The Nalandabodhi National Administration (NBNA) is the senior administrative team of Nalandabodhi US (NB US), who aspire 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 Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche [and other lineage masters such as His Holiness Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, and Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche]. In this way we aspire to make the ancient Buddhist teachings accessible to 21st century American culture and applicable to everyday life.
To achieve these goals, we work in close collaboration with the Nalandabodhi Mitras, the Karma Sangha Board of Directors (US), and the leadership of local Nalandabodhi Centers throughout the United States.
Nalandabodhi National Administration
Diane Gregorio, Executive Director
Co-Director of Sangha Community Building (SCB)
Diane Biray Gregorio 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. She served as Chief of Staff for Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche during His Holiness Karmapa's historic first visit to the United States in 2008. Diane has worked 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.
Michael Miller, Co-Director
Financial Planning & Well Being (FPW)
Michael Miller 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 Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche in 2001 in Boulder. He was immediately impressed with Rinpoche's 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.
Stuart Horn,
Co-Director
Financial Planning & Well Being (FPW)
Stuart Horn began his study and practice of Eastern thought in 1972. He focused his study and practice on Buddhism in 1983 and became a student of Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche in 2002. He held the positions of Co-Director of Study for the former Nalandabodhi Executive Council, and Chair of the Advisory Board of Nitartha Institute.
He has a Ph.D. in History and holds the position of Distinguished Professor of Humanities at NSU in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. He continues to teach courses in History, Death and Dying, and Asian Thought in an online format. He has held administrative positions of Departmental Chair and Dean of Undergraduate Studies. His passion is the study and teaching of the dharma, along with light home building and plucking at his electric guitar.
Elle McSharry,
Director
Co-Director, Sangha Community Building (SCB)
Elle McSharry is a volunteer for the Compassionate Action Network (CAN), which is a grassroots network of people working to promote compassion in Seattle and beyond. CAN grew out of an event in 2008 called Seeds of Compassion in which His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and other luminaries visited Seattle to discuss the need for increased compassionate action in our lives for the sake of children. A relatively new member of the Nalandabodhi sangha, Elle finds deep value in being a part of an intentional community. Elle works as a therapist with young children and families and for fun sings with the band Once and For All.
Ceci Miller,
Director
External Communications & Outreach (ECO)
Ceci Miller has practiced yoga and meditation since 1976. She began studying with Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche and Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche in 2005, and became a student of Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche in 2009. She worked on the core planning team for the 2010 Tour celebrating the release of Rinpoche's book, Rebel Buddha: On the Road to Freedom.
She has a master's degree in Creative Writing from The University of Iowa Writers' Workshop, and has taught writing and literature in a variety of settings. She has written and edited books for both adults and children. She is co-publisher of BooktiMookti Press and owns CeciBooks Editorial and Publishing Consultancy, which guides and advises authors and indie publishers in developing better-world projects.