Dean Varun Soni
Varun Soni serves as the dean of religious life at the University of Southern California. He is the first Hindu in American history to be the chief spiritual or religious leader at a college or university.
He is also a University Fellow at USC Annenberg's Center on Public Diplomacy and a member of the State Bar of California, the American Academy of Religion, and the Association for College and University Religious Affairs.
He serves on the advisory board for the Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement, the Music Preservation Project, the Journal for Interreligious Dialogue, CrossCurrents, Hindu American Seva Charities, and the Parliament of the World's Religions.
Prior to joining USC, he spent four years teaching in the Law and Society Program at UC Santa Barbara. He also produced and hosted his own radio show on Pacifica (KPFK) showcasing music from South Asia and its diaspora.
He holds degrees in religion from Tufts University, Harvard Divinity School, UC Santa Barbara, and the University of Cape Town, as well as a law degree from UCLA School of Law.
He is also a University Fellow at USC Annenberg's Center on Public Diplomacy and a member of the State Bar of California, the American Academy of Religion, and the Association for College and University Religious Affairs.
He serves on the advisory board for the Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement, the Music Preservation Project, the Journal for Interreligious Dialogue, CrossCurrents, Hindu American Seva Charities, and the Parliament of the World's Religions.
Prior to joining USC, he spent four years teaching in the Law and Society Program at UC Santa Barbara. He also produced and hosted his own radio show on Pacifica (KPFK) showcasing music from South Asia and its diaspora.
He holds degrees in religion from Tufts University, Harvard Divinity School, UC Santa Barbara, and the University of Cape Town, as well as a law degree from UCLA School of Law.
Keynote Speaker: Gotham Chopra
Gotham Chopra is the co-founder of Liquid Comics (formerly Virgin Comics and Virgin Animation), a premiere entertainment company based in New York City and Bangalore India. He is the author of many books, including the comic book Bulletproof Monk for which he also served along with John Woo as Executive Producer on the feature film produced by MGM Studios (2003).
Formerly an award winning journalist and documentary film-maker, Gotham reported from countless warzones and has interviewed a wide range of Global leaders – from President Bush to the Dalai Lama. He also served as researcher and lyrical adviser to Michael Jackson on the multi-platinum albums Dangerous and HIStory.
Gotham was integrally involved in the formation of Current TV, co-founded by former Vice-President Al Gore and launched in 20 million homes in August of 2005. Gotham remains a contributor and key advisor to the network as it continues to re-define and democratize the “television experience.” Gotham is also a partner and founder of the K Lounge, a NYC based bar and lounge that replicates the ancient opium dens of 15th century India.
As a founder and partner in Chopra Media, Gotham oversees a wide range of integrated media initiatives including currently developing a daily TV series for his father, celebrated writer and spiritualist Deepak Chopra. He is also currently producing over half a dozen feature films with personalities including John Woo, Guy Ritchie, Nic Cage, Hugh Jackman at the likes of Warner Brothers, Fox New Regency Films, Summit Entertainment, Reliance Entertainment and more.
Gotham’s varied experience in journalism, publishing, and entertainment had him identified by Newsweek magazine (March 04) as one of the “most powerful and influential” South Asians worth watching.
Formerly an award winning journalist and documentary film-maker, Gotham reported from countless warzones and has interviewed a wide range of Global leaders – from President Bush to the Dalai Lama. He also served as researcher and lyrical adviser to Michael Jackson on the multi-platinum albums Dangerous and HIStory.
Gotham was integrally involved in the formation of Current TV, co-founded by former Vice-President Al Gore and launched in 20 million homes in August of 2005. Gotham remains a contributor and key advisor to the network as it continues to re-define and democratize the “television experience.” Gotham is also a partner and founder of the K Lounge, a NYC based bar and lounge that replicates the ancient opium dens of 15th century India.
As a founder and partner in Chopra Media, Gotham oversees a wide range of integrated media initiatives including currently developing a daily TV series for his father, celebrated writer and spiritualist Deepak Chopra. He is also currently producing over half a dozen feature films with personalities including John Woo, Guy Ritchie, Nic Cage, Hugh Jackman at the likes of Warner Brothers, Fox New Regency Films, Summit Entertainment, Reliance Entertainment and more.
Gotham’s varied experience in journalism, publishing, and entertainment had him identified by Newsweek magazine (March 04) as one of the “most powerful and influential” South Asians worth watching.
Swami Atmavidyananda
Swami Atmavidyananda is a swami of the Ramakrishna Order of India. Currently he is the treasurer of the Vedanta Society of Southern California. He also serves as the organist-choir director-composer, gardener, and occasional lecturer. He is also campus minister for Hinduism at USC. He served as secretary and president of the University Religious Conference at UCLA. As a lecturer, he speaks at the four centers of the Vedanta Society of Southern California as well as many schools, churches, and interfaith groups in Southern California. He has also traveled around the US to speak at Sacramento, San Francisco, Berkeley, Las Vegas, Tempe, Tucson, Taos, Flagstaff, Vivekananda Retreat in NY, Silver Spring (DC), and Yale University. His lecturing has also taken him to The Institute of Culture in Calcutta, India, New Delhi, Canada, and France. His hobbies are gardening and astronomy.
Acharya Mahadev Parameswaran
Dr. Mahadev Parameswaran retired in 2004 from the aerospace profession with a degree in Physics. Having joined Chinmaya Mission in 1978, with the blessings of Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda, Mahadevanji began Chinmaya Bala Vihar classes for children and teens in Southern California in 1982. The center of CM Los Angeles (CM LA) now has over 1,100 children. In addition to conducting Chinmaya Bala Vihar for over 25 years, Mahadevanji also teaches a music and bhajans, having founded CM LA’s Chinmaya Shruti Choir for children. In the summer of 2008, he was blessed by Pujya Guruji to serve as a Chinmaya Mission Acharya for CM LA. He continues to conduct Vedanta classes and talks on various introductory texts, as well as Bhagavad Gita, Rama Gita, and Yoga Vasishtha. He presently conducts classes at CM LA’s Chinmaya Rameshwaram ashram, as well as its satellite chapters in Brea, San Gabriel, Torrance, Agoura Hills, and Cerritos. He also continues to give Vedanta talks in Southern California’s schools and colleges. Acharya Mahadevan is also the Secretary of CM Los Angeles.
Bharathwaj Nandakumar
Bharathwaj Nandakumar is the Director of Hindu Student Life at the University of Southern California. Bharathwaj is a graduate of USC's Viterbi School of Engineering, where he completed his master's degree in Computer Science. While at USC as a graduate student, he served as an executive board member for the Hindu Student Organization (HSO), Association of Indian Students (AIS), Trojan Cricket Club (TCC), and the Computer Science Graduate Organization (CSGO). A native of Chennai, India, he is currently a video game developer.
Maya Sukumar
Maya Sukumar is President of the Class of 2012 at USC Gould School of Law. She has been involved with the Chinmaya Mission for the last 24 years and was the founding director of CHYKWest, the youth wing of Chinmaya Mission.