Making Family History: Jaden De Souza ’25, MA ’26 on her Route to Teaching and Surfing Around the World

According to the most recent data, around one in three Saint Mary’s students today are trailblazers, the first in their family to pursue a college degree. For many first-generation students—“first-gens,” as they often refer to themselves—the journey to and through college brings unique struggles and surprises. In the Making Family History series, we regularly ask first-gen Gaels to share, in their own words, their history, hopes, and advice for the next generation.

Today, we’re highlighting Jaden De Souza ’25, MA ’26, a first-gen student from Lihue, Kauai, who completed a Bachelor’s in Environmental Science from Saint Mary’s before earning a Master’s in Communication.

A runner with the Women’s Track and Field team, De Souza left behind a slew of program records in the 400- and 600-meter dashes, hurdles, high jump, javelin, and beyond. In 2025, she was recognized as the George R. McKeon Female Student-Athlete of the Year and with the Female Iron Gael Sports Performance Award—and then went on to compete in the NCAA West Regionals, where she recorded her fastest time ever in the 400-meter hurdles. This August, she’ll start work as an AP Environmental Science and World Literature teacher and surfing coach at World Class Academy, a traveling private high school that combines academics, athletics, travel, and cultural immersion.

From Kauai to the mainland 

My dad is from Brazil, originally, and my mom is from Ohio, but I was born and raised on Kauai. I’m definitely a “say yes” type person, so I had tons of hobbies growing up: surfing, beach volleyball, and of course, running. In high school, once I started really running competitively, I knew that was an advantage I could use to get a college scholarship. 

In my senior year, I reached out to a bunch of colleges on the West Coast, including Saint Mary’s. I first learned about SMC through Colleges That Change Lives, the college guide that highlights 40 liberal arts schools offering a transformative experience. The fact that SMC is the only West Coast college on the list immediately stood out. When I connected with Marty Kinsey, Saint Mary’s Women’s Running coach, he was wonderful and eager to have me attend.

I committed that September. I didn’t apply anywhere else; it was one-and-done for me. While I initially planned to major in Health Science and go into nursing, I realized just how passionate I was about the environment. That’s part of growing up in Hawai‘i, I guess. I’ve just always loved the outdoors and wanted to know how the world works. So I decided to major in Environmental Science, and haven’t looked back. 

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Another lap around

During my senior year, I was completely set on moving back to Kauai, working for a bit, and then returning to San Francisco. However, on a flight back from a race in Texas, my running coaches came to me with an opportunity. Since I was injured my freshman year, I still had another full year of cross-country eligibility. Our program had recently added indoor track and field, and they suggested I come back for a year to focus on indoor and the 800-meter dash. 

My initial thought was, No, I’m done with school. What would I even study? At that point, the only program that seemed like a fit was the Master’s in Biotechnology, and that deadline had passed. But I took a week to think about it and compare my options. The Master's in Communications really caught my eye. 

The more I thought about it, the more I realized communications really did tie into everything I wanted to do. My ultimate goal is to work with Indigenous communities in Hawaii, connecting traditional knowledge and modern Western science and helping those two worlds converse. The MA would equip me with the skills I needed to do just that.

Communication is everywhere

The MA in Communication program was really the perfect choice for me. It gave me the opportunity to run for one more season, supported my specific goals, and helped me build toward my post-athletic career. It also really expanded my understanding of what communication can and should be in professional content. It’s more than just being articulate; there’s a strategy for understanding your audience, getting them engaged, and moving them to action. 

During the year-long master’s program, we’re expected to complete a thesis and conduct hands-on research along the way. Through it all, we’re learning how to gather both quantitative and qualitative data. Coming from a more traditional STEM background, I’d never worked with qualitative data, which uses observations and opinions to answer the “why?” of it all.  Some of my classmates, on the other hand, coming from the liberal arts side of things, had never done quantitative data, which is based on numerical analysis and answers statistical questions like “how much?” or “how many?”

There were 11 other students in this year’s cohort, with a really diverse mix of backgrounds—Psychology, Theatre, Digital Media. We all found ways to use communication to support our unique expertise and interests, and we rooted for each other. Because it was a small cohort, we really got to know each other and could lean on one another throughout the journey.

“The MA in Communication program was really the perfect choice for me. It gave me the opportunity to run for one more season, supported my specific goals, and helped me build toward my post-athletic career. It also really expanded my understanding of what communication can and should be in professional content.”

A map of home 

Over the course of the program, I worked on a project entitled “Native Hawaiian Perspectives of Using Modern Mapping Technology for Traditional Cultural Knowledge.” It explored how contemporary mapping of Hawaiian land, through satellite imagery and other technologies, can be helpful—but how it can also reinforce colonial, non-indigenous understandings of the islands.

My project was “mixed methods research,” meaning I looked at data on burial sites, temples, heiaus (cultural and religious sites), and old river systems. I also conducted interviews with Native Hawaiians, asking them, “How do you feel about this? Do you think that the technology is beneficial or not?” I was honestly expecting a lot more negativity, but responses were pretty balanced. In general, people told me that if modern mapping allows people to better navigate the islands, it just enables Hawaiians to share the aloha spirit and bring more people into it. 

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My takeaway is that mapping places like Hawai‘i should be done in collaboration with Indigenous people. The biggest thing anyone from a minority culture can ask for is that mapping be done with respect. And those doing the mapping should understand their positioning and recognize how they could be perpetuating a Western or colonial perspective. 

The next chapter—and advice for future and current Gaels

I’m fortunate to have a teaching job to step into after graduation, which is exciting. I will be working with World Class Academy, which is essentially a traveling private high school for teenagers who love adventure sports. This coming school year, we’re going to Costa Rica, Portugal, Indonesia, and Peru.

I’ll be teaching AP Environmental Science, which directly connects to my undergraduate degree, so I’m super stoked about that. A lot of our students are experienced surfers, too, so I’ll be coming on as assistant surf coach. Teaching at World Class really requires knowledge of intercultural communication, as well as an understanding of how best to engage students and ensure their understanding inside and outside the classroom. In that sense, I feel like my Comms education prepared me perfectly. 

For students who may be curious about the MA in Communication program, I would say go for it. Keep in mind, there’s no rush to get out into the world after education. Having a master’s degree will only help you, and being able to communicate is an essential part of almost every field. In just one year, you can get a master’s, do your own research, and even get an opportunity to get published. Who knows? You may even get to travel the world afterward.

Maddy Hunter ’27 is a student writer in the Office of Marketing & Communications. Write her.