The Senate has approved five new members to the Board of Higher Education.
Brigette Moala and Loata Sipili were confirmed by a vote of 14-1 while Sesula Fepuleai McMoore Tufele, Dr Oreta Mapu Crichton and Dr Lina Galeai-Scanlan received unanimous approval.
Members of the Board of Higher Education must be approved by both the Senate and House.
During their brief confirmation hearing, chaired by Senator Tuialuuluu Vaimili, the nominees faced questions about their current employment status, whether they were asked if they wanted to serve on this board, if they have undergone any orientation and what they hoped to achieve as Board members for the American Samoa Community College.
Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean said he didn’t have any questions about the credentials and abilities of the five nominees however he wanted to know if the Governor had asked them first if they wanted to serve on the Board of Higher Education. McMoore Tufele said a while back she had expressed to the Lt Governor that she wanted to serve. While she didn’t talk directly with the Governor she was happy to have been picked.
Sipili said she had been contacted by Andra Samoa of the Governor’s Office to be a Board member. Dr Mapu Cricthon responded that she had expressed to the Governor she wanted to continue public service and indicated she wanted to be on the Board of Higher Education. Brigette Moala also said that she had made known to the Governor she wanted to a member of this board. Dr Galeai-Scanlan said she had been contacted by Andra Samoa prior to being selected as a board member.
Senator Magalei Logovii said his only issue with the nominations is that the terms of all five members expire at the same time. He said usually board terms are staggered to ensure continuity.
Sipili told the hearing that three of them, Moala, McMoore Tufele and herself have attended orientations to learn the functions and responsibilities of the Board. And they’ve also been briefed on operations of the American Samoa Community College. Sipili said there are several priority areas that the board needs to focus on to carry the ASCC forward.
