MEET THE TEAM
Jacob Fitisemanu, Jr.
Curriculum Development & Programs Director
Jake brings a deep love of his Samoan, Chinese, and Korean American heritage to everything he does. His studies of Pasifika cultures, languages, and histories have taken him around the world, from documenting kava rituals in Sāmoa to compiling an international comparative database of Samoan fine mats and reconstructing traditional artifacts from historical prototypes at the Bishop Museum in Hawaiʻi.
A Director of the Samoana Integrated Learning Initiative, Jake is dedicated to perpetuating and promoting Pasifika cultural arts and knowledge for contemporary, urban Oceania communities. He holds a bachelor's degree in Social Science with an emphasis in Anthropology, a master's degree in Public Health, and is currently a doctoral student at Johns Hopkins University.
Lita Sagato
Community Outreach & Technical Support Coordinator
Lita is deeply committed to her community, serving as President of OCA Utah Asian and Pacific Islander Advocates, Director of Le Malu, Co-President of the Utah Chapter of the National Pacific Islander Education Network (NPIEN), and a founding Board Member of Mana Academy Charter School.
She was also instrumental in establishing the Samoana Integrated Learning Initiative and has served as a community health worker with the Utah Pacific Islander Health Coalition.
Lita is a Realtor with Sagato Realty and co-owner of Sagato Bakery and Café in Midvale.
Laneta Fitisemanu
Communications Manager
Laneta brings nearly 15 years of experience in nonprofit work, policy, and advocacy. She uses her passion for web and graphic design to help preserve and digitally share her culture — her master's thesis resulted in a website dedicated to preserving Samoan fables (fagogo.org), and she created and continues to manage the Samoana Integrated Learning Initiative website (saili.org).
As a HOCEF Fellow, she collaborated at the Peabody Museum to recreate a nineteenth-century Samoan ʻula lei (whale tooth necklace). She has previously served with the Utah Pacific Islander Health Coalition and chaired the Neighborhood Partners Community Review Board at the University of Utah. Laneta holds master's degrees in Public Administration and Strategic Communications.
Luisa Auva’a Tupou
Language Instructor
Since 2022, Luisa has volunteered to teach Samoan language classes. She is passionate about civic engagement, focusing on uplifting younger generations and increasing representation. She has served as an Associate Instructor for the University of Utah's Westside Leadership program, a Census Worker with the Utah Pacific Islander Civic Engagement Coalition for Census 2020, and a Community Health Worker with the Covid Community Partnership Program.
Luisa holds a Bachelor's degree in Consumer and Community Studies and a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She is a real estate agent and senior compliance analyst.