From Vision to Reality

As Soka University of America (SUA) celebrated the 25th anniversary of its Aliso Viejo, Calif., campus on May 2, 2026, Katherine King had witnessed nearly every chapter of the university’s journey firsthand. From helping open the graduate school at the Calabasas, Calif., campus in the early 1990s to now serving as executive vice president for University Community and Chief Human Resources Officer, she has seen the institution grow from a vision into a thriving community dedicated to fostering global citizens.

King joined SUA in 1991, long before the current campus was built. In those early days, she recalled, everyone contributed wherever needed—whether in administration, the cafeteria or the gift shop. That spirit of shared responsibility and care, she said, continues to define the university today.

What inspires her most is the university’s mission and the students who embody it: “Our university founder, Daisaku Ikeda, gave us the profound mission of fostering ‘a steady stream of global citizens committed to living a contributive life.’ Our students are what truly bring this mission to life.”^[1]

Reflecting on the university’s milestones, King recalled the excitement of seeing the Aliso Viejo campus come to life. Before construction, there was only an architectural model and a shared determination to realize the dream of a liberal arts university grounded in peace, human rights and dialogue. She especially remembers welcoming the first class of students: “We weren’t accredited yet, so it was a big commitment for students to decide to come to SUA. And they arrived with so much hope.”

For King, one of the university’s proudest moments came during the COVID-19 pandemic, when faculty, staff and students united to ensure learning and community continued despite unprecedented challenges. Faculty adapted courses for online learning, staff maintained student support systems, and students persevered through uncertainty with resilience and compassion.