Meet our graduate admission counselors
Meeting your admission counselor is an important part of the graduate admission process. Your counselor serves as a knowledgeable resource throughout your graduate school search, helping you evaluate programs, understand application requirements, and navigate each stage of the admissions process. They can provide guidance on important deadlines, answer questions, share professional insights, and help you determine how a program’s academic offerings, faculty expertise, and student resources align with your goals. Whether you are exploring graduate study for the first time or preparing to submit your application, your admission counselor is available to support you with clarity, personalized attention, and help you begin paving the path to make positive societal change.
You may also view a full list of the undergraduate admission counselors.
Matthew Luna
Director of Admission Operations
✉ grad_admissions@soka.edu
☏ +1 949-480-4111
Matthew is the Area Head for Graduate Admission Counseling and supports our Master’s in Educational Leadership and Societal Change program. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Organizational Management from the University of La Verne. His research interests include the intersection between organization structure and employee engagement. Matthew is a California native who enjoys the visual arts and spending time with loved ones.
Lucian Cao
Graduate Admission Counselor
✉ grad_admissions@soka.edu
☏ +1 949-480-4111
Lucy joined Soka University as a Graduate Admission Counselor at the end of 2022. She was born and raised in Orange County. After receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies at California State University, Long Beach, she went on to her graduate studies in Higher Education Leadership and Student Development at California Baptist University. She has a passion to build up the future generation of leaders and equipping them with resources they need in order for them to achieve academically, professionally, and personally. In her free time, Lucy enjoys cooking, baking, skateboarding, hanging out with friends, and most importantly spending time with her family and dog.
Arwin Ahmad Mitu
Outreach Assistant
✉ grad_admissions@soka.edu
☏ +1 949-480-4715
Arwin Ahmad Mitu joined Soka University of America as an Outreach Assistant in Graduate Admissions. She is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and Societal Change at Soka University of America. Before joining Soka, Arwin worked as a lecturer in Media Studies and Journalism, teaching courses in intercultural communication, interpersonal communication, public relations, and gender communication. She is passionate about helping students navigate their educational journeys and creating meaningful connections across cultures. In her free time, Arwin enjoys writing, photography, traveling, and discovering new coffee shops and local communities.