Born in Panjab, India, Dr. Sudarshan Kapoor learned the value of non-violence from his mentor, Gandhi. He came to the United States in 1963. Since 1967, he has served as professor of Social Work, Community Development and Peace Studies at Fresno State. He is an advocate of peace and justice, promoting a bridge among all faiths in the Central Valley and the region’s many racial and ethnic groups. He was the founder and first director of the Peace and Conflict Studies Program and his legacy includes the Peace Garden, which features statues that pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, Jane Addams, Cesar Chavez and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. Kapoor has been a significant leader of the annual Fresno County Superintendent of Schools’ MLK Jr. student essay, art and speech competitions.