Sarah McLean-Orsborn - Lecturer & PhD Candidate
Dr. Sarah McLean-Orsborn is a New Zealand-born Samoan, Scottish and Croatian lecturer (Faculty of Arts, Pacific Studies) and PhD candidate at the University of Auckland. She hails from the villages of Moamoa, Papa Sataua and Tapatapao, and she grew up in Mulifanua, Samoa. Her story is a reminder that accessing the wisdom and support of the leaders in our communities is key to our success.
By 2015, Sarah had completed a Bachelor of Arts (Pacific Studies and Criminology) and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours). As a result of hours of poring over countless pages of negative health statistics, Sarah felt certain that becoming a frontline mental health practitioner would make some kind of impact. But she reached out to Jemaima Tiatia-Siau, who is currently the Pro Vice-Chancellor Pacific at UoA, prior to making a decision about her next steps. Jemaima called attention to the option of embarking on postgraduate study that could inform public health policy - a feat that Sarah had never entertained before. In addition to presenting an ambitious route, Jemaima provided Sarah with a roadmap as she navigated challenges such as applying for scholarships. Following this talanoa, Sarah began to believe in her ability to serve Pasifika communities through academic research.
Despite a blaring internal monologue of self-doubt, Sarah entered the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences firmly tucked under the wing of her reassuring mentor. She had marked concerns about whether she was even smart enough to be there. But Jemaima’s care gave Sarah the clarity and connection that she needed to stay the course. From a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences, she went on to complete a Master of Arts in Pacific Studies and a PhD!
As a lecturer who was once a student, Sarah invites rangatahi to be courageous in seeking the guidance of rangatira. Prudently, she opens doors for those who are looking for a place to stand. Sarah is “... trying to remove some of the mā (shame) that we associate with help-seeking, with looking like we don't know the answer…” In her experience, “... talking to a trusted adult about what you are wanting to do can lead to some really beautiful things…”