<p><span class="p-body"><span class="p-body-large-bold">What makes you proud to be an alum?</span></span></p> <p><span class="p-body">It has been a humbling journey to live in NYC and study in NYU as a Tongan and Pacific Islander, with NYU’s strong focus on global issues, its diverse student body and the dedicated and inspirational professors and lecturers.<br />  </span></p> <p><span class="p-body"><span class="p-body-large-bold">What are your main areas of responsibility in your current role?</span></span></p> <p><span class="p-body">I recently resumed duty in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs following the completion of my Tour-of-Duty in New York in mid-January 2025 as the Second Secretary and Elections Officer in the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Tonga to the United Nations after seven and a half years. The main area of responsibility in my current role as Assistant Secretary in the Foreign Policy Division is supporting our Head of Division and team in effectively managing the bilateral, regional and multilateral relations of the Kingdom of Tonga. Managing these relations includes maintaining and strengthening Tonga's diplomatic relations with countries and enhancing cooperation with regional and multilateral institutions, such as the United Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum. Our Ministry and division also works closely with our development partners, government line ministries, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), the public and private sectors and other stakeholders.<br />  </span></p> <p><span class="p-body"><span class="p-body-large-bold">How did your time at the CGA help prepare you for this role?</span></span></p> <p><span class="p-body">Studying part-time in NYU CGA while working full-time as a diplomat in the United Nations Headquarters in New York during the COVID-19 global pandemic was both a unique and challenging experience. The CGA’s smooth and rapid transition from teaching in-person classes to virtual classes during the COVID-19 lockdown from mid-March 2020 greatly assisted my adjustment to working from home. One of the courses taught by Professor Michael F. Oppenheimer, entitled “COVID-19: A World Remade,” challenged me to think critically about how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the world and how we might approach and address future pandemics.<br />  </span></p> <p><span class="p-body"><span class="p-body-large-bold">Any favorite memories at the CGA?</span></span></p> <p><span class="p-body">An incredible experience I have is traveling to the UAE in January 2020 for 2 weeks to partake in a Global Field Intensive course on gender and sustainable development held in the NYU Abu Dhabi Campus! It was my first trip to the UAE and the program set out by the CGA for our course was incredible and invigorating.</span></p>