Mary Kate Soliva, a University of Guam alumna whose career has spanned national security and human rights advocacy, has returned to the island as an assistant professor of public administration and criminal justice at UOG’s School of Business & Public Administration.
Soliva, who earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public administration from UOG before completing a doctorate in criminal justice at Saint Leo University, has worked with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies, and the Project Management Institute. She also completed a Hoover Veteran Fellowship at Stanford University under former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Despite her global work, Soliva said her focus remained on Guam. She co-founded the Guam Human Rights Initiative with fellow alumna Erika Anderson, organizing research and education on issues such as human trafficking and labor rights. “With every opportunity, I asked myself: ‘How can I bring this back home?’” she said. “UOG gave me a foundation built on community and purpose. Returning here to teach is a way for me to honor that.”
UOG leaders praised her return as an example of alumni investing in their island. “Soliva’s appointment reflects the excellence of UOG alumni who excel globally and return to give back,” said Roseann Jones, dean of the School of Business & Public Administration. Soliva said she hopes to inspire future public servants: “True success is measured not just by what you accomplish, but by how you uplift others along the way.”