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MURIELBOWSERMAYOR
January6,2026
TheHonorablePhilMendelson
‘Chairman
Councilof theDistrictof Columbia
JohnA.WilsonBuilding
1350PennsylvaniaAvenue,NW, Suite504
Washington,DC 20004
DearChairmanMendelson:
Inaccordancewithsection2oftheConfirmationActof1978,effectiveMarch3,1979(D.C.Law2-
142;D.C.OfficialCode§ 1523.01),andpursuanttosection305ofthe OfficeofAsianandPacific
IslanderAffairsEstablishmentActof2001,effectiveOctober3,2001(D.C.Law 14-28;D.C.Official
Code§2-1374),Iam pleasedtonominatethefollowingindividual:
Dr.HalaevaluVakalahiEStreet,NWWashington,DC 20004
(Ward 2)
forreappointmentasapublicvotingmemberoftheCommissiononAsianandPacificIslanderCommunityDevelopmentforatermtoendApril17,2028.
Enclosed,youwillfindbiographicalinformationdetailingtheexperienceoftheabove-mentioned
nominee,togetherwithaproposedresolutiontoassisttheCouncilduringtheconfirmationprocess.
IwouldappreciatetheCouncil’searliestconsiderationofthisnominationforconfirmation.Pleasedonothesitatetocontactme,orStevenWalker,Director,Mayor'sOfficeofTalentand
Appointments,shouldtheCouncilrequireadditionalinformation.
Sincerely,
MufielBowser
Mayor
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A PROPOSED RESOLUTION
-z!:jj~
Chainmu{ Phil Mendelson
at the request of the Mayor
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
To confirm the reappointment of Dr. Halaevalu Vak.alahi to the Commission on Asian and
Pacific Islander Community Development.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, that this
resolution may be cited as the "Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander Community
Development Dr. Halaevalu Vakalahi Confirmation Resolution of 2026".
Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia confirms the reappointment of:
Dr. Halaevalu Vakalahi
E Street, NW
Washington, DC 20004
(Ward2)
as a public voting member of the Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander Community
Development, established by section 305 of the Office of Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs
Establishment Act of 2001, effective October 3, 2001 (D.C . Law 14-28; D.C. Official Code§ 2-
1374), for a term to end April 17, 2028.
Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia shall transmit a copy of this resolution,
upon its adoption, to the nominee and to the Office of the Mayor.
Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
HalaevaluF.O.Vakalahi,MSW, M.Ed.,Ph.D.
CurriculumVitae
LEADERSHIPandADMINISTRATIONEXPERIENCESPresidentandChiefExecutiveOfficer,2023topresent— CouncilonSocialWorkEducation,Alexandria,VA22314,Overallleadandoverseerofallfunctions,operations,andmembershipofthenationalorganizationforsocialworkeducationandaccreditation
comprisingof900+socialworkeducationprogramsininstitutionsofhighereducationfromGuamandHawai’itoacrossthecontinentalUS toPuertoRicoandtheVirginIslands.ResponsibletotheBoardofDirectors.Responsibleforgovernanceandamulti-layered
organizationalchart.VisionprioritiesincludeincreasingvisibilityandreachofCSWE,strengtheningandadvancingtheCSWEbrand,expandingrepresentationingeographyand‘community,andensuringorganizationalsustainability.
DeanandProfessor,2018to2023— Hawai'iPacificUniversity,CollegeofHealthand
Society,
Honolulu,HI96813.LeadershipandadministrationoftheCollegeofHealthandSocietywhichhousedtheSchoolofSocialWork(BSW,MSW),DepartmentofPublicHealth(BSPH,MPH),DepartmentofNursing(BSN,MSN,DNP),DoctorofPhysicalTherapy
Program(DPT),OccupationalTherapyDoctorate(OTD),andPhysicianAssistant(MS-PA).OverallresponsibilityfortheCollegevisionandmission;strategicplanning;accreditation;academicplanningandinnovation;budgetanddevelopment;promotionandreappointment;professionaldevelopment;supervision;andcommunityengagement.Taughtfirstyear
freshmen.
AssociateDeanandProfessor,2014to2018;AssociateDeanandAssociateProfessor,July2012to2014—MorganStateUniversity,SchoolofSocialWork,Baltimore,MD 21251.Leadershipandmanagementofday-to-dayoperationsoftheSchoolofSocialWorkin
alignmentwiththestrategicplan;accreditation;facultyrecruitment,retention,anddevelopment;supervision,mentorship,evaluation,andrecognition;academicprograms;budgetanddevelopment;schoolpoliciesandprocedures;research,publication,andgrantsmanship;monitoringtenureandpromotionprocesses;studentsuccess;and
‘communityengagement.TaughtPhDstudents.
DirectorofMaster’sSocialWorkProgramandAssociateProfessor,February2007toJune2012~GeorgeMasonUniversity,DepartmentofSocialWork,Fairfax,VA22030.Leadershipandadministrationoverthemaster’sprogramintermsofacademicprogram
accreditationanddevelopment;studentservices,admission,advising,andgraduation;facultyaffairs,hiring,anddevelopment;andcommunityengagement.TaughtMSWstudents.
AccreditationSpecialist,January2005toJanuary2007— CouncilonSocialWorkEducation,OfficeofSocialWorkAccreditationandEducationalExcellence,Alexandria,VA22314.WorkedwithundergraduateandgraduateprogramstomeettherequirementsoftheEPASforcandidacyandreaffirmation;approvedeligibility;reviewedself-studies;andprovidedconsultation,workshops,andtraining,
CoordinatorofBaccalaureateSocialWorkProgramandLecturer,August2003toDecember2004—SanFranciscoStateUniversity,SchoolofSocialWork,SanFrancisco,CA 94132,Leadershipandadministrationoverthebaccalaureateprogramintermsofacademicprogramaccreditationanddevelopment;studentservices,admission,advising,andgraduation;facultyaffairs,hiring,anddevelopment;andcommunityengagement.TaughtBSWandMSW students.
DepartmentChairandAssistantProfessor,August2001toJuly2003—BrighamYoungUniversity-Hawaii,Departmentof SocialWork,Laie,HI 96762.Leadershipandadministrationoverthedepartmentintermsof academicprogramaccreditdevelopment;studentservices,admission,advising,andgraduation;facultyaffairs,
anddevelopment;andcommunityengagement.TaughtBSW students.
AssistantProfessor,July1999toJuly2001~ New MexicoStateUniversity,Schoolof
SocialWork,LasCruces,NM 88003.TaughtBSW andMSW students.
SCHOLARSHIP,RESEARCHAND PUBLICATIONAnestablishedscholarwithextensivepublications:
© Books
JournalCo-Founder,Co-EditorinChief
JournalSpecialSection/Issue
JournalArticlesPeer-Reviewed
BookChapters,Commendatory,References,andProfessionalReports
Foreword,InvitedArticlesandMedia,Keynotes
CompetitivePresentations,InvitedPresentations
Grants,fundsdevelopmentandentrepreneurialactivities
TEACHING AND MENTORSHIP
‘Aseasonedprofessor:‘©Hawai’iPacificUniversity,CollegeofHealthandSociety
MorganStateUniversity,SchoolofSocialWork
GeorgeMasonUniversity,DepartmentofSocialWork
SanFranciscoStateUniversity,SchoolofSocialWork
BYU-Hawai’i,DepartmentofSocialWork
NewMexicoStateUniversity,SchoolofSocialWork
SERVICE,OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
WashingtonDC Commui* WashingtonDC Mayor’sCommissionof Asianand PacificIslanderAffairs.
Commissionermember(2024-present),onSocialWorkEducation(2023-present)
© TheWashingtonHigherEducationSecretariat(WHES),member
InterprofessionalEducationCollaborative(IPEC),BoardMember
FederationofAssociationsofSchoolsofHealthProfessions(FASHP),member
NationalAcademies,NationalAcademiesofScience,Engineering,andMedicine(NASEM),member
© InternationalAssociationofSchoolsofSocialWork(IASSW),BoardMember
© SocialWorkLeadershipRoundtable,member-NASW,ASWB,SSWR,GADE,NABSW,
BPD,NADD,AASWSW,SCoAR,GrandChallenges
Faculty/ProfessionalDevelopment© ‘ScholarsInitiative’FacultyDevelopment
© Part-time/AdjunctFacultyDevelopment
© Editorship& ReviewerExperience
© DisciplineandRegionalAccreditationExperience
© ProfessionalOrganizationalExperience
‘Community© Hawai'i/PacificIslandCommunity,MarylandCommunity,InternationalCommunity
© University,CollegeofHealthandSociety,SchoolofSocialWork
AWARDS,LICENSES,& TRAININGS
© UniversityofUtah,2024Dean’sMedal,alumnihonor,Recipient.
© MorganStateUniversity,2017IvaG Jonesawardforexcellenceinresearch,teaching
andservice,Recipient.* CouncilonSocialWorkEducation,Women’sCouncil,2016FeministScholar.
‘AmericanPublicHealthAssociation,AgingandPublicHealthAwards(2011),HonorableMentionAwardforBettyJ.CleckleyMinorityIssuesResearchAward
category,Recipient.© NationalInstitutesofHealth,TranslationalResearchonHealthandHealthDisparities
Course(2011),RecipientScholar.‘*CouncilonSocialWorkEducation,MinorityFellowshipProgram(1995-1998),
Recipient.
© UniversityofUtah,PresidentialGraduateFellowship(1995-1998),Recipient.
EDUCATION
Ph.D.— DoctorofPhilosophyinSocialWork
UniversityofUtah,SchoolofSocialWork,SaltLakeCity,Utah
M.Ed.~ Master’sinEducationalAdministration,HigherEducation
UniversityofUtah,SchoolofEducation,SaltLakeCity,Utah
M.S.W.~Master’sinSocialWork
UniversityofHawai'i-Manoa,SchoolofSocialWork,Honolulu,Hawai’i
B.S.—Bachelor’sinBusinessManagementBrighamYoungUniversity-Hawai’iLa’ie,Hawai'i
LeadershipandAdministrationTraining+ AGB InstituteforLeadershipandGovernance.+ HarvardInstitutesofHigherEducation,ManagementDevelopmentProgram.+ HartfordFoundationScholarsProgram,Leadershiptraining,TeachingInstitute,
CommunicationInstitute.
ekWE ARE
DCExecutiveOfficeoftheMayor—Mayor’sOfficeofTalentandAppointments
JohnA.WilsonBuilding|1350PennsylvaniaAvenue,Suite600|Washington,DC 20004
Dr.HalaevaluVakalahi
Dr.HalaevaluVakalahiisaPacificIslander-Americanwoman,bornin‘TongaandraisedinHawai'i.SheisthePresidentandCEOoftheCouncil
onSocialWorkEducation(CSWE).Here,sheistheoverallleadandoverseerofallfunctions,operations,andmembershipoftheorganizationcomprisingof900+socialworkeducationprogramsininstitutionsofhighereducationfromGuamandHawaiitoacrossthecontinentalUSto
PuertoRicoandtheVirginIslands.
PriortojoiningCSWE,shewasProfessorandDeanoftheCollegeofHealthandSocietyatHawai’iPacificUniversityoverthedisciplinesofsocialwork,publichealth,nursing,physicaltherapy,occupationaltherapy,andphysicianassistant.PriortoHPU,shewasProfessorand
AssociateDeanoftheSchoolofSocialWorkatMorganStateUniversity,BaltimoreMD;AssociateProfessorandMSW ProgramDirectoratGeorgeMasonUniversity,Fairfax,VA;LecturerandBSW CoordinatoratSanFranciscoStateUniversity,SanFrancisco,CA;AssistantProfessorandDepartmentChairatBYU-Hawai’i,La’ie,HI;andAssistantProfessoratNew
MexicoStateUniversity,LasCruces,NM.
ShehasservedinvariousprofessionalorganizationsincludingtheCouncilonSocialWorkEducation and National Association of Social Workers as well as in her PacificIslander
community and incommunities in which she has livedand worked. Her areasofteaching include
socialpolicy,humanbehaviorandthesocialworkenvironment,andorganizationalleadership.Hertwoareasofscholarshipare:PacificIslandercultureandcommunity,andWomenofColorinacademia,inwhichshehascontributedextensivelytotheexistingliteraturethroughpeer-reviewed
articles,chapters/references,co-edited/co-authoredbooks, and other communication mediums.
‘Shehopesthatherworkhasacknowledgedherdeepcommitmenttojustice,equity,diversity,andinclusionasactionsthatultimatelyimpactfamilyandcommunitywell-being.
A Ward2resident,Dr.VakalahiearnedherBachelorofScienceinBusinessMan:
BringhamYoungUniversity-Hawai’i,herMasterofSocialWorkatUniversityofHaw:
andherMasterofEducationalAdministrationandPhD inSocialWorkfromtheUniversityof
Utah,
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GOVERNMENT OFTHE DISTRICTOF COLUMBIA,
ExecutiveOfficeofMayorMurielBowser
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WE ARE
WASHINGTON
allOfficeoftheGeneralCounseltotheMayor
To: KimberlyA.Bassett,StevenWalkerFrom: BetsyCavendishDate: November17,2025Subject: LegalsufficiencyreviewofaresolutionappointingDr.SooHan,JeanetteQuick,DensaySengsoulavong,andDr.HalaevaluVakalahiasmembersoftheCommissiononAsianandPacificIslanderCommunityDevelopment
This isto Certifythatthisofticehasreviewedtheabove-referencedResolutionand
foundittobelegallyunobjectionable.Ifyouhaveanyquestionsinthisregard,pleasedonothesitatetocallKimberly Ulan, AssociateGeneral Counsel,Executive Officeof theMayor, at
202-727-2292,or me at202-724-7681.
thCavendish
ThelohnA,WilsonBuilding> 1350PennsylvaniaAvenue,NW > Sute300+ Washington,DC,2000)> Offie=(