Mary Therese Perez Hattori is hagan Guåhan, indigenous CHamoru born and raised on the island of Guåhan (Guam). She is one of nine children born to Fermina Leon Guerrero Perez and Paul Mitsuo Hattori, of the clan Familian Titang. She currently resides on the island of O’ahu with her son and husband.
Dr. Hattori works at the East-West Center in Honolulu and is responsible for planning and organizing all areas of scholarship programs including the United States South Pacific Scholarship Program and the Asian Development Bank-Japan Scholarship Program. She also serves as Coordinator for the Affiliate Scholars Program. She is a core part of the senior leadership team of the Education Program and plays a role in the planning and coordination of the EWC Student experience.
She previously served as Director of the Center for Teaching & Learning and Associate Professor of Education at Chaminade University; Outreach Director of the Center for Pacific Islands Studies at UHM; and Associate Professor of Information Technology and Director of the Center for Excellence in Learning, Teaching and Technology at Kapi’olani Community College.
Dr. Hattori’s professional praxis embodies the CHamoru saying, I irensia na’lå’la’ i espiritu-ta, Our heritage gives life to our spirit and informs her art, teaching and research. She is passionate about leadership development, culturally sustaining educational technology, arts education, and indigenous research methodologies, and mentors students engaged in community-based research.
She is a community organizer and advocate for Pacific islanders in Hawai’i, co-organizer of cultural events such as the Cultural Animation Film Festival, the Celebrate Micronesia Festival, Micronesian Women’s Summit, and Oceania on the Reel. Dr. Hattori is also an author, poet, public speaker, and philanthropist.
Profile
Position: Interim Director, Pacific Islands Development Program
Organization: The East-West Center
Email: hattorim@
Website: https://maryhattori.
Areas of Focus
- Arts, Culture, Humanities
- Children, Youth and Families
- Civic Engagement
- Economic and Community Development
- Education
- Environment
- Immigrant Rights
- Health
- Technology
- Women’s Rights
Language
- Chamorro