands of Ha'apai. Melissa's project was later renamed "Amanaki lelei ki Ha'apai" by the Honorable Minister of Health for Tonga, Associate Professor Amelia Tuipulotu. In 2016-2018 Melissa served on the Plumpton Neighbourhood Hall Committee as Secretary for the Blacktown City Council. Since graduating from the University of Newcastle Melissa has provided a free Mental Health Counselling Service and Advocacy Service for the Tongan community. This year Melissa has assisted the Pacific Islander Community in her spare time to access Government-funded Education Scholarships to help promote education and self-reliance for Pacific Islander families living in Australia.

Melissa graduated from The University of Western Sydney WSU (Australia) in 2007 with a Bachelor of Nursing and in 2016 Melissa graduated from The University of Newcastle UON (Australia) with a Masters in Mental Health Nursing. In the same year, she was also invited to attend another graduation ceremony in Singapore for The University of Newcastle, Singapore Campus. Earlier this year, Melissa pursued a Certificate in Engaging in Positive Behaviour Support Practices (PBS) from Monash University (Australia) which focuses on addressing behaviours of concern displayed by children in the classroom/home environment and adults with diverse needs.

Melissa is a Specialist Mental Health Nurse/Clinical Nurse Consultant who has worked for both the Government and Non-Government Sector and is now working for a Private Company as the National Disability Insurance Scheme Program Manager, Human Resources Manager and Support Coordination Manager successfully sweeping up 3 Management positions in the space of only three months since starting her new job. Melissa is now a recipient of the NSW Government Education Scholarships Program and is studying a Certificate in Disability from the New South Wales Technical and Further Education (TAFE) Institute which is helping her to excel in her role working with people who have a Psychosocial Disability.

Melissa lives in Sydney, Australia with her husband Paul Katoa and her Mother Makelesi Mahe who is from Nuku-Nuku, Tonga-Tapu Tonga. Her late Father is Mosese Vi from Fotua, Ha'apai Tonga. Melissa enjoys reading the scriptures, genealogy, public speaking and listening to the The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square and Dolly Parton.

Lee Hartle is a Certified Public Accountant and senior 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.

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.

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.