Soka University’s Dr. Daniel Y. Habuki honored as 2011 CEO by Council for Advancement and Support of Eduction
Dr. Daniel Y. Habuki, president of Soka University of America in Aliso Viejo, CA, has been named 2011 CEO Award Winner by the District VII (Western Region) of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). Habuki received the award this month at a presentation lunch in Century City, which he accepted “on behalf of all of the students, staff and faculty at Soka University…as a special gift for SUA’s 10th Anniversary this year.”
CASE’s website (http://www.casevii.org/awards/11awards_ceo.html ) notes: “Dr. Daniel Y. Habuki was appointed as the first President of Soka University of America. He previously served as Executive Vice President of Soka University Los Angeles and as Director of the Overseas Academic Affairs Office of Soka University of Japan. In addition, he served as a Professor of the Institute for Comparative Studies of Cultures at Soka University of Japan, where he introduced American-style instruction inside and outside of the classroom, setting a standard that has been followed throughout the university system.
He received his undergraduate degree from Soka University in Tokyo and his Ph.D. in economics from Washington State University.
In the words of his nominator, ‘Danny has one-on-one meetings with every student. He helps them set goals and monitors their progress, their involvements, and their aspirations. He is involved in all hiring decisions. His success is evident: the faculty members are accomplished and have developed a rigorous academic program that includes a mandatory study abroad requirement. I know of no other individual who planned every detail of an institution and led it to national prominence within ten years of its opening.’ ”
Under Dr. Habuki’s leadership, SUA raised over $100 million for its scholarship endowment since it opened in 2001, which has made possible the Soka Opportunity Scholarships that offer free tuition to admitted students whose annual family income is under $60,000. During the past two years, over half of each freshman class has received free tuition through this program.
Celebrate Aliso Viejo! Celebrate Soka!
Soka University joins the City of Aliso Viejo in a year-long celebration of the 10th Anniversary of both our Aliso Viejo campus and the City’s establishment.
Joseph Raffael – Reflections from the Garden Art Exhibition
Founders Hall Art Galley 1st Fl. Open M-F. 9 am – 5 pm. Free.
Ballast – Ceramic Art by Don Ryan
Founders Hall Art Gallery 2nd Fl. Open M-F. 9 am – 5 pm. Free.
10th Anniversary Soka Education Exhibit
Ikeda Library Lobby, 9 am – 5 pm. Free.
Documentary: Madame Modjeska – Woman Triumphant
Discussion with producer/director and cinematographer follows.
Presented in celebration of Women’s History Month.
Pauling Hall 216, 7 pm, Free.
Free Community Cinema – Pushing the Elephant
Panel discussion follows
Pauling Hall 216, 7 pm, Free.
Nightwind – A Theatrical Performance by Hector Aristizabal
with Diane Lefer, co-author, leading discussion following performance
Pauling Hall 216, 5-7 pm, Free
Hawaiian Luau – Performance and Dinner
Campus Green, 5:30-7:30 pm, $12, no reservations necessary
Lecture: Free voluntary reading is the path to mastery of academic language; writing makes you smarter by Stephen Krashen, Professor Emeritus at USC
Pauling Hall 216, 4:30 pm, Free
Free Community Cinema – Bhutto
Pauling Hall 216, 7 pm, Free
Jazz Monsters Concert with Jazz Hall of Fame Pianist Kenny Barron
Founders Hall 3rd Fl, 7 pm, $15
Documentary: Ancestors in the Americas by Loni Ding, Part I & II
Pauling Hall 216, 2pm, Free
Panel discussion will follow screening.
Presented by Orange County Chinese Cultural Club and International Studies Concentration of Soka University
Jazz Monsters Concert with Nat Adderley, Jr.’s Music of Cannonball and Nat Adderley
Founders Hall 3rd Fl, 7 pm, $15
Free Community Cinema – Welcome to Shelbyville
Pauling Hall 216, 7 pm, Free
10th Annual International Festival
Peace Lake area, 10:30 am – 5:30 pm. Free, parking on campus $10. Please carpool. Enjoy over 700 international musicians and dancers performing on three stages, international food, over 250 exhibitors, art, ceramics sale, games, inflatable rides and student presentations.
Soka University welcomes
Soka Performing Arts Center
General Manager David Palmer
Tours of new Center added to daily tour schedule
After 19 successful years with the Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts at Whittier College, David Palmer is taking on a new challenge – opening the new 1000-seat Soka Performing Arts Center at Soka University in Aliso Viejo.
As the new General Manager for Soka Performing Arts Center, Palmer has the rare opportunity to staff the new facility and to program its first season – which will open on October 1, 2011 with a Grand Opening concert.
Interested future concert goers can get a “sneak peek” at the new Center by taking one of Soka University’s daily walking tours, offered at 10 am and 2 pm Monday – Saturday and departing from Founders Hall. (Register for free tours online at www.soka.edu/tours.)
“My first impression when walking into the Soka Performing Arts Center was “Wow…This is incredible!” says Palmer with a smile. “This is one of the most beautiful halls that I’ve ever been in. The acoustical consultant was Yasuhisa Toyota of Nagata Acoustics – who also did the Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. We recently tested the acoustics with a rehearsal by the Pacific Symphony and we invited all of the construction workers to come and hear the results of all of their hard work. It was a wonderful evening – and the sound was amazing.”
Palmer is currently working on staffing the new facility and programming the first season. He will initially be focusing on classical and traditional music that will be enhanced by the hall’s rich acoustics. “We’ll start with just a few fine programs as we explore the Center’s capabilities,” he added. “We expect to include both international, national and local talent – and I also look forward to working with our local schools.”
Palmer noted that the Soka Performing Arts Center is also being submitted for a LEEDS Gold rating, citing its solar panels, glass shading, green roof and environmentally sensitive construction.
A five-minute interview with Palmer is available online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4a4H0vuMiU.
More information about the Soka Performing Arts Center is available at http://www.soka.edu/about_soka/our_campus/Soka-Performing-Arts-Center.aspx.
Soka University is a private, four-year liberal arts college and graduate school located on 103-acres overlooking a wilderness park in Aliso Viejo, CA. SUA offers a 9:1 student/faculty ratio and study abroad for every undergraduate student. Soka University is founded upon the Buddhist principles of peace, human rights and the sanctity of life and is open to top students of all nationalities and beliefs. About half of SUA’s students come from the US and half from more than 40 other countries. SUA offers free tuition to eligible admitted students whose annual earned family income is $60,000 or less.
