This is the 114th article in Bears Doing Big Thing, a weekly column celebrating the stories of notable M-A alumni.
“I’ve always cared about making sure people feel represented regardless of their background,” Semaijah Ix-Siu ’20 said. Today, Ix-Siu works in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) department for the Seattle Seahawks, where she advocates for underrepresented communities and cultures. With a strong focus on education, she leads internal initiatives that promote inclusivity and awareness through fan base cultural events, community partnerships, and storytelling.
Before pursuing sports management and DEI, Ix-Siu was already leaving her mark at M-A. A dedicated volleyball player, she started on JV her freshman year but was moved up to varsity for CCS by the end of the season. “I built such a great community with the girls—I miss them all,” Ix-Siu said.
Ix-Siu joined M-A’s Polynesian Club in her sophomore year, where she celebrated her culture through various celebrations. “I loved being able to represent my culture through the fun performances and events we held,” she said.
Ix-Siu was also a proud member of the 12th Man club, leading M-A’s spirited student section during her senior year.
Beyond athletics, Ix-Siu was also part of the Bears Without Borders Club and participated in a service trip to the Kingdom of Tonga in 2019. “It was an amazing experience, being with the kids and connecting with them, as well as with my culture,” she said.
While sports and other extracurriculars took up much of her time, Ix-Siu credits her English teacher, Katharine Keigher, for helping shape who she is today. “She treated us like adults and never babied us,” she said. “That environment was unique and empowering. It prepared me for the challenges ahead, especially in the professional world.”
Throughout her time at M-A, Ix-Siu’s passion for athletics never subsided, and she began looking into careers that could keep her involved in the world of sports. Athletic Director Paul Snow, who taught Sports Leadership at the time, sparked her interest in sports management.
“He showed me that there were so many different career opportunities in sports beyond just playing,” Ix-Siu said. “He opened my eyes to the idea that sports weren’t just a game—it’s a huge industry with a wide range of roles.”
Following graduation, Ix-Siu attended the University of Washington (UW), where she pursued a degree in Communications. “There wasn’t an undergraduate major for sports management, but I felt like communications really aligned with my interests and would help me in the future,” she said. Ix-Siu also took classes that matched with her career goals, such as sports psychology, sports marketing, and sports nutrition.
While at UW, Ix-Siu continued to participate in cultural clubs, joining the school’s Pacific Islander Club, taking part in Pacific Islander Day, and performing dances in front of the entire university.
“I thought going into Washington, there wouldn’t be a lot of people like me. I was really excited when I found out they had a P.I. [Pacific Islander] club,” Ix-Siu said.
As a freshman, Ix-Siu secured an internship with UW’s Sports Marketing team as a game day promotion intern, gaining experience behind-the-scenes of collegiate sports—managing marketing campaigns and supporting event logistics. During this time, she met Laila Thompson-Wainer, a fellow M-A graduate, whom she would later go on to work with. “I knew of her in high school because she played football, but we’ve become great friends since working together,” Ix-Siu said.
By sophomore year, Ix Siu transitioned to event management, which offered her a different perspective on the sports industry. She organized events, coordinated logistics, and managed both small and large-scale gatherings. Her time in this role, combined with her earlier experience in sports marketing, rounded out her skill set and prepared her for her future working in the NFL.
Ix-Siu connected with the Seattle Seahawks during her sophomore year when UW hosted a women in sports networking event on campus. “The event brought together women from across Seattle’s sports community—including representatives from the Seahawks, Storm, Reign, Kraken and UW Athletics,” Ix-Siu explained.
It was during this event that Ix-Siu met Melanie Hoshino, the Seahawks’ manager of DEI. Ix-Siu remained in close contact with Hoshino over the next two years and continued learning more about the Seahawks’ DEI efforts. “During this time, I also met the vice president of DEI, which deepened my understanding of the organization’s culture and values,” she explained.
Before she finished her senior year at UW, Hoshino encouraged her to apply for a seasonal DEI coordinator role, which she held from November to March before graduating from UW last spring.
A few months later, Ix-Siu was invited back as a full-season 2025 DEI intern. “It allowed me to further contribute to the team’s inclusion initiatives,” she explained. Ix-Siu worked with the team and community to plan and carry out programs and initiatives that promote inclusivity, awareness, and representation.
Ix-Siu’s advice to current M-A students: “Put yourself out there and make your presence known. It’s hard to get into sports if you don’t know anyone, so try and connect with the athletic director and use your resources.”
To those interested in pursuing a career in athletic DEI initiatives: “Build your resume as best you can. If you know what department you’re interested in, start now.”
