Mary Kate Soliva first stood along Marine Corps Drive in 2012 with other University of Guam students holding signs to raise awareness about human trafficking in the aftermath of the Blue House Lounge case. 

She says that moment helped shape her life’s work and her calling to public service.

Today, she returns to UOG, not as a student, but as an Assistant Professor of Public Administration and Criminal Justice. 

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 with a specialization in homeland security from Saint Leo University. 

She served in the U.S. Army and has 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.

Despite her global experience, Soliva says her heart never left Guam. 

Now back on campus, she teaches courses in criminal justice and public administration, continues her research on human trafficking and homeland security, and says her goal is to inspire the next generation of public servants.