A 2008 Fulbright US graduate student, Ms Villegas (28) is working towards her PhD in Education from Harvard University on improving the education of indigenous people, and since February has been based at the University of Auckland.
Speaking on the topic of Land Rights and Student Success during a visit to the University of Otago this week, Ms Villegas, an Alaskan native of Alutiiq and Sugpiaq descent, said there were many parallels between Maori and her own Alaskan culture.
"I am looking at Maori as a model of success that we can learn a lot from, but I would say we are about 20 years behind where you are," Ms Villegas said.
The key to improving the education and opportunities for Alaskan native peoples was to focus on the positives rather than dwell on the negatives.
"A successful Alaskan native student is one who knows where they come from and who wants to contribute to society."
During her stay in New Zealand, she has been impressed by the Maori higher education initiative, with 500 Maori PhDs graduating by 2002.
"This will have a significant benefit for communities, and [is] an example we would like to follow," she said. Twenty-one Alaskan native people had graduated with a doctorate, and "we need to improve those numbers".
Ms Villegas said a reciprocal relationship between Maori and Alaskan native peoples would be beneficial, not just in education but also in shared insights about land settlements and the protection of precious resources.
During her time in New Zealand, Alaska had been in the news, thanks to the announcement of Sarah Palin as Republican vice-presidential running mate to presidential candidate John McCain, news which has not pleased Ms Villegas.
"I campaigned against her when she ran for governor. Let's just say she is an interesting lady."
