SUA Donors Newsletter Summer 2023

Dear Friends and Supporters,

On behalf of the students, staff, and faculty of Soka University of America, welcome to SUA Founders newsletter, filled with exciting updates for our donors and friends.

We concluded the academic year by celebrating the Class of 2023 at the commencement ceremony on May 26. Joining us as the keynote speaker was Wanjira Mathai, who also received the Soka Global Citizen Award for her decades of advocating for social and environmental change both locally and internationally. She is frequently named one of Africa’s most influential women following in the great legacy of her mother, the late Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Dr. Wangari Maathai. Most recently she was included in the 2023 TIME100, an annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world by TIME Magazine. Prior to the ceremony, student representatives had the wonderful opportunity to meet with Wanjira Mathai and engage in heart-to-heart dialogue.

For our campus, May is often referred to as SUA’s birthday month as we commemorate the founding of our Aliso Viejo campus. To celebrate this year, we relaunched the International Festival, renamed the Soka Arts, Music & Food Festival, on May 6, welcoming over 2,300 attendees. Student clubs performed as well as a wide-ranging lineup of renowned musicians, while gourmet food trucks lining Peace Lake offered international food options for festival attendees. The celebration was a great reminder of the importance of coming together as a community to share the values of Soka with our students, staff, faculty, alumni, donors, and neighbors in the community.

As we look to the summer, the newly established Soka Institute for Global Solutions (SIGS) has been working on multiple projects, including nuclear abolition and K-12 global citizenship education. The Nuclear Abolition Project, a working group to provide nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation education for youth and facilitate policy discussions with experts, held the Nuclear Politics 2023 Conference in collaboration with Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey. In this inaugural year, SUA hosted a five-day, workshop-style seminar (following SUA’s Learning Cluster curricular model) with 16 undergraduate and graduate students from nine U.S. colleges and universities. Later this summer, SIGS will host another conference on K-12 global citizenship education on campus with 18 undergraduate alumni who work in the field of education at the K-12 levels.

In closing, I would like to express my appreciation to you, our donors, as the pillar of our university. Your continuous support and generosity allow us to actualize our university founder Daisaku Ikeda’s vision for fostering global citizens who will be contributive leaders in society.

Sincerely,

Ed Feasel, Ph.D. President

Commencement Address

“The seeds sown by youth can overcome any and all hardship; they are able to flower and proliferate transcending the bounds of time and space.”

SUA

founder Daisaku Ikeda perfectly captured the spirit of the 19th Commencement Ceremony in his message to the Class of 2023, calling the day a “song of epic triumph.”

The cool and cloudy afternoon didn’t dim the smiles inside the Soka Performing Arts Center as a capacity crowd of guests, faculty, staff, and commencement speaker Wanjira Mathai came together May 26 to celebrate the graduation of four graduate students and 98 undergraduate students.

After President Edward M. Feasel’s congratulatory remarks, Dean of Students Hyon J. Moon read Mr. Ikeda’s full message. “To be young is to sow the seeds for the future,” Mr. Ikeda wrote. “The seeds sown by youth can overcome any and all hardship; they are able to flower and proliferate transcending the bounds of time and space.”

continued on page 7

Founders Award presentation

– Daisaku Ikeda

Student Speakers

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Upon accepting the Soka Global Citizen Award from Pres. Feasel, Mathai shared with graduates three nuggets of wisdom that have guided her through the years. She advised students to take every single opportunity that arises; to sustain their global perspective; and to remember, among the many distractions in life, that “the dignity of human life will always be the currency that matters.”

One graduate student (Rob Duran ’23) and three undergraduate students

(Hamza Ibrahim ’23, Erica Koyama ’23, and Kentaro Shintaku ’23) were selected by graduates to speak on their behalf. The final student speaker, Shintaku, said at SUA he “went from shy and reserved to someone now brimming with confidence and the desire to connect to all people.”

Shintaku was then called back to the podium to receive the Founders Award, which honors the graduating undergraduate who exemplifies the university’s ideals through service

and academic excellence. As he accepted the award from Pres. Feasel, Shintaku, who plans to attend Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education next fall, proved how deeply he believes in connection by thanking his amazing classmates for helping him succeed.

Robert Duran Hamza Ibrahim Erica Koyama

Kentaro Shintaku

My family and I are excited to move back to the westside of Los Angeles after years of living in the Bay Area. I look forward to working in either higher education or the private sector over the next few years with the aim of applying to Ph.D. programs in the future.

After graduation, I will study in the TESOL program at Columbia University and pursue a career in higher education to promote a more equitable, diverse, and empowering educational environment for peacebuilding.

I want to get my Ph.D. and then work at the intersection of education and data science. I would love to combine my data science skills, research experiences, and domain knowledge in education to create value together with other educational leaders.

I will take a year off to develop my creative abilities by learning music productions while I prepare for law school. I plan on enrolling in an environmental law program in 2024 to become an earth lawyer.

Rob Duran Northeast Los Angeles, CA

Maen Kwok Hong Kong SAR

Darshan Suryavanshi Magar Butwal, Nepal

Quetza Ramirez Queens, New York

In May, these SUA Graduate School students received their M.A. in Educational Leadership and Societal Change.

SUA has partnered with the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey to give Soka students the opportunity to gain accelerated admission to its master’s degree program and scholarships. This alliance will benefit undergraduates interested in pursuing an advanced degree in international relations for years to come.

The mission of the Middlebury Institute is to educate professionals to advance understanding, promote peace, and drive change in pursuit of a more just world. “There is a significant alignment between the programs at MIIS and many of our programs, which should also help generate interest among our students,” said Bryan Penprase, SUA vice president for sponsored research and external academic relations.

Prof. Penprase said the large reduction in the cost of Middlebury Institute degree programs for Soka students is a great incentive to explore them. The institute has provided a scholarship commitment to Soka alumni that:

• Covers 25% tuition for Soka alumni enrolling in Middlebury Institute degree programs.

• Provides a matching $10,000 scholarship to Soka alumni awarded SUA’s $10,000 Makiguchi Memorial Educational Fund upon enrolling in Middlebury Institute degree programs.

In addition to this new partnership with the Middlebury Institute, students can also take courses at SUA that count toward master’s degrees at University of San Diego’s Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies and Claremont Graduate University.

Soka Global Citizen Award

Wanjira Mathai

Soka University of America named Wanjira Mathai recipient of the 2023 Soka Global Citizen Award for her decades of advocating for social and environmental change on both local and international platforms. Mathai, who is frequently named one of Africa’s most influential women, was also the keynote speaker at SUA’s 2023 commencement ceremony on May 26 in the Soka Performing Arts Center.

Mathai’s mother, late Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dr. Wangari Maathai, was a worldrenowned activist who founded the Green Belt Movement, a grassroots environmental movement in Africa. One of Soka’s academic buildings—Maathai Hall—is named after Wangari Maathai.

“Both Mathai’s and her mother’s fearless commitment to peace and protecting our

planet embody wisdom, courage, and compassion—the essential elements of global citizenship we are striving to cultivate in each student at SUA,” President Edward Feasel said.

Mathai is the managing director for Africa and Global Partnerships at the World Resources Institute (WRI). She formerly served as vice president and regional director for Africa, co-chair of WRI’s Global Restoration Council, and as a senior advisor to the Global Restoration Initiative. She is also the current chair of the Wangari Maathai Foundation and the former chair of the Green Belt Movement in Kenya.

The Soka Global Citizen Award, inaugurated by SUA President Feasel in 2021, includes a stipend to help continue Mathai’s important work.

“Both Mathai’s and her mother’s fearless commitment to peace and protecting our planet embody wisdom, courage, and compassion…”

President Feasel

“I’ve taught at universities around the world, and the caliber of your students is magnificent.…There is an idea, a philosophy driving this university, and at the core of the philosophy is peace. Peace within, peace without.”

Dr. Asle Toje

The Nobel Seminars, an important new partnership between SUA and the Nobel Institute in Oslo, Norway, launched January 31 with “The Nobel Peace Prize: Can It Influence World Peace?”

The wide-ranging discussion between Dr. Asle Toje, deputy leader of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, and SUA Distinguished Adjunct Professor Alexander Harang, head of politics at No to Nuclear Weapons and former leader of the Norwegian Peace Association, highlighted the role of the annual prize on the world stage as well as that of each individual in promoting peace.

In welcoming guests to the SUA Athenaeum, SUA President Edward Feasel noted that the Nobel Seminars are building on Soka’s rich history of promoting peace. The father of Soka education, Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, died in prison while being held for his opposition to the Second World War. His disciple, Josei Toda, was also imprisoned but survived, and in 1957 denounced nuclear weapons and called for their elimination. SUA founder Daisaku Ikeda has continued that call in his annual peace proposals.

Dr. Toje said the prize has most frequently been awarded to those working toward disarmament. Noting that many people say the world is more at risk than ever of a nuclear war, Prof. Harang asked what efforts and actions the committee looks toward as most likely to increase security.

Dr. Toje agreed that following the Cold War, countries have “fallen back into great power rivalry and great power conflict.” To prevent catastrophes around the world, Dr. Toje said a pledge of no first use is essential. The next step is the process of arms reduction. By regularly turning the world’s attention toward the topic of nuclear disarmament, Dr. Toje said the Peace Prize sends a powerful message. “I like to think that the anti-nuclear movement has been indispensable in creating our greatest shield against nuclear war. And that is the nuclear taboo,” he said. Prior to the event, Dr. Toje met with students in Prof. Harang’s learning cluster on the Nobel Peace Prize, who offered their own nominations for this year’s prize. Dr. Toje said he found their choices impressive enough to voice on behalf of SUA to the committee.

“I’ve taught at universities around the world, and the caliber of your students is magnificent,” he said. “And the caliber has very much to do with the way people are educated at this university, which is distinct. There is an idea, a philosophy driving this university, and at the core of the philosophy is peace. Peace within, peace without.”

Dr. Toje encouraged everyone in the audience to recognize their own role in promoting peace, regardless of what they do in the world. Even in casual conversations with friends, Dr. Toje urged audience members, “be an advocate for the course of peace and to take your reasonings and your logic, the better angels of our nature, as President Lincoln famously called it, and let that be your guiding star, because we don’t know who of you will be the one to save the world.”

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND.

I grew up in Orange County, and I was the “Jan Brady” (middle child) among five siblings. I was the first in my family to attend college, starting with community college, and my two younger siblings followed in my footsteps. I have always been fascinated with various fields of biology, which is both a blessing (varied research options) and a curse (steep learning curve with each new research project). Currently, my focus is on two disparate areas: how diet influences human health and disease, and how anthropogenic stressors affect the ecophysiology of marine invertebrates and microbes. Teaching classes about the human body over many years drew me to the first focus, whereas my early graduate school training in marine biology explains the second. I am married to a brilliant physiologist, who is a professor at UCI, and we have three amazing children.

FROM WHICH INSTITUTIONS DO YOU HOLD DEGREES?

Ph.D. in Zoology from University of Florida.

M.S. in Biology from California State University, Fullerton.

B.S. in Biological Science from California State University, Fullerton.

WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO SUA?

I was attracted to the small class size at SUA, which would give me freedom to practice student-centered teaching that involved a lot of interaction with my students, as opposed to strictly lecture-based teaching, which is what I experienced in my own education. At SUA, I have the opportunity to connect with students on an intimate level, which is very difficult at a large university where faculty teach huge classes in big lecture halls. I was also attracted to SUA’s mission statement, “Fostering global citizens that are committed to living a contributive life.” For the sake of our planet and for future generations, I believe that we need more people in this world who understand the value of living a contributive life, and this objective is woven into the courses that I teach.

WHAT DISTINGUISHES SOKA STUDENTS IN YOUR OPINION?

SUA students seem more interested in solving the big problems that are facing our world compared to students that I have taught at other institutions. This is apparent in the thoughtful questions that they ask, the research topics that they choose to tackle, and the learning cluster topics that they seek out. This characteristic of SUA students makes my job more rewarding because I know that the knowledge that I am imparting to my students will be used to create positive change in this world.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

I am inspired by my students every week. I am inspired by their desire to learn, their kindness and compassion for their fellow students and for those they do not know, and their accomplishments in many different areas, including scientific research, music, sports, leadership, and civic engagement. One of the most inspiring parts of my job is getting thank you letters or emails from students who have graduated from SUA and are now following their dreams and doing amazing things. To play an important role in a student’s academic journey is very rewarding.

DO YOU HAVE OTHER REFLECTIONS ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A FACULTY MEMBER AT SUA?

It has been very exciting to be one of the founding faculty of the new Life Sciences concentration at SUA. I was part of the early planning process that included mapping out the curriculum, hiring talented scientists, designing our beautiful new science building, Marie and Pierre Curie Hall, and being a capstone mentor for the first two students in the concentration to graduate in 2022. We have an amazing group of faculty, and I am proud to work alongside them in offering our students unique learning opportunities in the sciences both in the classroom and in the laboratory. As a brand-new concentration, we will have to experience some growing pains, but I believe that the future of Life Sciences at SUA is a bright one!

“One of the most inspiring parts of my job is getting thank you letters or emails from students who have graduated from SUA and are now following their dreams and doing amazing things.”

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

CONTRIBUTING THROUGH EDUCATION

Zahra Afrasiabi, Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry

THE HOLOCAUST AND AMERICA

Robert Allinson, Ph.D., Professor of Philosophy

SELF-GOVERNMENT IN WALES

Shane Barter, Ph.D., Professor of Comparative Politics

THE POLITICS OF DISNEYLAND

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

PERIOD POVERTY AND STIGMA

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

TRADITIONAL MEDICINE

Chika Esiobu, Ph.D., Visiting Professor of African Studies and Economic Development

LIVING IN NATURE: OUTDOORS IN THE OC

Robert Hamersley, Ph.D., Professor of Environmental Biogeochemistry

NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT/NOBEL PRIZE

Alexander Harang, Visiting Distinguished Adjunct Professor

BEING HUMAN IN STEM

Nidanie Henderson-Stull, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biochemistry

DARK TOURISM ABANDONED PEOPLE

Dongyoun Hwang, Ph.D., Professor of Asian Studies

Students share their research & experiences working on issues with a larger social significance from the perspective of global citizenship

ENGLISH/JAPANESE TRANSLATION

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

LEADERSHIP & FOLLOWERSHIP

Jennifer Lee, Ph.D., Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology

GENETIC ENGINEERING

Robert Levenson, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biochemistry

MACHINE LEARNING

Junyi Liu, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Economics

JAPANESE LANGUAGE AND SOCIETY

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

GLOBAL WARMING ON DIVERSITY

Anthony Mazeroll, Ph.D., Professor of Biology

BEING A GLOBAL CITIZEN

Kevin Moncrief, Ph.D., Vice President for Mission Integration

ANIMAL BEHAVIOR

Marie Nydam, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biology

GLOBAL SOLUTIONS

Tetsushi Ogata, Ph.D., Visiting Assistant Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies

ETHICS OF ZOOS

Katherine Perry, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Mathematics

WHOSE NATURE?

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

MODERN DRUG DISCOVERY

Hung Phan, Ph.D., Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry

MEXICAN INDIGENEITY

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

ATLANTIC HISTORY

Ian Read, Ph.D., Professor of Latin American Studies

EATING ASIAN AMERICA

Jeannie Shinozuka, Ph.D., Visiting Assistant Professor of History in International Studies

FILM THEORY AND CRITICISM

Sandrine Simeon, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of French Language and Culture

ACJACHEMEN PROJECT

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

SCIENCE AND THEATRE

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

SINOPHONE CINEMA

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

List provided by the Office of Academic Affairs

Soka thanks the Luis and Linda Nieves Family Foundation for their generous support.

Hiromi Makiuchi

Class of 2009

Hello to the Soka community around the world! I am currently based in New York and work as a product manager at a global investment banking firm. My primary responsibility is to strategize digital solutions tailored to our clients’ needs, and manage communication with them to deliver the most optimal products. To be honest, I only stumbled on this position by chance—and I am so grateful because I absolutely love it. Trusting in the career decisions I make and putting 100% into whatever is in front of me have always opened a new path, leading me to new and challenging opportunities. This was no different. It is a core value I learned at SUA, which I have carried with me ever since.

Here is a little bit about myself and my first impression of SUA. Throughout my childhood, I grew up outside of my home country Japan, primarily in Latin American countries. As wonderful as it was to be immersed in different cultures and having experiences I never would have had in Japan, I struggled with feeling like I never fit in. Maybe it was because we moved so often that I had to make new friends every three years, or maybe it was that I hardly saw other people who looked like me. During the first week after starting a new school, I would lock myself in the bathroom and cry. I had a fear of rejection and it was hard to open up to others. Starting new was never easy.

However, things were different when I arrived at SUA. The warmth and kindness of faculty, staff, and student orientation leaders were indescribable. For once, I didn’t cry during my first week. Instead, I was striking up conversations with everyone I met. At

SUA, I learned to embrace my fears and discover parts of myself that make me who I am today.

Over the years, I can confidently say that the values I learned at SUA helped me succeed at work. When I dealt with difficult people, I listened and remained patient as I strategized the best approach to the situation. Of course, I was angry and my instinct was to strike back. But I eventually learned to strategize my approach depending on the situation, always having compassion for the other person because at the end of the day, we all want to be heard. At SUA, we received many messages from our university founder Daisaku Ikeda in which he often emphasized the importance of having wisdom and compassion, and resolving conflicts through dialogue.

When I first managed a team, I often supported my junior colleagues through difficult conversations with other teams. After a heated conversation over the phone, a colleague would turn to me and say, “Wow, you really handled that well. I can’t believe we reached a middle way in that meeting.” I realized right then that the fundamental values I had around resolving conflict were something that others recognized. I hoped that I could make some difference in the workplace by bringing these core Soka values to practice. Many Soka graduates in similar industries must have similarly rewarding experiences that, big or small, make a difference in the workplace. However, I am not alone when I say that I doubted many times whether I was truly living up to the expectations

of a Soka graduate. I considered shifting my career countless times to working in international organizations or NGOs whose core principles are centered around the betterment of the world. Deep inside, I knew I was on the right path for myself, but for the longest time I could not come to terms with working in a for-profit company.

Things changed a few years ago at an SUA alumni gathering, which Danny Habuki (president of SUA at the time) attended. He shared that some people in the room may feel doubt about where they are in their life or with their profession. He said not to worry, because every person and every job plays an important part in society. If even one job is compromised, society will not function; just like a cog in a machine, if the cog malfunctions the whole machine will not work. Hearing this took a big weight off me, and I gradually learned to appreciate and have confidence in the path I chose. Today, I am grateful for the choices I made and for my achievements. I am also thrilled to have the opportunity to mentor many SUA students over the years who reached out to get insights and tips on making a career in finance. I take these mentoring opportunities seriously and do my best to support each person, whether it is reading a resume or preparing someone for an interview. This is one way that I choose to continue the culture of Soka that I experienced as a member of one of the founding classes at SUA.

I will strive to pave a path for other SUA students and make my alma mater proud!

“…putting in 100% in whatever is in front of me has always opened a new path, leading me to new and challenging opportunities.”

ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAK

“Interacting with people from such diverse backgrounds and listening to their stories opened up a completely new world for me and, to say the least, changed my way of life.”

Sia Tholath ’26

Soka’s Alternative Spring Break, a service-learning program, has completed another successful academic year. ASB, organized by the Office of Student Leadership and Service Engagement, combines seminar-style learning with volunteer service and advocacy to help students gain greater understanding of social justice concepts. The purpose of ASB is to promote lifelong active global citizenship whereby the community becomes a priority in each student’s life decisions.

This year, ASB focused on the global refugee crisis through a partnership with the Tiyya Foundation. Students worked together with Tiyya’s job placement specialist and housing specialist to assist its clients and families in finding community, housing, and careers. During Soka’s spring break in March, students also volunteered with Second Harvest Food Bank and SERVE LA, sorting and packing food for the Orange County community and serving unhoused individuals in Los Angeles.

Students also had the opportunity to engage with community leaders who were once refugees, including authors, artists, community organizers, and chefs who

contribute to the lives of immigrants, refugees, and displaced Indigenous populations across Southern California every day. Jun Sawada ’26 described his reaction to hearing Enas Tayem, a former refugee, describe how she overcame numerous obstacles and developed incredible resilience.

“She did not stop for a second, and every single phrase she completed felt like a lesson worth memorizing,” Sawada said. “She made me break once and for all the preconception of refugees as victims; rather, they are protagonists.”

As a result of the ASB program and learning from one another throughout the year, students also developed bonds of friendship as they engaged in volunteer service throughout the spring break period.

“ASB was the best decision I have made, and it proved to be one of the most impactful experiences in my life,” said Sia Tholath ’26. “Interacting with people from such diverse backgrounds and listening to their stories opened up a completely new world for me and, to say the least, changed my way of life.”

Philips Ametsikor ’25, Zachary Holt ’25, and Anthea Mudanye ’23 were named to the College Sports Communicators Association’s NAIA Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Academic All-District Team.

College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA) has been honoring outstanding academic and athletic achievements by collegiate studentathletes since 1952. The 2022-23 Academic All-District Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Teams recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances in the pool and in the classroom.

Philips Ametsikor

Zachary Holt

Anthea Mudanye

Aliso Viejo Mayor Ross Chun and Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett received SUA’s Highest Award of Honor on Dec. 7 and Dec. 12 in the Founder’s Meeting Room, with both recipients recognized for their work in the community and continuous support and contributions to the university.

“Soka has always been such a great partner,” Bartlett said upon receiving the award, a sentiment borne out by SUA President Edward Feasel’s announcement during the ceremony that Orange County would grant Soka $200,000 as part of the funds the county received through the federal American Rescue Plan Act. The grant has been used for university facilities and programs.

Bartlett and Chun have led distinguished careers of volunteerism and community service. Bartlett, who served as supervisor for two four-year terms, spearheaded the partnership between Orange County, the City of Aliso Viejo, and SUA when the university served as a Super Point of Dispensing for COVID-19 vaccinations in 2021. Chun completed his second term as the mayor of Aliso Viejo in December 2022 and remains on the city council.

“The influence of this university is felt throughout our local community and beyond,” Chun said. That impact is due in no small part to the decades-long partnership between SUA and engaged public servants like Bartlett and Chun.

SUA Launches the Inaugural Soka Arts, Music & Food Festival

The Soka Arts, Music & Food Festival opened a new chapter in Soka University of America’s connection with the Southern California community. The festival, attended by 2,300 people, featured musical performances from contemporary artists, delicious food and drink, and family activities from balloon animals to inflatable slides. The day-long event on May 6 also marked the anniversary of the university’s dedication in 2001.

In his opening remarks, SUA President Edward Feasel shared his conviction that the festival was a celebration of the university’s values of wisdom, courage, and compassion, saying it was “an opportunity for us to come together, learn from each other, and celebrate the incredible diversity and richness of cultures, music, food, language, and peoples here in Southern California.”

Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter Gaby Moreno headlined the exciting, multicultural lineup of artists who performed, which included the sounds of Latin America, New Orleans jazz, pop and dance music, and contemporary hits. Eight student clubs also performed, with styles ranging from hip hop and Indian dance to Japanese taiko drumming and contemporary R&B.

The Soka Arts, Music & Food Festival built on the incredible success of the International Festival, which was paused during the pandemic after being held for the first 18 years after the founding of the Aliso Viejo campus in 2001.

CRITICAL CONVERSATIONS

The SUA campus and local communities came together to address some of the most pressing issues facing society today, including addiction, economic inequality, and juvenile incarceration, at Critical Conversations @Soka on March 31. The event, “Spotlight on Solutions,” was held in partnership with the Stand Together Foundation, an organization dedicated to breaking cycles of poverty.

In introducing the event, SUA President Edward Feasel highlighted the close alignment between the mission of the Stand Together Foundation and the humanistic values and mission of Soka.

The event opened with the music and words of Aloe Blacc, an activist and artist committed to making music that inspires

a positive shift in mindset. He reminded the audience of the power of positivity and the importance of coming together to make a difference.

Blacc was followed by leaders of several organizations that provided valuable insights about how to break cycles of poverty and incubate opportunities for all:

The Phoenix, an organization that helps individuals recover from substance abuse by providing a supportive and active community.

Cafe Momentum , a restaurant and culinary training facility that employs and trains youth who have been released from detention facilities.

Lift LA, an organization that empowers families living in poverty by providing them with resources and tools to improve their economic situation.

More than 250 students, staff, and community members continued to connect during an outdoor festival later in the evening. Food trucks served dishes from vendors such as Tiyya, which provides critical resources for immigrants, refugees, and displaced Indigenous communities. Graffiti art, play stations, and photo booths added to the festive atmosphere. All of the organizations featured at the event also offer SUA students networking opportunities to identify internships, jobs, and community service opportunities that benefit the greater community.

In August 2022, Soka University of America proudly introduced the Soka Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Scholarship, aligning with President Feasel’s focus on integrating the university mission and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. This scholarship is designed to enhance accessibility for individuals from minoritized groups and those who demonstrate a dedication to fostering diversity and inclusion at SUA.

Applicants for the scholarship are required to submit an application that highlights their qualifications and their understanding of the relationship between diversity, equity, and inclusion and the university’s mission. They are also asked to showcase their contributions to cultivating an inclusive culture and their plans to continue doing so.

The inaugural recipients of this scholarship

include students who have taken on leadership roles, both formal and informal, in support of Soka’s mission. These individuals exemplify a commitment to creating a welcoming environment for all students, fostering a greater sense of belonging.

The establishment and sustainability of this scholarship exemplify SUA’s ongoing dedication to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion. It serves as a tribute to those who actively contribute to a culture of inclusivity while simultaneously expanding access to opportunities within the Soka community.

Through initiatives like the Soka Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Scholarship, SUA remains steadfast in its commitment to cultivating an environment where all students can thrive and contribute to a diverse and inclusive community.

If you would like to make a donation to the DEI Scholarship, please visit give.soka.edu.

Soka University $1 Million Challenge Grant Now Fully Funded

The John Stauffer Charitable Trust awarded Soka University of America a $1 million challenge grant in April 2021 to establish an endowment to support student summer research in chemistry and biochemistry. The John Stauffer Endowment for Summer Research in Chemistry and Biochemistry, a one-to-one matching fund meant to create a $2 million endowment by December 2026, was fully funded in February 2023.

The John Stauffer Endowment will now be able to support 10-12 Stauffer Fellows, students who will conduct advanced research with SUA faculty during the summer, benefiting a diverse population of current and future chemistry and biochemistry students early in their academic careers, and helping to shape career choices and retention in STEM fields.

SUA would like to thank all the donors who contributed to the John Stauffer Endowment.

Taking stock of your savings

There are so many ways to support the globally minded students of Soka University of America. One way, which can potentially help save on your taxes, is by donating stocks to SUA.

How is stock giving beneficial for you? When you cash out your stocks before donating, you have to pay capital gains tax. However, transferring appreciated stock directly to SUA enables you to donate the full amount of that stock, making your gift much larger. The full value of the stock is also eligible as a deduction on your tax return. Essentially, gifts of stock are even more impactful than cash gifts, and allow you to avoid paying capital gains tax!

Stock giving can seem confusing and complicated, which is why we are sharing a free resource from FreeWill to make it simpler. It teaches you about the benefits of stock giving, guides you through the simple process, and provides instructions on where to send the forms. You can make your stock gift today at FreeWill.com/stocks/Soka/Welcome

Unsure if giving stock is the right gift for you?

There are two other options to consider for supporting SUA: 70.5 or older? You can make a tax-free gift directly from your IRA to SUA using FreeWill’s tool. If you are eligible, it’s the smartest way to give back. Start your gift at FreeWill.com/QCD/Soka

Begin your lasting legacy by including a gift in your will or trust. Using FreeWill’s online will-writing platform, you can create your plans in under 20 minutes and change the lives of generations of students, without spending anything today. Visit FreeWill.com/Soka to start your legacy now.

Further questions? Please contact Linda Kennedy at (949)480-4072 for more information.

Reaffirming its mission to educate global citizens, Soka University of America is expanding its financial aid program to increase access to its nationally ranked liberal arts education.

Beginning Fall 2023, the Soka Opportunity Plan will ensure tuition is covered by grants and scholarships for students whose families have annual incomes below $90,000 and demonstrated financial need. Those students may also qualify for additional gift aid to reduce or eliminate education-related costs, such as living expenses, books, and transportation. Previously, the university covered full tuition for students with family incomes below $60,000.

SUA will also provide generous need-based aid packages to students whose household income is greater than $90,000. In addition, every admitted student will receive a merit scholarship. Students who have demonstrated exceptional academic achievements may receive additional merit-based scholarships.

“The Soka Opportunity Plan demonstrates our dedication to educating global citizens regardless of a family’s financial circumstances,” President Edward Feasel said.

Since its first undergraduate class arrived on SUA’s Aliso Viejo campus in 2001, the university has been committed to opening its doors to qualified students regardless of their financial circumstances through a need-blind admission process. In the 2022-2023 academic year, 100% of enrolled students received a merit scholarship, and approximately 70% received grants and scholarships that exceeded tuition to help cover other academic-related expenses.

Soka is dedicated to educating global citizens regardless of need.

Publisher

Soka University of America

President

Edward Feasel, Ph.D.

Executive Editor

Linda Kennedy

Editors

Dana Collins

Nathan Gauer

Graphic Design

Cathy Cervantes

Photography Courtesy of SUA

Photography Office

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