OC alumna and adjunct professor Hiroka Thornton helped the Science Museum of Oklahoma restore its Kyoto Garden

Alumna Hiroka Thornton is a longtime adjunct professor in the Language and Literature Program at Oklahoma Christian University, and lately, she has received much attention for her work with the Japan America Society of Oklahoma. Thornton’s advanced proficiency in both Japanese and English suited her perfectly for this role.

She is the current president of the nonprofit JASO, which promotes cultural, educational and social relationships between Japan and Oklahoma. Thornton recently served as a key liaison for an important project involving Oklahoma and Japan. That project was the Science Museum of Oklahoma’s restoration of its Kyoto garden. The garden was a gift from Japan to the state of Oklahoma in 1984. The garden features a centuries-old Japanese lantern and rock bridge representing friendship between Kyoto Prefecture and Oklahoma.

In the early 2000s, the garden was devastated by Oklahoma’s weather. Last year, several master gardeners from Japan came to help restore the garden. The garden was closed to the public and officially reopened on Oct. 29, 2022. Thornton was one of the main liaisons throughout the entire process.

The dedication ceremony in October involved representatives from Kyoto and the state of Oklahoma. At the event, Thornton received praise for her work from both Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt and from Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt. Thornton also recently attended a reception in Oklahoma City for strengthening Japan-U.S. economic ties in Oklahoma. The event was organized by the Consulate General of Japan in Houston and JASO.

Thornton received her bachelor’s degree in English Literature at Ibaraki Christian University in Ibaraki, Japan. In a study exchange partnership with ICU, she studied at OC for one four weeks and loved her time there. Thornton then decided to earn her master’s degree in Bilingual Education / TESL at the University of Central Oklahoma and her master’s degree in Business Administration at OC.

Thornton has been a popular adjunct professor of English at OC for many years, and she has also supported the program by setting up her Customade Cakery booth at the annual Soundings Market. OC is blessed by her many talents.