TAs at Work in Micronesia and the South Pacific
TAs in Kosrae
John Pettit is a member of the energy conservation team working with the
Kosrae Utilities Authority. John is a graduate student in architecture, and is
currently employed by the Energy Studies in Buildings Laboratory at the UO. He
is interested in discovering ways to more efficiently use the island's limited energy
generation capabilities, especially in local building design.
Technical Assistant Jason Moore will facilitate a follow-up computer training
program with the staff of the Kosrae Department of Transportation. Jason is
looking forward to sharing with his Micronesian co-workers the skills he
acquired as a technical computer support staff person for a computer company in
Eugene.
Sam Karp, a recent graduate of the Energy Management Program at Lane
Community College, will be part of a team helping Kosrae Utilities Authority
with their energy conservation program. His responsibilities will include teaching
counterparts how to conduct energy audits and propose efficiency improve
ment measures. Sam is interested in renewable energy technology that pro
motes a sustainable global environment.
In September, after receiving his UO master's degree in public affairs with an
emphasis in natural resources and environmental management,
Aaron-Pilika Sigrah, a native Kosraean, will return
home with his wife, Joyce. Aaron has
lived in the US for eight years while completing his undergraduate and graduate
education. He will be working with the Department of Fisheries and Marine
Resources, assisting in the collection, development and organization of re
search materials. Aaron is the first Micronesian to serve as a Technical As
sistant with the Micronesia and South Pacific Program.
AMERICAN SAMOA
Etsuko Yasui will collaborate with the American Samoa Department of Marine
and Wildlife Resources to evaluate the progress of ongoing public awareness
and educational efforts for marine and wildlife species on the island. Etsuko
received her undergraduate degree in Japan. She is a graduate student in the
UO International Studies Program, and her interests
are international communication and environmental issues.
Matt Van Ess is a graduate student in commu
nity and regional planning at the UO. In September he will begin
working with the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources in American Sa
moa on a coral reef mapping project. Matt is interested in
marine, estuarine, and coastal issues. He is exploring the role of
geographic information systems in improving decision making in these areas.
In June, Alysia Ogden will be working with the Environmental
Protection Agency on American Samoa, aiding in the
development of an education program on hazardous materials and pesti
cides. Alysia has previous experience with environmen
tal organizations, and she is currently pursuing a master's
degree in community and regional planning at the UO.
NORTHERN MARIANAS
Reed Perkins will be working with the Coastal Resources Management division
of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands government helping to
integrate geographic information systems technology into habitat conservation
plans. Reed is currently a doctoral candidate at Oregon State University studying
the effects of climate and watershed physiography on floods in the western
Cascades. He is interested in this project because it provides an opportunity to
explore a new part of the world, to share some of his knowledge in an applied setting, and to learn from his new
colleagues. This assignment is the first the MSPP has assisted with in
Saipan.
POHNPEI
Returning Technical Assistant Kit Cottrell
will be assisting the Pohnpei Department of Agriculture with the
development of their agriculture master plan. Last summer Kit spent
three months working on an agricultural development project in the
Marshall Islands. This June, he will complete the requirements for a
master's degree in community and regional planning. Kit intends to
pursue a career in sustainable community development both at home
and abroad.
Linda Rose, a third year MSPP returnee, will be working for the
Pohnpei Department of Education assisting with development of the
high school library program and a teachers' resource center. She has a
Ph.D. in education and has worked many years as an educator in Oregon,
California and Minnesota.
Another third year Technical Assistant with the MSPP,
Eldon Haines will be helping to establish a database
system for voter registration in collaboration with the Pohnpei State
Election Commission. Eldon has programmed computers in support of his
teaching, scientific and, business career for over 35 years and he is
looking forward to participating in this new project.
Dona Miller is traveling to Pohnpei as a member of the land use planning team
working with the State Department of Land. She brings a diverse educational
background and wide range of experience to the project. Dona has degrees in
electronic engineering, international business, and public planning and policy,
and she has worked in both the public and private sectors. Currently, Dona is
enrolled in the UO community and regional planning graduate program. Her
special interest is in small community development and citizen participation
within communities.
Returning Technical Assistant and current technical support person for the
MSPP, Clint Chiavarini will work with Dona at the Department of Land on
Pohnpei to implement the Pohnpei State Land Use Plan which was developed
with the aid of other Technical Assistants last year. Clint will graduate in June from
the UO with a master's degree in community and regional planning. In past years
he has been a Technical Assistant for the Kosrae State Department of Public Works
and the Republic of Palau Division of Conservation and Entomology.
Jeffrey Jane Knoche will be assisting the Division of Historic Preservation and
Cultural Affairs on Pohnpei with the administration and exhibit design of a
new center for maritime history. Originally from Maryland, Jeffrey was a
graphic designer for 12 years before moving to Eugene to pursue a graduate
degree. Jeffrey is completing her coursework in arts and administration
with a concentration in museum studies.
PALAU
Returning Technical Assistant Peg Butler Murtagh
is a graduate student in landscape architecture at the UO. She
will be assisting Palau Community College with their ongoing landscape
plan, including site drainage and a mangrove interpretation area. Her
interests include sustainable community design and education. Last sum
mer Peg worked with the Environmental Protection Agency on Pohnpei,
dealing with issues of solid waste management, focusing on issues of
waste reduction and reuse.
Lance Gatchell is finishing up a master of science degree in groundwa
ter engineering at Oregon State University. He will be working with the
Palau Environmental Quality Protection Board, assisting with the prepara
tion of maps to delineate water quality classification zones that correspond to
Palau's marine and fresh water quality standards.
Kristen Taylor, a staff member with the MSPP, will be assisting the Palau
Housing Authority next January to develop a consolidated plan for community housing to be submitted to the
Department of Housing and Urban Development. Kristen is currently a
graduate student in community and regional planning at the UO. She re
ceived her undergraduate degree in architecture and has many years of
experience in the field of architecture and community development.
In June, Trish Wilson will be traveling to Palau to assist in the development of a
comprehensive agriculture and forestry plan for the Division of Agriculture and
Mineral Resources. Trish is a graduate student in community and regional plan
ning at the UO, with a bachelor's degree in forestry and resource management.
She has worked for the US Forest Service and is currently employed by the US
Bureau of Land Management.
Terri Harding will be traveling to Palau to work with the Palau Visitors
Authority on an ecotourism assessment project. Terri is a master's candidate in
community and regional planning. This project offers Terri an opportunity to
combine her experience in tourism market analysis and environmental impact
assessment to help determine the potential for ecotourism on Palau.
YAP
Returning Technical Assistant Jean D'Agostino
will be working with the Yap Division of Manpower Development &
Employment Services to assist with the implementation of a comprehensive
manpower plan for the state. In 1994, Jean was a Technical Assistant with the
Pohnpei Division of Marine Resources in coastal resources planning. Since then
she has received her master's degree in community and
regional planning from the UO. Currently, Jean is working
in Tillamook County, Oregon with two local watershed coun
cils on public outreach and education projects concerning water
quality issues.
Jason Kruckeberg, a returning Technical Assistant, is a planner for the
Tillamook Bay National Estuary Project in Garibaldi, Oregon. In August, Jason
will begin working with the Office of Planning and Budget on Yap, collaborat
ing with his counterpart to develop a uniform building code for Yap State.
Jason received a master's degree in community and regional planning from the
UO last year. In 1994, he was a Technical Assistant with the Palau Visitors Au
thority.
Françoise Bodone will be assisting the
Yap Historic Preservation Office with their multi-year Cultural and Historic
Preservation Plan. Françoise is pursuing her Ph.D. in educational policy and management. In 1995, she obtained master's
degrees in international studies and urban and regional planning at the UO.
Françoise is interested in the introduction
and preservation of regional and non-traditional cultures in mainstream educa
tional curricula to honor the richness and potential for diversity.
MARSHALL ISLANDS
The Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority will receive assistance from
Lynn Rosentrater on an aquaculture feasibility study. As part of the project,
Lynn and her counterpart will travel to Mejit and Lib atolls to sample and survey
lakes which are possible sites for aquaculture projects to generate local income
and food supplies. Recently, Lynn completed her master's degree in geography
at the UO. She has spent many summers in the field surveying forest and wetland
habitats.
Deb Burke will be assisting the College of the Marshall Islands in Majuro
with development of public education materials. Presently, Deb is working on a
master's degree at Oregon State University in interdisciplinary studies with a
focus on anthropology and fisheries. She is especially interested in the association
of community values with marine natural resources.
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