SUA Commencement Program 2025

CLASS OF 2025 COMMENCEMENT MAY 23, 2025

The mission of Soka University of America is to foster a steady stream of global citizens committed to living a contributive life.

Class of 2025 Commencement Ceremony F riday , M ay 2 3, 2 0 2 5 T wo o ’cl ock in t h e af te r n o o n Sok a Pe rf ormin g Art s C e n t e r Aliso Viejo, California

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Me s sag e f ro m th e Ch a ir, B oa r d of Trus tees Dear Class of 2025, On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I offer my sincere congratulations to the Class of 2025. Today marks the culmination of many years of dedicated study and perseverance as well as the start of a new chapter in which you will play the leading role in bringing SUA’s mission to life in the communities where you will live and work.

Your time at SUA has prepared you to navigate an increasingly complex world with wisdom, resilience, and a commitment to living a contributive life. The friends you have made, the challenges you have overcome, and the diverse global perspectives you have learned from will serve as guiding lights in your journey.

SUA was founded on the belief that education exists to empower individuals to create value in society. As you take your first steps out into the world, I encourage you to embody that philosophy in all that you do – in your chosen profession, service to others, and daily life.

It has been an honor to witness the growth of this remarkable institution and the extraordinary leaders it fosters. We, the Board of Trustees, take great pride in your achievements and look forward to seeing the lasting contributions you will make. You will always be a valued member of the Soka community, and thus we hope you will remain engaged and supportive of future generations of Soka students.

Congratulations once again on your graduation. We celebrate your success and the boundless possibilities ahead.

Sincerely,

Stephen S. Dunham Chair, Board of Trustees

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M e s sa g e fro m th e P r es i dent To the Undergraduate and Graduate Classes of 2025, I am delighted to extend my warmest congratulations to you as graduates of Soka University of America. Today, we honor the significant academic achievement you have attained through your hard work, bonds of friendship as classmates, and commitment to your education.

I would also like to express my deepest thanks to all family and friends who have joined us from near and far on this occasion. Your support and encouragement have bolstered our graduates throughout their journeys, inspiring them to persevere and reach the milestone we celebrate today. At our commencement ceremony, we are honoring undergraduate students who have earned a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts, as well as graduate students who have completed a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Societal Change.

Graduates, as you move on to future endeavors, know that our entire community here at Soka is cheering you on, and we are fully confident in your ability to help bridge divides and create meaningful change in an increasingly polarized society. As our founder Daisaku Ikeda wrote to SUA’s second graduating class,“You embrace a robust philosophy that reveres the inherent dignity of life. You possess the responsive wisdom that joyfully creates value. You possess the character that nurtures harmony while respecting diversity. And you possess the courage to remain true to your convictions.”

May each of you pursue a lifetime of learning, continually nurturing your curiosity and growth as compassionate global citizens who contribute to a more sustainable, just, and peaceful world. Congratulations to the class of 2025 on your well-earned success!

Sincerely,

Edward M. Feasel President 3

O rd er o f E xerc ises

Proc es sional Soka University Student Orchestra (Please stand during the Processional.)

Th e National An th e m Student Chorus

Welcome Dr. Edward M. Feasel President

Commen c emen t Addr e ss Orlando Bloom

Music al In ter lude “On the Path of Peace” – Student Song Student Choir and Orchestra

C o n ferri ng an d Presen tation of G r a duat e De g r e e President Feasel Dr. Tomoko T. Takahashi, Vice President for Institutional Research and Assessment, and Dean of the Graduate School

Graduate Studen t Spea k e r Felipe Iwahashi da Silva

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O r d e r o f E xerc ises co n t i nued

Conferrin g an d Presen tat io n o f Un dergraduate Degre e President Feasel Dr. Michael Weiner, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. M. Robert Hamersley, Dean of Faculty

U ndergraduate Studen t Sp e a k e r s Marina Taemi Inoue Ashley Ayumi Nakazaki Jordan G. Bravo

Presen tation of F oun der ’s Awa r d President Feasel

Finale an d Per for man c e “Light of Hope” – Daisaku Ikeda and Wayne Green Student Choir and Orchestra

Rec es sional Soka University Student Orchestra (Please stand and remain at your seat until the graduates have recessed.)

Commen c emen t Recept io n Light refreshments to follow ceremony Founders Walk

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C om m en cemen t Speaker

Orlando Bloom Orlando Bloom, an English stage and film actor, rose to fame as the elven prince Legolas in The Lord of the Rings and the brave and loyal blacksmith Will Turner in Pirates of the Caribbean – two of the most influential film franchises of all time. While these roles made him a household name, Bloom has used his considerable influence in the decades since to bring attention to pressing global issues, including the vulnerabilities of children in conflict.

Born in Canterbury, England, in January 1977, he moved to London at 16 years of age and pursued his dreams of becoming an actor. He completed his studies before attending the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

While his name in old Teutonic means “famous throughout the land,” his path nearly ended before it began. Bloom was training at the prestigious performing arts conservatory at age 21, when he fell three stories and broke his back. Doctors warned he might never walk again. He did more than that—he returned to the stage. And, as fate would have it, he caught the eye of a director who encouraged him to audition for The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The rest is cinematic history.

Bloom’s passions have extended far beyond the silver screen. As a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, he has traveled extensively to champion the rights of children, including to Nepal, Bangladesh, Jordan, Liberia, and the Ukraine. In 2015, he received the BAFTA Britannia Humanitarian Award in recognition of his work with UNICEF. His return to Kyiv in 2023 is a testament to his ongoing commitment to children’s rights.

Off screen, Bloom is a longtime member of the Soka Gakkai International, a global Buddhist movement that promotes world peace rooted in the fundamental equality of all people and respect for the dignity of life. In 2006, he met with his spiritual mentor, Daisaku Ikeda, who offered a piece of advice that Bloom seems to have taken to heart: “Success today doesn’t automatically guarantee success tomorrow. Final victory is eternal victory.

That’s my advice to you as a friend.” For his part, Bloom remains ever more committed to developing his life and art in the service of humanity.

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Candidates for Degrees Sok a Un ive rs it y of Am e r i c a Ac ade mic Y e ar 2 0 2 4 -2 0 2 5

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M a s t e r o f Ar ts, E d u c a tio n a l Leaders hi p a n d So cieta l Ch a n ge

Victor Boey Xing Yi Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Felipe Iwahashi da Silva São Paulo, Brazil Liew Wei Shun Ampang, Malaysia Robi-Baggio Lynes Sydney, Australia Mahmood Omid Anaheim, California Shanker Pudasaini Kathmandu, Nepal

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B a c h elo r o f Ar ts, L iberal Arts Ivan Yahir Acosta Social and Behavioral Sciences Apple Valley, California

Nina Sofia Battioni Humanities Iseo, Italy

Maria Akenkou Life Sciences Rabat, Morocco

Joshua LaRue Beam Life Sciences Gardnerville, Nevada

Tess Aman Social and Behavioral Sciences Annapolis, Maryland

Wren Wylan Biggers International Studies Salmon, Idaho

Sayaka Amano Humanities Izumo, Japan

Jordan G. Bravo International Studies Victorville, California

Philips Ametsikor Social and Behavioral Sciences Tema, Ghana

Andrea Marlen Campuzano Social and Behavioral Sciences Anaheim, California

Johnson Amoah Life Sciences Kumasi, Ghana

Jelina Belit Caro-Alvarez Life Sciences Sunrise, Florida

Mahir Anand Social and Behavioral Sciences Dehradun, India

Makenna Nicole Carpinella Social and Behavioral Sciences Sparks, Nevada

Kamry Michelle Aragon Social and Behavioral Sciences Corona, California

Sebastian R. Castillo Life Sciences Lima, Peru

Masayuki Arihara Humanities

Yirru Cheng Social and Behavioral Sciences Malaysia

Pavle Bajic’ International Studies Beograd, Serbia

Nugnandini Chhetri Social and Behavioral Sciences Sikkim, India

Luis Barraza-Hernandez Social and Behavioral Sciences Greeley, Colorado 8

Ba c h e l o r of Ar ts, L ibera l A rts conti nued Sky S. Chun Social and Behavioral Sciences Federal Way, Washington

Takako Funaki Humanities Arlington Heights, Illinois

Sam Dagg Life Sciences Seattle, Washington

Marina Grujic Social and Behavioral Sciences Aliso Viejo, California

Franny DePhillips Environmental Studies Boise, Idaho

Valeria Guevara Fernandez International Studies Pereira, Colombia

Tenzin Dhesel Life Sciences Amherst, Massachusetts

Taylor Grace Hampton Life Sciences Las Vegas, Nevada

Naiyla Marie Dixon Social and Behavioral Sciences Fresno, California

Yuna Hasegawa Social and Behavioral Sciences Osaka, Japan

Ngoc Doan Social and Behavioral Sciences Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Abby Carol Hiatt Social and Behavioral Sciences Fresno, California

Shruti Dubey Social and Behavioral Sciences Greater Noida, India

Maya Hidana Humanities LeNia Sade Holt Life Sciences Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Jean-Pierre Dufour Environmental Studies Seattle, Washington

Zachary Kyle Holt Life Sciences Coos Bay, Oregon

Hina Ebata Social and Behavioral Sciences Shibuya, Japan

Hiromi Ieda Social and Behavioral Sciences Nagoya, Japan

Allison Marie Hi'ilani Etrata Humanities Koloa, Hawaii

Satoru Inaba Social and Behavioral Sciences Tokyo, Japan 9

Ba c he l o r of A rts, L ibera l A rts conti nued Hiromi Kawai Social and Behavioral Sciences Edogawa, Japan

Marina Taemi Inoue Humanities Social and Behavioral Sciences Vladivostok, Russia

Paridhi Khanduri Social and Behavioral Sciences New Delhi, India

Mia Bella Ionna Life Sciences Alexandria, Kentucky

Ryan Jun Kim Social and Behavioral Sciences Downey, California

Cienna Lynn Irwin Social and Behavioral Sciences Norco, California

Miles Andrew King Humanities Chicago, Illinois

Yuuma Jay Ishii International Studies Las Vegas, Nevada

Sophie Paige King Humanities Evanston, Illinois

Dilnaz Iskendirova Social and Behavioral Sciences Astana, Kazakhstan

Maya Klein Social and Behavioral Sciences Vancouver, Canada

Hiromi Ito Environmental Studies Social and Behavioral Sciences Gunma, Japan

Keiko Koguchi Social and Behavioral Sciences Portland, Oregon

Masahiro Iwashita Social and Behavioral Sciences Osaka, Japan

Miki Koyama Social and Behavioral Sciences Irvine, California

Sarah Elise Johnson International Studies Bloomfield, New York

Carol Krein Robinson International Studies Social and Behavioral Sciences Ijui, Brazil

Naoki Kasai Social and Behavioral Sciences Torrance, California

Haruka Kumano Social and Behavioral Sciences Yokohama, Japan

Solar Hiroaki Kawabata Life Sciences Northglenn, Colorado 10

Ba c h e l o r of Ar ts, L ibera l A rts conti nued Kaori Andie Nemoto Humanities International Studies Simi Valley, California

Quyen Le Social and Behavioral Sciences Hanoi, Vietnam Petrus Rodrigues de Lima Social and Behavioral Sciences Brasília, Brazil

Keito William Newman Environmental Studies Humanities Ottawa, Canada

Emilio Martinez Pastrana International Studies Jojutla de Juarez, Mexico

Alice Hoangyen Nguyen International Studies Houston, Texas

Izzy McNall Environmental Studies Eugene, Oregon

Vi Nguyen Do Khanh Social and Behavioral Sciences Hanoi, Vietnam

Alissa Nataly Medina Social and Behavioral Sciences Chicago, Illinois

Kazuyo Nishida Social and Behavioral Sciences Tokushima, Japan

Julia Mayumi Miyagawa Braga International Studies São Paulo, Brazil

Michika Nishikawa Environmental Studies Fukuoka, Japan

Kazuyo Mizuta Social and Behavioral Sciences Nagasaki, Japan

Satoshi Nishizaka Humanities Tachikawa, Japan

Isabela Moro Luna Environmental Studies Querétaro, México

Ellen Akemi Nishizawa Social and Behavioral Sciences São Paulo, Brazil

Muchindu Mwananyanda International Studies Lusaka, Zambia

Sakiko Ochiai International Studies Social and Behavioral Sciences Kagawa, Japan

Ashley Ayumi Nakazaki Environmental Studies International Studies Honolulu, Hawaii 11

Ba c he l o r of A rts, L ibera l A rts conti nued Naylah Noemy Oliveira Santos Life Sciences Brasilia, Brazil

Hannah Claire Schneider Humanities Naples, Florida

Kenta Ono Humanities Ikeda, Japan

Kako Anne Shimamura Life Sciences Snellville, Georgia

Lara Santana Paderes Social and Behavioral Sciences Salvador, Brazil

Liona Miyuki Shoji International Studies Los Angeles, California

Arnav Pandey Life Sciences Kathmandu, Nepal

Karly Sierka Environmental Studies Malibu, California

Joshua David Laraia Pilcher International Studies Mill Valley, California

André Aquene Jessie Souza International Studies Sacramento, California

Kenichi Justin Price Environmental Studies Waipahu, Hawaii

Vitória Souza e Robles Environmental Studies Taubaté, Brazil

Shayla Kalia Kailash Rose-Brown Social and Behavioral Sciences Sebastopol, California

Saron Solomon Tadesse Life Sciences Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Yuichi Sakemi Social and Behavioral Sciences Yamaguchi, Japan

Leo Naoto Takaku Social and Behavioral Sciences Aliso Viejo, California

Yoko Sato International Studies Gifu, Japan

Max Masato Takaku Social and Behavioral Sciences Aliso Viejo, California

Yudai Sato Environmental Studies Kawachinagano, Japan

Shinichi Takebe Social and Behavioral Sciences Osaka, Japan

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Ba c h e l o r of Ar ts, L ibera l A rts conti nued Miyuki Takeda Social and Behavioral Sciences Hirakata, Japan

Ema Cristina Winkler Humanities Alexandria, Virginia

Hiroto Tamura Social and Behavioral Sciences Fukuoka, Japan

Ambyr Wong Social and Behavioral Sciences Hong Kong

Siena Taylor Social and Behavioral Sciences Pasadena, California

Aska Elizabeth Wurtz Social and Behavioral Sciences Ann Arbor, Michigan

Takayuki Toyama Environmental Studies Ota, Japan

Finleyrose Wyatt Environmental Studies International Studies Aberdare, Wales

Sofia Catherine Vitale Life Sciences San Diego, California

Sachie Yabe Humanities Tokyo, Japan

Trystan Michael Ward Life Sciences Denver, Colorado

Kalen Yamamoto Social and Behavioral Sciences Cypress, California

Rika Watanabe Life Sciences Tokyo, Japan

Liang Kyosaburo Yantoda Social and Behavioral Sciences Tanjung Balai Kota, Indonesia

Ran Watarai Social and Behavioral Sciences Tokyo, Japan

Daniel Yoshimura Environmental Studies Aliso Viejo, California

Devin Fumiaki Weber Life Sciences Aurora, Colorado

Eiki Yoshimura Social and Behavioral Sciences Kyoto, Japan

Gray White Humanities Portland, Oregon

Jiheng Zhu Humanities Shenyang, China 13

B o a rd o f T r u stees

Stephen S. Dunham, J.D., Chair Baltimore, Maryland

Tariq Hasan, Ph.D., Vice Chair New York, New York Andrea Bartoli, Ph.D. New York, New York

Matilda Buck Los Angeles, California

Lawrence E. Carter, Sr, Ph.D., D.D., D.H., D.R.S. Atlanta, Georgia

Andy Firoved Irvine, California

Jason Goulah, Ph.D. Chicago, Illinois

Clothilde V. Hewlett, J.D. San Francisco, California

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B o a rd o f T r u stees co n t i nued

Karen Lewis, Ph.D. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Luis Nieves Napa, California

Isabel Nuñez, Ph.D., MPhil, J.D. Fort Wayne, Indiana

Gene Marie O’Connell, R.N., M.S. Corte Madera, California

Adin Strauss Santa Monica, California

Yoshiki Tanigawa Tokyo, Japan

Gregg S. Wolpert New York, New York

Edward M. Feasel, Ph.D. (ex-officio member) Aliso Viejo, California

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F a cu lty 2024-2025 Zahra Afrasiabi, Ph.D. Professor of Chemistry

Hong-yi Chen, Ph.D. Professor Emerita of Economics

Tanushree Agrawal, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Psychology

Darin W. Ciccotelli, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Rhetoric and Composition, Director of the Writing Program

Ryan Allen, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Comparative and International Education and Leadership

Tomás Crowder-Taraborrelli, Ph.D. Lecturer of General Education

Robert E. Allinson, Ph.D. Professor of Philosophy Shane Joshua Barter, Ph.D. Professor of Comparative Politics

Lisa T. Crummett, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Biology, Director of the Life Sciences Concentration

Peter F. Burns, Ph.D. Professor of Political Science

Danielle R. Denardo, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Sociology

George Busenberg, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Environmental Management & Policy

Sarah England, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Anthropology Robin Fales, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Marine Ecology

Ryan A. Caldwell, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Sociology

Edward M. Feasel, Ph.D. President, Chief Academic Officer, Professor of Economics

Monika P. Calef, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Physical Geography, Director of Environmental Studies Concentration

Arie A. Galles, M.F.A. Professor Emeritus of Painting/ Drawing, Artist in Residence

Pablo Camus-Oyarzun, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Spanish Language and Culture

Oleg Gelikman, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Comparative Literature

Esther S. Chang, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology, Director of Social and Behavioral Sciences Concentration

Michael D. Golden, D.M.A. Professor of Music Composition and Theory 16

F a c u lty 2024-2025 co n t i nued Lisa A. Hall MacLeod, Ph.D. Assistant Dean of Student Success, Associate Professor of International Studies, Director of International Studies Concentration

M. Robert Hamersley, Ph.D. Dean of Faculty, Professor of Environmental Biogeochemistry John (Jay) M. Heffron, Ph.D. Professor of Educational History and Culture

Sonwabile Mafunda, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Mathematics

Nancy Hodes, Ph.D. Professor Emerita of Chinese Language and Culture

Hiroshi Matsumoto, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Japanese Language and Culture

Dongyoun Hwang, Ph.D. Professor of Asian Studies

Diya Mazumder, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Economics

Osamu Ishiyama, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Japanese Language and Culture

Jim Merod, Ph.D. Professor of American Literature

John Pavel Kehlen, M.A. Professor of Asian Literature, Director of Humanities Concentration, Director of the Pacific Basin Research Center

Jonathan Lee Merzel, Ph.D. Professor of Mathematics Kevin Moncrief, Ph.D. Executive Director of the Ambassador Andrew Young Dialogue Lab

Gesa Kirsch, Ph.D. Professor of Rhetoric and Composition

Karen Moran Jackson, Ph.D. Interim Director of the MA Program in Educational Leadership and Societal Change, Associate Professor of Educational Psychology and Assessment

Robert Levenson, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Biochemistry Junyi Liu, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Economics

Marie Nydam, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Biology

Xiaoxing Liu, Ph.D. Professor Emerita of Chinese Language and Culture

Ian Olivo Read, Ph.D. Co-Director of the Center for REHR, SIGS Senior Research Fellow

Edward Lowe, Ph.D. Professor of Anthropology 17

F a c u lty 2024-2025 co n t i nued Tomoko T. Takahashi, Ph.D., Ed.D., L.H.D. Vice President for Institutional Research and Assessment, Dean of the Graduate School, Professor of Linguistics and Education

Anne Pearce, M.F.A. Professor of Studio Art Bryan E. Penprase, Ph.D. Vice President for Sponsored Research and External Academic Relations, Professor of Physics and Astronomy

Seiji Takaku, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology

Katherine Perry, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Mathematics

Gail E. Thomas, Ph.D. Professor Emerita of Sociology

Deike Peters, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Environmental Planning and Practice

Phat Vu, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Physics, Director of Science and Math Program

Veronica Quezada, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Spanish Language and Culture

John F. Walker, M.A. Director, English Language Programs

Nalini N. Rao, Ph.D. Associate Professor of World Art

Susan Walsh, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Molecular/ Cell Biology

Don Ryan, M.F.A. Lecturer of Ceramics, Director of Creative Arts Program

Michael Weiner, Ph.D. Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Professor of East Asian History & International Studies

Sandrine Siméon, Ph.D. Assistant Dean of Global Citizenship, Associate Professor of French Language and Culture, Director of the Language and Culture Program

Kristi Wilson, Ph.D. Professor of Rhetoric and Composition

James Spady, Ph.D. Associate Professor of American History

Sijia Yao, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Chinese Language and Culture

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A b o u t So ka U n iv er sity o f Ameri ca A Proud Heritage “What our world most requires now is the kind of education that fosters love for humankind, that develops character – that provides an intellectual basis for the realization of peace and empowers learners to contribute to and improve society.”

– Daisaku Ikeda, Founder, SUA in a lecture at the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, New Delhi, India, October 21, 1997 Helping students learn how to create value in their lives, their communities and the world is a central tenet of the Soka schools founded by Daisaku Ikeda (1928-2023), an educator who served as president of the Soka Gakkai International until his death. The Soka schools, which range from kindergartens to the 8,800-student Soka University in Japan, have established a tradition of humanistic learning and scholarship where the focus is on each student’s growth and development. Soka means “to create value.”

Soka education has its origins in the work of Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, a Japanese educator and Buddhist leader. During World War II, Makiguchi was arrested as a “thought criminal” by Japanese military authorities for his opposition to the war and his defense of religious freedom. He died in prison in 1944.

The small education society that Makiguchi founded in 1930 has since grown to become one of the world’s largest lay Buddhist organizations. Today, members of the SGI work for education, peace, and cultural exchange in over 190 countries.

In February 1987, Soka University of America (SUA), an independent notfor-profit organization incorporated in the state of California, dedicated its first campus in Calabasas, California. The Graduate School opened in 1994, offering a Master of Arts degree in Second and Foreign Language Education with a concentration in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).

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A b o u t S o k a Un iver sity o f Ameri ca conti nued The Graduate School held its first commencement in December 1995, the same year SUA acquired a 103-acre site in Aliso Viejo for a private non-profit four-year liberal arts college. The Aliso Viejo campus opened May 3, 2001, with its first entrance ceremony for a freshman class of 120 students from 18 countries and 18 states. On May 22, 2005, the Aliso Viejo undergraduate program held its first commencement.

Situated atop a hill overlooking the beautiful 4,000-acre Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Soka is just two miles from the Pacific Ocean.

With fewer than 500 undergraduates and 20 graduate students, all living on campus, SUA is an intimate academic community. Professors lead classes rarely larger than a dozen, fostering critical thinking and a global mindset with open dialogue.

In June 2005, SUA received its accreditation from the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). In 2007, the Calabasas campus was closed and the Graduate School relocated to the Aliso Viejo campus, uniting both programs on one campus for the first time.

In 2007, Soka University joined National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and competed as an independent school starting in 2008.

In 2012, SUA joined the California Pacific Conference of the NAIA. SUA students compete against other colleges in soccer, swimming, cross county, track and field, volleyball, and golf.

In 2008, SUA announced the Soka Opportunity Grants, which offer free tuition (room and board fees still apply) for eligible admitted undergraduate students whose families make $60,000 or less a year. In 2023, SUA launched the Soka Opportunity Plan, which increased the income limit to $90,000.

In 2009, SUA began construction on our new 1000-seat Soka Performing Arts Center, which was dedicated on May 27, 2011 with the commencement of the Class of 2011.

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A bo u t S o k a Un iver sity o f Ameri ca conti nued In 2014, SUA opened a new Master’s Program in Educational Leadership and Societal Change.

Construction on a new science hall and two additional residence halls began in 2018. The Marie and Pierre Curie Hall was dedicated on November 18, 2021, and a new Life Sciences concentration was added in 2020 to support students interested in health-related fields.

Mission of the University The mission of Soka University of America is to foster a steady stream of global citizens committed to living a contributive life.

University Mottos n Be philosophers of a renaissance of life. n Be world citizens in solidarity for peace. n Be the pioneers of a global civilization.

University Principles n Foster leaders of culture in the community. n Foster leaders of humanism in society. n Foster leaders of pacifism in the world. n Foster leaders for the creative co-existence of nature and humanity.

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O n th e P a th o f P eace Song Committee Verse 1: The dreams that came before us are engraved in travertine.

Let us cherish what is given and embark on this endeavor.

Thousand-colored banners wave amid unceasing winds.

As champions of one world, we bear this staff together.

Love shines within those that seek common ground.

Chorus: Our footsteps in the present will be paths of peace one day.

Meeting the eyes of others, humanity embraced.

Our hearts create momentum, our hands provide the way.

Verse 2: Our pen expounds a future, drawing wisdom from within, Forging scholars firm in action, guarding arts of liberty.

The lion’s noble call summons justice to its feet.

The roar of our conviction echoes through eternity.

Hope swells within hearts that act despite fear.

Chorus: Our footsteps in the present will be paths of peace one day.

Meeting the eyes of others, humanity embraced.

Our hearts create momentum, our hands provide the way. (x 3)

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T h e L ig h t o f Ho pe lyrics by Daisaku Ikeda music by Daisaku Ikeda and Wayne Green Verse 1: In the morning mist courageously I stand Determined to fulfill the dance of my mission.

All at once the sun appears above the hill And our campus is bathed in gold.

O LIGHT OF HOPE! Arise from here Keep shining on Beyond a thousand years!

On every path, in every stone Resides the founding spirit This spirit is my own: For the sake of the people I will study and learn Fearlessly and without cease.

And for the world, Create a new future of Happiness for humankind.

It is my earnest vow To climb the steep hill of learning In pursuit of my youthful dreams!

Verse 2: A determined youth emerges from the earth.

The beating pulse of life Grows stronger as we gather, Global citizens uniting here as friends.

And triumphant, the day begins.

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T he L igh t o f Ho pe c o n t i nued THE LIGHT OF HOPE Here and now it starts As youthful passion Burning in our hearts.

No education surpasses that Of trials and hardships, Harsh lessons learned of life.

We’ll go into society And do the best we can To shatter the dark of night!

To live a life Engaged in new construction, Our hearts forever bound as one.

Today we live our vow Creating bridges of dialogue So justice may be done!

Verse 3: Underneath a shining canopy of stars We ponder the words of thinkers through the ages: “My young friends, I entrust my dreams to you.

I am counting on you” To spread THE LIGHT OF HOPE Throughout the world To be the change that finally unfurls The gleaming banner of humanity, The flag of freedom, for all the world to see.

Be philosophers who bring about A renaissance of life!

Open the way for peace!

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T he L igh t o f Ho pe c o n t i nued This wounded world Awaits us all If our courageous hearts will heed the call.

I offer and dedicate to you The pride of an indomitable life Committed to the achievement Of one’s youthful vow.

I offer and dedicate to you THE LIGHT OF HOPE That rises above all hardships And makes every dream come true!

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1 University Drive | Aliso Viejo, California 92656 | (949) 480-4000 www.soka.edu