Rate My Professor Losana Taungapeau

Losana Taungapeau-Ikahihifo is the Pacific Student and Community Support Adviser within the Division of Sciences at the University of Otago. She holds a Bachelor of Teaching degree from the University of Otago and began her current role in 2022, having recently returned from maternity leave. Prior to this professional appointment, she received the UOCE Award for Academic Excellence in 2021 while studying at the College of Education. Losana plays a key role in the Sciences Pacific Student and Community Support team, alongside colleagues such as Dr Edmond Fehoko, Associate Dean Pacific (Sciences), Dr Vanisha Mishra-Vakaoti, Teaching Fellow and team Coordinator, and advisers Bella Culshaw, Keilah Fox, and Marie Taufa. The team's mission is to support Pacific students in the Division of Sciences to achieve academic success, in line with the University of Otago Pacific Strategic Framework 2022-2030. This involves enhancing access, retention, and completion rates for Pacific learners pursuing studies in areas including Psychology, Science Communication, Marine Sciences, Surveying, and Physics. Her commitment is reflected in her aspiration to elevate Pacific student outcomes by guiding them in major selection, nurturing positive interactions with staff, and motivating advanced studies after graduation. She strives for students to embark on their academic journeys feeling comfortable and confident in their identities, fostering a genuine sense of belonging at Otago.

In August 2024, the team, with Losana Taungapeau-Ikahihifo noted as Associate Dean Pacific, presented at the EPHEA Conference in Auckland. Their presentation highlighted the development and delivery of metacognitive strategy-based learning workshops for Pacific science students, emphasizing study skills, note-taking, and tailored learning approaches. Earlier, Losana contributed as a research assistant in the Department of Psychology, supporting work on strength of ethnic identity and caregiver mental state talk, as credited in Mele Taumoepeau's 2015 publication in the Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology.