Deidre Tegarden is the Executive Director of the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center (NVMC) on Maui. NVMC was conceived in 1981 by veterans and Maui’s Sons and Daughters of the Nisei Veterans and opened in 2013. The Nisei Veterans Memorial Center (NVMC) serves as home for Kansha Preschool, the Maui Adult Day Care Center, education center, exhibit space, and an archive with over 200 special collections relating to Maui Nisei veterans.
Prior to joining the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center, Tegarden was Chief of Protocol for Governor Neil Abercrombie and Governor David Ige. She also served as the point person for US-Japan Council’s State Prefecture meetings in 2012
Tegarden previously served as Director for the Office of Economic Development, County of Maui and as the Executive Director for Big Brothers Big Sisters Maui. She was a recipient of the Pacific Business News’ “Forty Under 40” Award, Past President of the Rotary Club of Kahului and a graduate of the Weinberg Fellows Program.
She is a graduate of the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Japanese and Chinese Studies.