We’re thrilled to announce a major milestone: Sofia University is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year. Since our founding in 1975 as the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, we’ve grown, built meaningful connections, and proudly watched our students achieve remarkable successes.
To commemorate this special occasion, we will be hosting a series of events throughout the year-culminating in special celebrations during our commencement week in September. We invite our students, alumni, and the entire Sofia community to join us in honoring our legacy and looking forward to our future.
Stay tuned for more event details and dates via email and on our social media channels
—let’s celebrate 50 years of transformative education together!
Like many pioneering ideas born in Silicon Valley, Sofia University began in the most unassuming of spaces—not a garage, but a small office at UC Santa Cruz, where the vision for a new kind of education took shape. Founded on the belief that learning should engage not just intellect, but also the emotional, spiritual, and physical dimensions of the human experience, Sofia’s journey started with a bold idea and a shared conviction that traditional education was incomplete.
In the fall of 1975, that vision became a reality when Dr. Robert Frager opened a Ph.D.-granting institution rooted in transpersonal psychology. The first campus? The bottom floor of a house—complete with a living room for classes, a kitchen, a bathroom, and, fittingly for such a nontraditional model, a hot tub.
From those modest beginnings, Sofia University has grown into a dynamic, globally recognized institution with campuses in Costa Mesa and Palo Alto, and a thriving Global College in China. Our student body spans the globe, our programs continue to evolve, and our mission to foster holistic, transformative education has never been more alive.
As we celebrate 50 years of impact, we reflect with deep pride and gratitude on how far we’ve come—and look forward with excitement to all that’s ahead.
Join us as we commemorate 50 years of transformation, innovation, and community. This milestone is more than a celebration—it’s a reflection of our collective journey and a look ahead to the future of transpersonal education. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details on each event!
50th Anniversary Celebration Week Schedule:
Thursday, September 25, 2025
An evening recognizing outstanding contributions from faculty, staff, alumni, and students. Time and location to be announced.
Friday, September 26, 2025
Celebrate with us at a special 50th Anniversary Gala! A night of reflection, reconnection, and fundraising in support of the Sofia University Research & Development Foundation.
This event will also serve as a reunion for all alumni, whether you graduated when we were known as the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology or Sofia University. Details to come.
Saturday, September 27, 2025 – 4:00 PM
Honor our graduating class at the official ceremony held at our Costa Mesa campus. Livestream and additional information will be provided soon.
Sunday, September 28, 2025
Wrap up the weekend with a special gathering to connect and reflect with members of the Sofia community. More details to follow.
Discover Sofia University’s Undergraduate, Graduate, Masters, and Certificate Programs in Beautiful Palo Alto and Costa Mesa, California.
3333 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA 92626
1069 E. Meadow Circle, Palo Alto, CA 94303
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