REHR Center Team

Fatima Rahman received her BA in Political Science and International Relations from UC San Diego, her MA in Political Science from UC Riverside, and her Ph.D. in Political Science from UC Irvine. Dr. Rahman’s research focuses on the intersection between religion and politics in the Middle East and the broader Muslim world, particularly focusing on the rights of minorities and women. Her academic interests are motivated by her family’s roots, cultural heritage, and minority status in the region they emigrated from. Dr. Rahman’s most recent work examines the behavior and attitudes of Muslim Americans. She teaches courses on the Middle East, Islam, research methods, and American Experience. A native of San Diego, she enjoys the sun, the beach, and staying active in her free time.

Ian Read served as the inaugural co-director of the Center from 2020 to 2022 and was a Professor of Latin American Studies at SUA from 2009 to 2024. He is currently a Senior Research Fellow at the Soka Institute for Global Solutions. Dr. Read holds a BA in International Studies from DePaul University, an MA in Social Sciences from the University of Chicago, and a PhD in History from Stanford University. He has published books and research articles in various fields and topics including the history of slavery in the Americas, relations between the U.S. and Central America, and global health.

Danielle Denardo received her Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Colorado Boulder. Dr. Denardo’s research focuses on health, stigma, and social inequalities in Africa and North America. Her current research projects examine health behaviors and the lived experience of health conditions in different epidemic and social policy contexts. Dr. Denardo teaches courses on health disparities, race and ethnicity, families, and research methods. She has also taught learning clusters on topics such as Covid-19 and global inequalities, medical racism and violence against women, and period poverty.

Oleg Gelikman received his Ph.D. in Humanities (Comparative Literature) from the Humanities Center at Johns Hopkins University. He is an Associate Professor of Comparative Literature at Soka University of America and served as Director of the Humanities Concentration. His primary field of expertise is the aesthetics of prose from Enlightenment to Modernism. His interests include critical theory, conceptual history and history of criticism (formalism and semiotics). His articles appeared in Angelaki, boundary 2, Comparative Literature and Culture, MLN and edited collections (Modernism and Theory; Modernism and Film; Messianic Thought Outside Theology). He also translated theoretical texts from Russian and French. His current project, Inceptions of the Political, concerns retrieval of names, concepts and figures immobilized or elided in the vernacular of political theory.

Sonwabile Mafunda received his PhD in Mathematics from the University of Johannesburg in South Africa, where his research focuses on graph theory, particularly the study of distance measures and graph automorphisms in graphs and digraphs. His research also includes aspects of algebra and cryptography, building on his MSc thesis from the University of KwaZulu-Natal that explored the applications of algebraic graph theory to cryptography.

Prior to joining Soka University of America, he was a full-time faculty at the University of Johannesburg, involved in lecturing, supervising (advising), research and service in mathematics. He has advised graduate students in graph theory and cryptography ranging from Honours to PhD.

He is also actively involved in projects that empower young researchers and enrich communities. One of his key contributions is the Winter School for STEM subjects, a program designed to inspire and support high school learners from underprivileged or underserved areas, where information dissemination is limited. More about these initiatives can be found on the School on Graph Theory website, also, TikTok and YouTube.

At Soka University, he has facilitated a learning cluster on Mathematics and Security, examining the impact of mathematics and cryptography on international relations and modern warfare.

While at Soka University of America, I have centered my coursework around Latin America and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), attaining greater insight into the discrimination many ethnic and religious minorities face within their respective regions and other parts of the world. Growing up as a first-generation student with immigrant parents from Latin America, discussions surrounding ethnic discrimination, mainly targeting the Latino community, have been a relevant issue, igniting a personal commitment to address discrimination against all communities. With this in mind, although issues concerning the Latino community are very close to my heart, the MENA has historically been underrepresented regarding activism, academia, and discussions of racial, ethnic, and religious discrimination. For this reason, I feel it is essential to use my opportunity as a REHR Center student fellow to stimulate inquiry, research, and constructive dialogue addressing the racial, ethnic, and religious discrimination in the MENA. I apply this same mindset within the athletic community on campus. As Captain of the Cross-Country team, a Soka representative in the California Pacific Conference Student-Athlete Council, and as Soka’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Vice President, I always strive to ensure my teammates and fellow athletes feel at home and their concerns are addressed. I also enjoy going on runs with my teammates, hanging out with friends, skating, and watching soccer games (especially La Liga MX).

As someone who grew up in the Arab World, I have always been deeply aware of the complex interconnectedness between race, ethnicity, and identity. My journey began when I began to question the narratives that define us. This unique perspective has shaped my academic interests in International Studies, where I focus on Political Science and its intersection with media representation and human rights.

Living in a multicultural environment has fostered my passion for exploring how race and ethnicity are portrayed in the media, particularly in conflict zones and regions undergoing political turmoil. I am driven by the need to challenge dominant narratives that often misrepresent or marginalize communities like mine. This commitment has led me to focus on the role of media in conflict resolution and peacebuilding, where I aim to ensure that stories of resilience and resistance are accurately told.

My interest in human rights is also deeply personal. Navigating life as an Arab student in the United States, I have witnessed firsthand the ways in which race and ethnicity can influence one’s opportunities and experiences. This awareness motivates me to engage critically with issues of privilege and power, particularly in the context of global human rights advocacy.

Academically, I am particularly interested in how media can be used as a tool for social change, especially in amplifying the voices of marginalized communities. I am passionate about using my background and academic focus to explore and advocate for more just and equitable representations of race and ethnicity on a global scale.

My name is Sofia Vitale and I am a fourth-year student concentrating in Life Sciences. I was born and raised in San Diego, California. Growing up as the daughter of a single, hardworking mother in a low-income circumstance, I have witnessed firsthand the challenges many families endure. Now, I am working towards my dream of supporting vulnerable women and children facing circumstances similar to my own in the field of healthcare. I believe that the pursuit of racial and ethnic equity in healthcare is not only a moral imperative but also essential for achieving optimal health outcomes for all individuals. By addressing the root causes of health disparities and advocating for policies and interventions that promote equity, we can create a healthcare system that is truly inclusive and accessible to everyone, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. My aspiration is to use my medical career to address pressing issues related to race, ethnicity, human rights, and medicine. The Center for REHR presents an invaluable opportunity for collaboration, enabling me to work alongside individuals to tackle systemic disparities, such as equity in healthcare access, and the rights and dignity of all individuals, irrespective of their background or identity. I am deeply committed to embodying the values of wisdom, courage, and compassion in my work at the center, striving to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those I serve.