Microbiology
1930-2016
Dr. Seikichi "Sei" Tokuda joined the faculty of the UNM School of Medicine in 1966 and served as the Chair of the Department of Microbiology from 1992 until his retirement in 1995. A native of Waipahu, Hawaii, Dr. Tokuda obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Hawaii and his doctoral degree the University of Washington.
He was the recipient of a Career Development Award from the National Institute of Health in June of 1968 and in 1975 became Director of the Biomedical Sciences Advancement Program, which granted opportunities to minority students interested in a career in biomedical sciences. He served on research review councils for the National Institutes of Health, the Fogarty International Center, and the editorial boards of multiple research journals.
Sei was very passionate about the human and civil rights of all individuals, and dedicated his life to various civil and human rights organizations. He was the recipient of the Frank J. Miranda Bridge Award "for promoting equality, human rights and the elimination of discrimination" from the Albuquerque Office of Diversity and Human Rights and inducted into the Silver Horizons NM 2002 Senior Hall of Fame for his volunteerism to improve the community.
