By Courtesy of University of Guam,Pacific Daily News

Copyright guampdn

When Mary Kate Soliva stood along Marine Corps Drive with a group of University of Guam students holding signs that read, “It’s happening,” she had one goal in mind: to raise awareness about human trafficking on Guam.

It was 2012, and Guam had just come to grips with the Blue House Lounge case—its first known human trafficking case.

That moment, she said, helped shape her life’s work.

Now, Soliva, DCJ, is back at UOG not as a student but as an assistant professor of public administration and criminal justice in the School of Business and Public Administration, SBPA.

“Public service is not just a career, it’s a lifelong mission,” she said. “And for me, it started right here at UOG.”

A proud Triton, Soliva earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public administration at UOG before completing a Doctor of Criminal Justice degree with a specialization in homeland security from Saint Leo University.

She served in the U.S. Army and supported national-level security initiatives through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies, and the Project Management Institute.

Soliva said she’s thankful for the opportunity and ready to give back by mentoring future leaders in the same classrooms where her own path began.

“When you walk through one door of opportunity, hold it open for the next person,” she said.

Soliva also completed a Hoover Veteran Fellowship at Stanford University under the mentorship of former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

“Dr. Soliva’s appointment to our faculty reflects the excellence of UOG alumni who excel globally and return to give back to their island and region,” said Roseann Jones, PhD, dean of the UOG SBPA.

Despite her global experiences, Soliva said her heart never left Guam.

“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.”

As a student, Soliva organized campus forums, community fundraisers, and educational outreach around human rights and public safety. Those early efforts led her to co-found the nonprofit Guam Human Rights Initiative alongside fellow Triton alumna Erika Anderson, PhD.

The organization provides education and research on human rights issues in Guam and Micronesia including trafficking, labor rights, and policy advocacy.

“Giving back means using the knowledge, experiences, and networks I’ve gained around the world to open doors for others, especially here at home,” she said.

Soliva now teaches courses in criminal justice and public administration and continues her research on homeland security, human trafficking prevention, and policy compliance. She said her goal is to inspire a new generation of public servants.

“You carry a story that is uniquely your own and that story is your strength,” she said. “True success is measured not just by what you accomplish, but by how you uplift others along the way.”

The public administration and criminal justice programs at UOG prepare students to lead in law enforcement, government, nonprofit organizations, and community-based work across Micronesia and the U.S. mainland. The programs emphasize ethical leadership, policy analysis, and public service rooted in the unique needs of island communities.

The Master of Public Administration program, one of the longest-running graduate programs at UOG, is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration and serves as a key pipeline for public service leadership in Guam and the region.

“Dr. Soliva represents some of the best of what UOG aspires to nurture—students who grow into leaders and return to invest in the next generation,” said UOG Senior Vice President and Provost Sharleen Santos-Bamba, PhD, said. “Her presence in the classroom offers students a real-world connection to public service and advocacy.”