Isa Kelawili Whalen is a well-researched educational and community advocate skilled at exercising longitudinal and cross-sectional qualitative and quantitative research and collaborative projects that center BIPOC and AANHPI equitable policy and social service creation. She received a Master of Science in Critical Ethnic and Community Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston, and a Bachelor of Arts in Honors Anthropology, Oceania and Pacific Islander Studies, and Diversity Studies from the University of Washington Seattle. Ms. Whalen has worked as a policy consultant, advocacy coordinator, national program director, and appointed representative for the states of Washington, Massachusetts, and California.

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Outside of the legislative and academic realm, Ms. Whalen is an Indigenous CHamoru and Filipina woman born, bred, and raised through the assistance of neighborhood intervention. The collective culture of her upbringing, called inafa'maolek among CHamoru, taught restoration of order through collaboration, cooperation, reciprocity, and social support. Inafa’maolek has driven Ms. Whalen to become a transformational leader that coordinates community-based social services, desires, and interests.