Pajaie Thao is a Success Coach in the Academic Success Center at St. Olaf College. Pajaie has been an advocate for higher education and is passionate about providing support to students. Her hope in this role is to foster a space for growth, community, and equity for St. Olaf students.

Pajaie graduated from St. Olaf College and studied Sociology/Anthropology, Race & Ethnic Studies, with an Education concentration. She is a proud Hmong American first generation/low-income college student and TRIO SSS program graduate. She credits her experiences in TRIO programs (Student Support Services, Educational Talent Search, and Upward Bound) for discovering her passion in advising and mentoring students. 

In her free time, Pajaie enjoys spending time with her family and friends, being outdoors, and trying new food.