Career Ready from Day One: SUA's New Career Hub Transforms Student-to-Professional Pathways
There is a clear trend among Soka students: while some will go directly to graduate school, 70-80% will enter the workforce upon graduation.
But in today’s rapidly shifting job market, even the most well-prepared graduates can feel uncertain about the next steps after earning their degree. To bridge this gap, SUA has launched the Career Hub, a new initiative designed to support students at every stage of their career development — from exploratory internships and graduate school applications to first jobs and entrepreneurial ventures.
“Whether students are seeking internships, preparing for graduate school, exploring career options, or launching their own ventures, the Career Hub ensures that no student will navigate this journey alone,” said SUA President Ed Feasel. “The Career Hub reaffirms our commitment to empowering our students to lead, contribute, and build peace wherever they go.”
SUA has launched several career-related platforms over the years to meet students’ needs, but they were scattered across various websites and offices, making it difficult for students to navigate. The Career Hub consolidates everything into one central location, making it much easier for students, faculty, and staff to access career resources and opportunities.
Jonathan D. Wray, director of career development and internships, said the establishment of the Career Hub was fueled by a desire to encourage students to begin preparing for their future careers during their first year at SUA, rather than waiting until their final year.
“With this mindset,” said Wray, “students can seek out and curate the necessary experiences, internships, and training throughout their four years at SUA from the start, which will support them in landing their dream job or entering their graduate program of choice.”
As part of this culture shift, the Career Hub will embed career readiness across the entire Soka experience — not just within career-focused programming. Career centers at many universities often function as transactional spaces where students drop in for resume help, browse job postings, attend networking events, and then move on. The Career Hub, in contrast, offers an integrated suite of resources housed across all campus areas, designed to help students navigate an increasingly complex professional world and offer tailored support and guidance for their unique career goals.
“Soka prepares students to be lifelong learners, a crucial skill in today’s rapidly changing world,” said Lisa MacLeod, assistant dean for student success. “The Career Hub helps students translate this and other liberal arts skills to a future of engaged global citizenship and professional success.”
From Liberal Arts Classroom to Long-Term Career: Speaking the Language of Employers
Among the Career Hub’s newest and most innovative tools is the RATE™ (Reflect-Articulate-Translate-Evaluate) framework, which prepares students to translate a liberal arts education into the language of today’s job market and articulate the unique value they bring to the workplace when meeting prospective employers. Faculty fellows are currently being trained to assist students to use this powerful tool, which students can also apply to co-curricular programs and campus employment.
This challenge is not unique to SUA. Many graduates from other liberal arts colleges struggle to explain how their interdisciplinary thinking and communication skills transfer to the workplace. The RATE™ framework offers students a structured way to reflect on their experiences, articulate their strengths, and contextualize their academic learning to demonstrate their marketability to employers.
In addition to the RATE™ framework, the following flagship career programs at SUA form the core of the Career Hub:
- Career 100: A foundational course that guides students in identifying their strengths, values, and career interests as they begin exploring professional pathways.
- InternX: An internship program that connects students with paid internships across diverse industries, helping them graduate with real-world experience and a competitive edge.
- Bridges to Business (B2B): A professional development initiative for students interested in entrepreneurship and business, offering one-on-one mentorship, skill-building workshops, pitch competitions, and networking opportunities with industry professionals.
- The U.N. Study Tour: An immersive experience where students engage directly with United Nations officials and international policymakers, gaining insight into global career opportunities.
- Graduate School Advising: Specialized advising for students applying to law school, medical school, or graduate programs in fields such as public policy and international relations.
Career Readiness for a Global Stage
For both domestic and international students, career readiness involves mastering professional skills like resume-building, LinkedIn branding, business etiquette, networking, and interview preparation, which is one of the reasons Dean of Students Hyon Moon has been encouraging students to take the time to explore and engage with the resources the Career Hub provides.
“Their career is about their future, and that deserves commitment,” said Moon. “For those unsure where to start, I hope they can see that this resource is designed specifically for them.”
For international students, who face a unique set of challenges when entering the workforce, the Career Hub offers guidance on Curricular Practical Training (CPT) internships; access to Goin’ Global, a platform that highlights global employers that hire and sponsor international students; and additional support in navigating global career pathways.
“I am looking forward to using the Career Hub to find and apply for internships as an international student,” said Mateus Quesada ’27. “I believe that getting a CPT is part of the backbone of my professional future, but it wasn’t easy to know where to start until now.”
The Career Hub will also provide support for Soka alumni at every stage of their careers. Director of Alumni Relations Margaret Kasahara said that whether alumni are transitioning in their careers or seeking new opportunities or professional development, they can now access job postings, career coaching, and industry resources.
“Networking events and alumni panels sponsored by the Career Hub will help foster connections with fellow graduates as well as current students, strengthening professional relationships within the university community,” said Kasahara. “Alumni who mentor or speak at Career Hub events can also gain leadership experience, which can be a meaningful way to give back while staying engaged with SUA.”
The Career Hub is set to become a vital pillar of SUA’s mission of fostering students into global citizens who use their education to contribute to society. By making career development accessible, personal, and globally minded, the Career Hub will help ensure that every student has the tools and support needed to build the future they envision post-graduation with greater confidence, purpose, and the courage to lead.