UNM professor and human rights activist Sei Tokuda passes away at age 85

Sei Tokuda, professor and chair of the UNM School of Medicine, recently passed away Jan. 2, after a year-long battle with various medical issues. He was 85 years old.

Tokuda was an active staff member at the University who dedicated his life to protecting the human and civil rights of all individuals.

Tokuda was honored with a Career Development Award from the National Institute of Health in June of 1968, when he was an associate professor in microbiology. The grant given with the award, totaling $125,000, paid his salary for five years. The Career Development Award is one of the oldest grants given by NIH, an organization originally designed to establish outstanding young professors and encourage them to stay in the field of medical education.

In 1975 Tokuda directed the Biomedical Sciences Advancement Program (BSA) at UNM. The BSA granted opportunities to minority students who were were interested in embarking on a career in biomedical sciences, and encouraged them to go into research.

He also received the Frank J. Miranda Bridge Award in 1998 from the Albuquerque Human Rights Board.

“The Frank J. Miranda Bridge Award is given to those who have promoted equality, not only within there own racial, ethnic or cultural groups, but who have gone beyond to promote and support human rights...and the elimination of discrimination which cross racial, ethnic and cultural lines,” the Albuquerque Office of Diversity and Human Rights website states.

In addition, Tokuda was inducted into the Silver Horizons NM 2002 Senior Hall of Fame for his volunteerism to improve the community. When being interviewed for the Hall of Fame, Tokuda attributed all his accomplishments to his late wife of 44 years, May Tokuda.

“I taught in 2 medical schools; I served on research review councils for the National Institutes of Health and the Fogarty International Center; I served on the editorial boards on 2 research journals; I even taught in Nicaragua for 2 weeks in 1992. I even became Chairman of the Department in the School of Medicine at the University of New Mexico. And all of this opened the doors for me to become active in civic duties, and in 1998, I received a Human Rights Award from the Albuquerque Human Rights Board. ” said Tokuda during his interview for the Silver Horizons Senior Hall of Fame.

He was also deeply involved in his community, as a member of the Board of Directors and Liaison for the Anti-Hate Program of the New Mexico chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League, Treasurer for the New Mexico Human Rights Coalition, and 1990 Charter Member and loyal volunteer of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Multicultural Council (MLKMC).

“In additional to his research, and academic roles, he worked hard to ensure equal access for all to advanced degrees, helping minority students figure out how to bridge gaps and overcome any barriers, whether racial or socio-economic, or just needing guidance and advice” said Kathleen Tokuda, daughter of Sei Tokuda.

Denicia Aragon is a reporter for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @DailyLobo.