Samoa: Pacific Communities and Social Change

Faculty and Staff

Jackie Fa'asisila, Academic Director

Jackie Fa'asisila, Academic Director
Jackie Fa'asisila received both a B.A. in Education and an M.A. in History from the University of Missouri.  She first went to Samoa in 1972 as a Peace Corps Volunteer.  In addition to her work as a teacher trainer, Ms. Fa'asisila has been Associate Peace Corps Director and cross-cultural Training Manager in Samoa, the Cook Islands, and Niue.  She taught social science and educational studies at Primary Teachers' College and Secondary Teachers' College, respectively.  She was also the Orientation Coordinator for Australian Volunteers International and UN Volunteers in Samoa, and served as the Language Advisor/Instructor for several SIT Study Abroad Samoa semesters before becoming the director.  Ms. Fa'asisila resides in Apia with her family. She has been the Academic Director of the Samoa Program since Fall 1996.

Silao Kasiano, Assistant Program Coordinator
Silao has worked full-time with SIT Samoa since 2008. His professional experience includes nearly 30 years with Peace Corps Samoa where he served as a language trainer, Language Cultural Coordinator, and Training Manager.  Silao managed and designed language and cultural training for Peace Corps volunteer intake ranging from 30-70 volunteers per year. Following his retirement from the Peace Corps, he served as Relationship Manager for the South Pacific Business Development Program and oversaw both staff training and business training for rural Samoan women.

Silao is active in village, church, and cultural affairs. He holds several matai titles and is responsible for looking after the social and economic well-being of the extended family, representing them in village affairs and overseeing the family’s communal land.