Ilaheva Tua'one

Dr. Ilaheva Tua'one is an Assistant Professor in the Women’s and Ethnic Studies Program at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, where she has taught since 2020. Her academic journey includes a PhD in British and American Literature from the University of Utah, an MA in English Literature from Northeastern University, and an Honors BS in Gender Studies from the University of Utah. She previously held the Inaugural Predoctoral Mellon Pacifika Fellowship.

Research Focus: Dr. Tua'one specializes in postcolonial literary studies, particularly 18th-19th century travel narratives about Oceania. Her work bridges Indigenous theory, decolonization frameworks, and queer studies, examining how colonial texts represent Pacific cultures. She actively explores themes of cultural encounter, power dynamics, and identity in transoceanic contexts.

Publications: Her scholarly output includes analyses of historical maritime expeditions, pedagogical innovations in writing instruction, and critical feminist theory. Recent work (2021-2022) focuses on reevaluating colonial narratives through Indigenous perspectives, while earlier publications demonstrate interdisciplinary engagement with education and identity formation.

Awards & Recognition:

• Inaugural Predoctoral Mellon Pacifika Fellow
• Member, Pacific Islands Studies Initiative (University of Utah)

Teaching: She has developed signature courses including 'South Sea Tales,' which examines Pacific representations, alongside core offerings in social justice and gender studies. Her pedagogy emphasizes critical engagement with colonial histories and contemporary decolonial practices.