Casuallen Fale

Air and Land Division Head, American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency

American Samoa

Casuallen Fale is the air and land division head for the American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency, where she leads four branches and directs risk assessments for hazardous materials. Casuallen centers her leadership on the principles of alofa (love) and faaaloalo (respect) to protect island communities facing the immediate threats of rising sea levels and extreme weather. She utilizes talanoa, a traditional method of inclusive dialogue, to bring individuals from government agencies, church groups, and village stakeholders together. She previously co-led a $177 million environmental justice program and conducted research on Alzheimer’s disease within the Samoan population funded by the National Institute of Health, ensuring that both medical and environmental data directly serve Samoan populations.