Valedictory Speaker: Aileen Somera Claveria, College of Health and Society

Aileen Somera Claveria was born in Tagudin, Ilocos Sur, Philippines. Raised by her single mother, Claveria persevered and became her family’s breadwinner when her mother became disabled following her brain surgery. She earned her BS degree in Public Health from Hawai‘i Pacific University. She worked for a non-profit organization for almost three years as the Health Educator for HIV and Hepatitis C for Substance Abuse Treatment Centers on the island of O‘ahu. While earning her Master’s in Public Health, Claveria works as a contractor for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at the Quarantine Station in Honolulu, serving as the Public Health Advisor Lead for the Emergency COVID Response. Also, she works as an Epidemiological Specialist, Case Investigator Lead for the COVID Response at the State of Hawaii Department of Health. After graduation, Claveria plans to pursue a career in the United States Public Health Services Commissioned Corps to serve on the front lines of public health across the nation and throughout the world.