Mika Elizabeth Ono

Mika Elizabeth Ono is director of communications for the Qualcomm Institute, where she provides strategic leadership in the development and execution of comprehensive communications, promotion and public relations programs.

Prior to QI, she worked at the University of Redlands, where was appointed chief communications officer and worked closely with the president and President’s Cabinet to address opportunities and challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to Redlands, Ono spent 16 years at one of the world’s largest biomedical research institutes, Scripps Research in La Jolla, California, where she headed the communications department and served on the executive leadership team. She has also worked in staff or freelance roles for The Rockefeller University, Rockefeller Center, Essence magazine, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and the Lowy Medical Research Institute. A cookbook she co-authored, Ancient Wisdom, Modern Kitchen: Recipes from the East for Health, Healing, and Long Life, won the San Diego Book Award.

Mika holds a B.A. in English literature from Reed College (Phi Beta Kappa) and a master’s in international affairs from The Fletcher School at Tufts/Harvard University.