Jimmy King
Associate Director of Admission

✉ jking@soka.edu
☏  +1 949-480-4019

Jimmy has been a part of the Soka recruitment staff since 2003. Jimmy was born and raised in Southern California, and graduated with his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. Jimmy is a die-hard Steelers fan, and he also loves to travel and eat (he knows all the best places to go!). Jimmy loves spending his spare time with his lovely wife and daughter.

Works with Students from:
California: Anaheim, Glendale/Pasadena, Santa Ana, Irvine, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Westminster, Tustin, East San Fernando Valley, West San Fernando Valley, and areas within.



Other States: Montana, New York, Idaho, Arizona, Alaska, New Jersey, Washington, Oregon,

Chelsea Dugger
Assistant Director of Admission

✉ cdugger@soka.edu
☏  +1 949-480-4107

Chelsea became an admission counselor at Soka University of America in 2015 after graduating from SUA in 2014. She is from San Diego county and she enjoys picnicking, going to museums, and walking to the beach. She is particularly passionate about sustainability, public health, and creating a more compassionate and just global community which is why she studied Liberal Arts at SUA with a double concentration in Environmental Studies and International Studies. She had the opportunity to study abroad in Quito, Ecuador.

Works with Students from:
California: Chula Vista, Descanso, Alpine, Spring Valley, El Cajon, San Diego, La Jolla, Central Valley (South), Carlsbad, Murrietta, Temecula, Escondido, Solana Beach, Vista, Oceanside, Marin County, American Canyon, Birds Landing, Napa, Vallejo, Petaluma, Santa Rosa, Davis, Sonoma, Fairfield, Central Valley (North), Sacramento County, Hidden Valley Lake, Eurika, Bayside, Rio Del, Willow Creek, and areas within.



Other States: New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Utah, Hawaii, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa,

Jenica Blohm
Admission Counselor

✉ jblohm@soka.edu
☏  +1 949-269-5552

Jenica joined the Soka University admissions team in Summer 2022. She is an Orange County native. She graduated from UCLA with her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a minor in Education Studies. She is passionate about working with first generation students to help them begin their journey within higher education. In her free time, Jenica enjoys hiking, painting, learning new languages, and spending time with family, friends, and her dog.

Works with Students from:
California: Alameda County, San Mateo County, Contra Costa County, Ontario, Chino, Riverside, San Bernardino, Inland Empire, Arroyo Grande, Pismo Beach, Carmel, Santa Cruz, Hollister, Monterey, Salinas, South Orange County, Oakland, San Jose, Santa Clara County, and areas within.

Texas: Austin & Central Texas, Abilene & San Angelo, Beaumont & Port Arthur, Amarillo, Panhandle, & South Plains, Waco, Temple, & Killeen, El Paso, East Texas, Red River Area, Galveston, East Harris County, East Houston, Brazos & Trinity Valley, Nowrthwest Houston, Southwest Houston, Midland, Odessa, & Trans Pecos, South Texas Valley, Gulf Coast, Wharton, & Victoria Co, and areas within.

Other States: Connecticut, Maine, South Dakota, Arkansas, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Vermont, Massachusetts, Michigan, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Minnesota,

Lindsey Laughlin
Admission Counselor

✉ llaughlin@soka.edu
☏  +1 949-480-4162

Lindsey has been a part of the Soka Admissions team since September 2022. She is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area—specifically Sunnyvale in the South Bay. Lindsey graduated from the University of Oregon with her Bachelor of Arts in English with minors in Creative Writing and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She is a strong advocate for educational accessibility and equity. She is very passionate about breaking systemic barriers for underrepresented students in higher education. Lindsey loves to read, write, and travel in her free time. She hopes to continue to see the world and document her experiences through written works and photographs.

Works with Students from:
California: Big Bear City, Barstow, Apple Valley, Salton Sea, Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Indio, San Francisco County, Whittier, La Habra, La Mirada, Fullerton, Santa Barbara/West Ventura County, Covina/West Covina, Duarte, Monrovia, Walnut, Azusa, Claremont, Pomona, San Dimas, Long Beach, and areas within.

Texas: Del Rio, Uvalde Co, & Bexar Co, Dallas Co (w/o City of Dallas), Dallas, Fort Worth, West of Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex, San Antonio, Collin & Rockwall Co, Irving, Arlington, & Grand Prairie, and areas within.

Other States: South Carolina, Nevada, West Virginia, Ohio, District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina,

Scott Bower
Admission Counselor

✉ sbower.emp@soka.edu
☏  +1 949-480-4148

Scott joined the Admissions team at the end of 2021. He is from Torrance, California, and a proud SUA graduate from the class of 2015. In the spirit of global citizenship, he volunteered in non-governmental organizations and worked in various job capacities abroad in Canada, Peru, and Brazil. For almost six years, he worked in Sao Paulo, Brazil to help establish the Brazil Soka high school while pioneering the school’s International Baccalaureate program as the Global Politics instructor. In 2019, he graduated as part of the first cohort in DePaul University’s online masters program titled ‘Value Creating Education for Global Citizenship.’ With his experience living abroad and engaging with young people across different educational sectors, Scott is passionate about supporting and attracting the next generation of global citizens to study at SUA. In his free time, Scott enjoys running, reading books, playing his Nintendo Switch, and chatting with friends.

Works with Students from:
California: Hollywood, Wilshire, East Los Angeles, West Los Angeles, West Beach, South Bay, South Los Angeles, South Central Los Angeles, and areas within.



Other States: Indiana, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois,

Margaret Kasahara
Associate Director of International Student Services

✉ oiss@soka.edu
☏  +1 949-480-4135

Margaret has supported international students at Soka University of America since 2000. After receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication at New York University, she went on to her graduate studies in International Relations at Soka University in Japan before coming to Soka University of America. After having done two study abroad experiences herself, Margaret is passionate about helping international students pursue and actualize their dream of studying in America. Margaret enjoys being a global citizen and traveling to all parts of the world, experiencing new cultures, food and people.

Works with Students from:
Outside the United States

Jaimie Hsu
International Student Services Coordinator

✉ oiss@soka.edu
☏  +1 949-480-4145

Jaimie joined Soka University as an International Student Services Coordinator in Fall 2021. As a southern California native, she graduated from UC Irvine in 2020 with a BA in Psychology and minors in Linguistics and Education. Her interests include immersing herself in nature, photography, and learning to live a more sustainable lifestyle. She had the opportunity to study abroad in the Netherlands and loved being able to travel to nearby countries and try so many different types of food.

Works with Students from:
Outside the United States