Director

  • Lisa Deiser

    Lisa Deiser, MA

    Lisa is the Director of Residential Life. Originally from Woodland Hills, California, she received her BA in psychology and social behavior from University of California, Irvine, and her MA in higher education administration from Sam Houston State University. Lisa had the pleasure to welcome the first class of Soka students to the residence halls in 2001. She has 20 years of experience in student development, student safety, and housing management.

Assistant Director

  • Jaime Dance

    Jaime Dance, MS

    Sunrise Hall 300

    Jaime is the Assistant Director of Residential Life.  She earned her master’s in education with a concentration in higher education from California State University, Fullerton. She has served in higher education since 2011, working in summer programs for high school students, residential housing for undergraduate residents, and off-campus apartment housing for graduate residents. Originally from Apple Valley, California, she is passionate about student leadership, wellness, and creating an environment where all students feel welcomed and at home.

Residence Hall Coordinators

  • Sharon Legese-Gemechu

    Sharon Legese-Gemechu

    Lōkahi Hall 335 and Ubuntu Hall 365

    Sharon is a Residence Hall Coordinator. Sharon first started her residential life career in 2005 at Indiana University, after receiving her bachelor’s degree in speech and hearing sciences. It wasn’t until her service in the United States Peace Corps in Ethiopia from 2012 to 2016, that she returned to student affairs. Sharon is serving as a Residence Hall Coordinator. She has now worked in Student Affairs and Residential Life across three states and two continents. She is passionate about helping students meet their goals and achieve success.

  • Nobuko Miyama smiles in front of plants

    Nobuko Miyama

    Sunset Hall 380 and Somnus Hall 385

    Nobuko is a Residence Hall Coordinator. Nobuko is a proud alumna of Soka University, earning her bachelor’s in 2016 with a concentration in Social Behavioral Sciences. Since graduation, she moved to Japan to serve in higher education focusing on language development, international student support, and cross-cultural student engagement. She has a passion for helping student residents learn and grow in all aspects of their student life from self authorship to healthy community building.

  • RHC David San Felipe

    David San Felipe

    Umoja Hall 370, and Acjachemen Hall 375

    David is a Residence Hall Coordinator. Originally from the Philippines, he received his Social Work degree from California State University, Sacramento and his master’s degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs from University of San Francisco. David has been involved in residential life education since 2013 and has served in multiple school unified school districts as a school social worker. David is a proud representation of first-generation immigrant student community. David also enjoys boba, watching NPR tiny desk concerts, and hanging out with his dog.

  • RHC Wilnie Merilien

    Wilnie Merilien

    Abeona Hall 305, Aurora Hall 310, Horizon Hall 315

    Wilnie is new to Residential life at SUA. Wilnie holds a Master’s in Public Health from the University of South Florida. For over 10 years, she has worked alongside university/college student groups in Belize, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Florida, and Louisiana on HIV prevention research & emergency management projects and deployments. What she enjoys most about working with students is the innovative ideas and new perspectives they bring.

Resident Assistants (RA)

Resident Assistants (RA) are students who serve as paraprofessional Residential Life staff members during the academic year. RAs work closely with the professional staff in supporting the Residential Life mission of supporting residents in cultivating a meaningful living-learning community and to provide a purposeful experiential program fostering student leadership where residents develop life and interpersonal skills, self-responsibility, and an appreciation for diversity.

  • Initiating and maintaining positive relationships with residents
  • Being accessible and visible for residents within the hall
  • Listening to concerns
  • Mediating minor conflicts between residents
  • Treating conversations with residents confidentially
  • Leading and facilitating community meetings
  • Communicating pertinent information about Residential Life and the university to residents
  • Being knowledgeable of Residential Life programs, Student Affairs and university-sponsored events
  • Regularly posting information regarding on- and off-campus events including related educational materials and service-focused information
  • Being knowledgeable about university services including Counseling and Career Services, Security, Facilities, Health Center, and other campus offices
  • Referring residents to other offices on campus when necessary
  • Coordinating with the Residential Life professional staff in assessing the needs and interests of residents
  • Assisting in the planning and implementation of community building activities for residents 
  • Assisting the professional staff with community programs
  • Supporting and participating in community-wide programs
  • Sharing information relevant to the community at large with representatives of the Residents’ Council
  • Explaining and enforcing all hall and university policies
  • Communicating information impacting community citizens (medical, facility, policy) to the professional staff
  • Serving “on-duty” in the residence halls
  • Performing community walks of residence halls
  • Inform professional staff of issues or concerns that occur within the community at large
  • Open residents’ doors for lock-outs

Explore Our Residence Halls