News Tagged as DEI

A woman with curly brown hair looks at a large black book as she sits beside a plaque commemorating Rosa Parks' legacy.

Rosa Parks and SUA: A History Worth Knowing

Mar 12, 2026

If you take a moment to rest in the shade near the Student Center, you may notice a bench with a cast bronze plaque commemorating something extraordinary: civil rights leader Rosa Parks shaking hands

Students sit on a couch and discuss “Citizen King,” a documentary examining the final years of Dr. King’s life

SUA's MLK Week: Service and Dialogue as Preparation for Justice

Feb 10, 2026

“Where do we go from here?” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. posed this question near the end of his life, and it shaped Soka University of America’s week-long observance of MLK Day. The week began with a

A woman is sitting and talking to a man during the lunch time event

Lunchtime Event Series Builds Community, Brings Founding Values Into Focus

Nov 18, 2025

“What does it look like for us to collectively thrive?” Maya Gunaseharan M.A. ’19, director for diversity initiatives and community building, posed this question to students, faculty, and staff

Attendees of a community dialogue for MLK Week pose for a group photo.

Honoring Dr. King: A Week of Dialogue, Reflection, and Service at SUA

Feb 05, 2025

Students and staff at Soka University of America honored the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a week of connection, reflection, and action last month. The week kicked off with a

A "Dialogue Buddies" event features reflective questions on wellness and self-care, with participants gathered around a table decorated with orange flowers.

Over Dessert and Discussion, Campus Community Finds Common Ground

Dec 17, 2024

If you stop by the Soka Bistro a few minutes after noon, you will immediately be immersed in the organized chaos of lunchtime. Chatter and laughter echo off the walls as hundreds of hungry diners meet

Anne Pearce, director of the creative arts program, Soka alumnus Giselle Velasquez ’15, Nappa Kataoka ’23, and Wilnie Merilien, resident hall coordinator sit on stage and speak during the “Voices of Women at Soka” event.

Each Shining Brightly in Her Own Way: Photo Highlights from “Voices of Women at Soka”

Apr 26, 2023

Women’s History Month at SUA culminated with “Voices of Women at Soka,” a panel discussion and community mixer highlighting the rich diversity of women’s identities and experiences on campus. Six

Professor Emeritus Gail Thomas smiles outside on Soka University's campus. She's wearing a black turtleneck with a zebra print zip up jacket and gold dangly earrings.

Being Soka: An Interview with Professor Emerita Gail Thomas

Mar 28, 2023

In the 1990s, Gail Thomas took a leap of faith and left her tenured position at Texas A&M University to become a founding faculty member of Soka University of America. Now professor emerita of

Black and white photo of Martin Luther King Jr.

Soka Celebrates the Life of Civil Rights Icon Martin Luther King Jr.

Feb 16, 2023

SUA celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. with a week-long celebration that began on January 16, the national holiday in his honor. The week included four events, each highlighting different aspects of Dr

Arcoiris Mariachi Band performs outside on SUA's Campus in honor of Latine Heritage and LGBT History Months

Around Campus: Updates from the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Nov 21, 2022

The mission of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is to support and foster individuals who embody the characteristics of a global citizen and ensure that the university community

Facilitator Jaime Dance and panelists Aarohee Bhattarai, Khyla Horton, Erica Baldaray, and Diya Mazumder

Connecting Women on Campus and Beyond to Promote Equality

May 10, 2022

Thirty days is far from enough time to devote to women’s equality, but the events on SUA’s campus during Women’s History Month were designed to connect and celebrate women now as well as act as a