Jose Edgardo L. Aban, Ph.D. 

Aban joined the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences in August as an assistant professor of geography. Prior to joining UOG, he served as vice president and division head of the plantation monitoring and planning division of Sinarmas Agribusiness and Food in Jakarta. He also previously taught environmental studies and geography as a senior lecturer at the Universiti of Brunei Darussalam. He holds a bachelor’s in biology and a master’s in remote sensing from the University of the Philippines as well as a doctorate in remote sensing from Chiba University in Japan.

Natalie M. Capacci, MSN, FNP-C

Capacci joined the School of Health in February as an instructor of nursing. In her 16 years as a nurse, five years were spent with the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps, where she deployed to Southeast Asia and had a port call in Guam. She holds a bachelor's in nursing from Seattle University and a master's in nursing with a specialization as a family nurse practitioner from the University of San Diego.

Kenneth S. Choie, Ph.D.

Choie joined the School of Business and Public Administration in August as a professor of practice in management. He comes to UOG from Sejong University in Seoul, where he was a professor of finance for eight years. He holds a bachelor’s in economics with a minor in math from Illinois State University and a doctorate in economics and business administration specializing in econometrics and finance, respectively, from the University of Michigan.

Tim C. Dela Cruz, Ph.D.

Dela Cruz joined the university’s Cooperative Extension and Outreach unit in June as an extension agent III. Dela Cruz has more than 18 years of experience in nonprofit social services, education, and extension, most recently working as an assistant professor at Guam Community College and as adjunct faculty in the University of Guam’s social work program. He holds a bachelor’s in communication specializing in journalism and a master’s in Micronesian Studies from the University of Guam as well as a doctorate in human services specializing in social and community services from Capella University (Minn.).

Leilani P.  Guerrero, M.A.

Guerrero joined the School of Education in August as an assistant professor of counseling. She worked as adjunct faculty for the university last year, for 10 years as a school counselor at Astumbo Middle School, and for eight years as a secondary education teacher. She holds a bachelor’s in secondary education specializing in social studies and a master’s in counseling from the University of Guam. She is completing her doctorate in psychology from Grand Canyon University (Ariz.).

James Ji, DBA

Ji joined the School of Business and Public Administration in August as an assistant professor of management. Ji is presently the general manager of J.J. Pacific Development Corp. and was formerly a teacher and a licensed realtor. He holds a bachelor’s in Asian-American studies from the University of California, Los Angeles, master’s degrees in teaching and business administration from the University of Guam, and a doctorate in business administration from Argosy University (Hawaii). He is pursuing a doctorate in organizational leadership from Northcentral University (Calif.).

Sarah Lemer, Ph.D.

Lemer became an assistant professor of marine invertebrate genomics at the UOG Marine Laboratory in March. She has worked at the Marine Lab as senior research faculty in genomics since 2016. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s in oceanography, marine biology, and ecology from the University of Aix-Marseille II (France) and a doctorate in genetic biodiversity and evolution from Sorbonne University (France).

William Montanez, M.S., CPA

Montanez joined the School of Business and Public Administration in August as an assistant professor of accounting. Before coming to UOG, he worked for Ernst & Young as a senior auditor and for Silvergate Bank as a financial analyst. He is a licensed certified public accountant in California and holds a bachelor’s in accounting and a master’s in forensic accounting, both from the University at Albany – State University of New York.

Elizabeth Rutun, M.A.

Rutun became an English instructor with the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences in August after having taught freshman composition as a graduate student at UOG and a writing course last semester in an adjunct capacity. She holds bachelor’s in English literature and historical and political studies from Chaminade University (Hawaii) and a master’s in English with an emphasis in literature from the University of Guam.

Martha G. Suez-Sales, PMBA, CPA 

Suez-Sales has returned to the university as a full-time assistant professor of accounting with the School of Business and Public Administration. She previously taught accounting at UOG from 2010 to 2016. She holds a bachelor’s in business administration with an accounting emphasis from San Diego State University and a MBA from the University of Guam, and she has completed all requirements but her dissertation toward a doctorate in business administration from the University of Liverpool. She is also a certified public accountant.

Albert Valentine, Ph.D.

Valentine joined the School of Business and Public Administration in August as an assistant professor of global resource management. Valentine is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and a former diplomat serving tours at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok and Manila. He is also an international businessman, entrepreneur, and consultant. Valentine holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Valdosta State University (Ga.), a master’s in national security affairs concentrating in Southeast Asia from Naval Postgraduate School (Calif.), a master’s in human resource management from Troy State University (Ala.), and a doctorate in organizational development from Assumption University (Thailand).

Anthony Camacho, Esq.

Camacho became the university’s general counsel in March after having worked in an interim capacity in the role the past year. He is an attorney who has also served as an adjunct history professor at the university. Camacho has also worked as an attorney for the Consolidated Commission on Utilities, Guam Power Authority, and Guam Waterworks Authority as well as for the Law Office of Horecky & Associates. His juris doctorate is from Saint Louis University, and he also holds an associate degree in business, a bachelor’s in history, and a master’s in strategic studies.

Glenn A. Leon Guerrero, MBA

Leon Guerrero became the director of facilities management and services in August. He previously headed several government of Guam organizations, including the Election Commission, the Guam Economic Development Authority, the Port Authority of Guam, and most recently, the Department of Public Works. He has also worked in numerous capacities within the private sector, including for ExxonMobil and Shell. He holds a bachelor’s in social work from Saint Louis University and an MBA from the University of Hawaii.

 Pamela Peralta, Ed.D.

Peralta became acting director of contracts and grants within UOG’s Office of Research and Sponsored Programs in August. She was previously the associate network director for the university’s Pacific Islands Small Business Development Center since 2015. Peralta also teaches part-time in UOG’s Professional Master of Business Administration program. She holds a bachelor’s in international relations from Mills College (Calif.), an MBA from the University of Phoenix, Hawaii, and a doctorate in organizational leadership from Argosy University, Hawaii.