Summary
Jon Tikivanotau Michael Jonassen MBE (born 24 July 1949)[1] is a Cook Islands civil servant, diplomat, composer, and political scientist. From 1997 — 1999 he was the Cook Islands' High Commissioner to New Zealand.
Early life and education edit
Jonassen was born in Rarotonga and grew up on Rarotonga and Aitutaki.[2] He was educated at Arorangi School, Ararua School, and Tereora College in the Cook Islands, and Mount Albert Grammar School in New Zealand.[2] He later attended Brigham Young University–Hawaii, graduating with a BSc in business management and a BA in history and government, as well as studying at the University of the South Pacific.[2] He later studied at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, graduating with a Master of Arts in Pacific Island Studies in 1992, and a PhD in political science in 1996.[2]
Civil servant edit
From 1983 to 1986 he served as the Cook Islands' Secretary of Foreign Affairs.[3] In 1987 he was appointed Director of Programmes for the South Pacific Commission,[4] serving as acting secretary-General in 1989.[5] In 1991 he returned to the Cook Islands to become secretary of the new Ministry of Cultural Development.[6]
Academic edit
In 1993 he returned to Brigham Young University–Hawaii as a professor of political science. He took a leave of absence from 1997 to 1999 while he was serving as Cook Islands' High Commissioner to New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea.[3] He returned to BYU-H, where he became Director of Pacific Islands Studies.[1] He is currently Emeritus Professor of Political Science and Pacific Islands Studies.[3]
Jonassen's work has focused on document Cook Islands culture, including traditional songs and chants.[1] He published his first collection of Cook Islands legends while a university student.[7] He is also a composer, and has composed more than 500 songs, including Mou Piri, and E Tai Roimata.[8]
Recognition edit
He was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to Cook Islands culture and the public service in the 2014 New Year Honours.[9][10]
References edit
- ^ a b c "'Be proud of who you are'". Cook Islands News. 16 January 2021. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021.
- ^ a b c "Professor Jon Tikivanotau Jonassen (Associate Senior Scholar)". Bergen Pacific Studies Research Group. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
- ^ "transitions". Pacific Islands Monthly. Vol. 58, no. 2. 1 February 1987. p. 53. Retrieved 22 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "History". Pacific Community. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
- ^ "INTERVIEW". Pacific Islands Monthly. Vol. 61, no. 1. 1 January 1991. p. 51. Retrieved 22 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ ""No-one was going to force me to unlearn beautiful cultural images that I had learned as a child."". CreativeNZ. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
- ^ "Three Cook Islanders Receive Prestigious Queen's Honors". Pacific Islands Report. 4 June 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
- ^ "No. 60729". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2013. p. 41.
- ^ "New Year's honours announced". Cook Islands news. 4 January 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
External links edit
- Jon Jonassen in libraries (WorldCat catalog)