LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, July 28, 2008: Religious leader and scholar Varun Soni has been named dean of religious life at USC (University of Southern California), marking the first appointment of a member of the Hindu faith as primary spiritual leader of an American university. Soni, whose appointment is effective July 1, is a lawyer and religious scholar. He previously taught in the Law and Society Program at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
“In addition to his outstanding academic credentials and experience, Dean Soni brings a broad and impressive range of life experience,” Nikias said. “Dean Soni will bring together the spiritual and scholarly resources of the university, provide moral and ethical leadership for the USC community and work closely with the 70 student religious groups and the 35 religious directors on campus.”
Soni holds a bachelor’s degree in religion from Tufts University, a master’s degree in theological studies from Harvard University, a master’s degree in comparative religion from UC Santa Barbara and a juris doctor degree from UCLA. He is currently completing a Ph.D. in religious studies from the University of Cape Town and is a member of the State Bar of California. “I feel deeply honored and humbled to be the next dean of religious life at USC. The Office of Religious Life at USC has the extraordinary opportunity to facilitate interfaith dialogue and sponsor events that support religious and spiritual life on campus while also utilizing the many resources in Los Angeles, the world’s most religiously diverse city,” Soni said.