National Executive Committee US

The National Executive Council (NEC) is the senior administrative team of Nalandabodhi US (NB US), who aspires to care for our sangha family with a combination of professionalism and a genuine heart of dharma.

Our primary goal is to create an environment of community that supports each NB member on their path of practice, study, and altruistic activity, according to the vision of The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche [and other lineage masters such as His Holiness Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, and Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche].  In doing so, we also seek to make the ancient Buddhist science of mind accessible to 21st century American culture and applicable to everyday life.

To achieve these goals, we work in close collaboration with the Mitras (NB's senior Western teachers), the Karma Sangha Board of Directors, and the leadership of local NB sanghas throughout the United States.

NEC USA Council

michael

Michael Miller is Co-Chair of Nalandabodhi USA and also Co-Director of Finance.

Michael found the path of meditation in the early 1970s. He migrated to Boulder and as a student of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, attended the first dathun (month-long sitting program) at Rocky Mountain Dharma Center, participated in the first summer at Naropa Institute, and was part of the first visit of His Holiness the 16th Karmapa to America. Michael also got his BA and MBA from the University of Colorado in the late 70's. His MBA classmates, scoffing at Michael's interest in both Buddhism and business, jokingly asked "What are you going to do with degrees in Religious Studies and Finance, run a church?"
He met the Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche in 2001 in Boulder.  He was immediately impressed with his cyber knowledge and recognized a kindred soul.  "We will create a huge database together" Rinpoche said.  Eight years later they are still working on it and he has been working with him in developing Nalandabodhi since then.
michaelfmiller@msn.com
303 440-4079

Diane Gregorio

Diane Gregorio is Co-Chair of Nalandabodhi Executive Council USA
Diane Biray Gregorio is Co-Chair of Nalandabodhi US.  She has been a
student of Buddhadharma since 1994, under the guidance of teachers in
the Theravada and Tibetan traditions.  Her journey has taken her from
corporate strategy, to international humanitarian work at Oxfam, to
academia.  Most recently, she served as Chief of Staff for The
Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche during His Holiness Karmapa's historic first
visit to the United States in 2008.
She is currently engaged in research and activism on global health
issues, especially the intersection of women's health and human
rights.  She received a Ph.D. and A.M. from Harvard University and a
B.S. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
At the heart of Diane's path is the aspiration to seamlessly integrate
contemplative practice and action to alleviate suffering in the world.

diane@nalandabodhi.org

Margie Meyer

Margie Meyer is Director of Special Finance Projects.

Prior to becoming a lucky student of the Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche in 2006, she studied and practiced Tibetan Buddhism with teachers in Massachusetts and Boulder.  She currently lives in Florida and leads Nalandabodhi's Sarasota study group.

Margie is a CPA in Massachusetts, a Registered Investment Advisor, a Certified Financial Planner and holds an MBA in finance from Columbia Business School.  Since 1986 she has devoted her professional practice to fee-only personal financial planning and investment advisory services.
Margie is grateful to be able to serve Rinpoche, and grateful to be helping implement his vision.

sarasota@nalandabodhi.org

Kathleen Franco is Director of Legal Affairs
Belinda Griswold

Belinda Griswold is Director of Fundraising

Belinda is a Nalandabodhi meditation instructor, an attorney, mediator and a communications consultant. She has studied and practiced Buddhism for 14 years in both the Tibetan and Zen traditions. With a background in social action and political campaigns, Belinda's passion is the fusion of compassionate work grounded by contemplative practice.
fundraising@nalandabodhi.org

David McKowski

David Makowski is Directors of Technology and New Media

David has been a student of Rinpoche and member of the sangha since 2004. He lives in Boulder, Colorado and works at the University of Colorado directing a large project to replace the university's student information system. For Nalandabodhi, he provides IT support and advice. djmakowski99@yahoo.com

Christine Lowry is Director of Membership

108kcl@gmail.com

Rosemary Bakker

Rosemary Bakker is Co-Director for Center Support

Rosemary has been studying Tibetan Buddhism for the last 30 years and a student of The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche since 2004. She is the Co-Director of Nalandabodhi New York. Rosemary is an interior design educator and gerontologist, and the developer of ThisCaringHome.Org, a multimedia website for caregivers of people with dementia. She is happily married and spends her time in New York and on a working farm upstate New York.

rbakker7@earthlink.net

Blaze Mason is Director of Publications
Blaze is the acting co-director of the editorial aspect of NB
Publications. She fell in love with Ponlop Rinpoche after seeing him
on DVD in early 2006 and asked to become his student later that year.
blaze has been a freelance academic editor since 1994 and is delighted
to be able to use those skills in service to the dharma and Rinpoche's
vision. She lives in Tucson, Arizona.
silkNblaze@gmail.com
Michael Henessy

Michael Hennesy is Study Director

Michael first encountered the Kagyu lineage decades ago and has been traveling the greater path ever since. He lives with his wife and three children in Eugene, Oregon, and is on the Computer Science faculty at the University of Oregon. It is, he says, his great joy to work with the Nalandabodhi Sangha to help fulfill the vision of Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche.
michaelh108@gmail.com
(541) 683-1808

Kathy Penny

Katherine Penny is Director of Programs

Kathy lives in the San Francisco area and works as a Nurse Manager at Stanford Hospital and Clinics, Pain Management Center. Kathy has been a student of Buddhism for 30 years and appreciates the opportunity to integrate practice with daily life.

Tina Fosella Tina Fossella is Co-Chairs Secretary
Tina became a formal student of the Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche in 1999 in Boulder, CO, where she was attending Naropa University's Transpersonal Counseling Psychology Program.  Tina currently resides in the Bay Area and works as a psychotherapist in private practice.  She takes great delight in practicing dharma on the cushion and off the cushion and offering service to her beloved teacher.
tfossella@gmail.com