speakers
ELLA AL-SHAMANI
National Geographic Explorer, TV presenter, Stand-up, Palaeoanthropologist Ella Al-Shamahi is an explorer, paleoanthropologist, evolutionary biologist, writer and stand-up comic. She specialises in the study of Neanderthals. She is also the presenter and producer of BBC2's Neanderthals: Meet Your Ancestors. She is a Trustee of the International Association for the Study of Arabia. |
SHAOKYI AMDO
Communications and public relations specialist Shaokyi Amdo is a communications and public relations specialist. She currently works at SoundCloud; previously she worked at Twitter and at the Entertainment Software Association. She graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2018, where she served on the executive board of Vanderbilt's nationally recognized Alternative Spring Break program. She also co-founded Project YETI in 2017, which uses virtual mentorship to connect Tibetan-Americans pursuing higher education, and served on the planning committee of Machik Weekend 2019 as Community Co-Chair. She lives in Brooklyn with her dog Norbu. |
SEHENO ANDRIANTSARALAZA, PHD
Tropical ecologist and conservation biologist Seheno Andriantsaralaza is a tropical ecologist and conservation biologist with a keen interest in plant-animal interactions. Her focus lies in understanding the consequences of disrupted interactions on biodiversity loss and species extinction. Seheno's research centers around seed dispersal models, particularly examining specific plant species like the Malagasy baobab trees. These trees exhibit fruit traits that suggest a historical seed dispersal by the now-extinct Megafauna. Utilizing her skills, Seheno actively contributes to biodiversity conservation through volunteering, research projects, and conservation initiatives. She finds particular enjoyment in collaborative efforts, working closely with people in both volunteering and research contexts. |
GELEK BADHEYTSANG
Communications professional Gelek Badheytsang is a Tibetan Canadian communications professional based in Toronto. He was born and raised in Kathmandu, Nepal, and arrived in Canada as a refugee in 2001. His writing and photography have been published in various media outlets and events. He has been involved with projects like “Engaging Black People and Power,” a publication that highlighted engagement practice and policy approaches for addressing spatialized anti-Blackness in cities across North America. He currently works as the Strategic Communications Lead for the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer. He also hosts and produces “A Good Refugee Podcast.” |
DR. CHETAN BETTEGOWDA
Neurosurgeon Dr. Chetan Bettegowda is a-surgeon scientist whose research is focused on undestanding the genetic underpinnings of central nervous system (CNS) cancers. He and his group have discovered several of the key driver genes involved in the pathogensis of a myriad of brain cancers, many of which are now used routinely to define the molecular classification of primary brain tumors. Dr. Bettegowda has also been focused on translating these genetic discoveries for translational benefit by applying them for the earlier detection of cancers. He and his group have published several of the seminal papers in liquid biopsies including a landmark study demonstrating the wide applicabilty of circulating tumor DNA for the detection and monitoring of cancers throughout the body. He has also published extensively on non-plasma based diagnostics for cancer detection. In addition to an active research enterprise, Dr. Bettegowda is a practicing neurosurgeon whose clinical efforts are focused on caring for individuals with primary and metastatic brain tumors. Dr. Bettegowda has been reconized by numerous organizations for his outstanding work. He was the inagural recipient of the Jennison and Novak Families Endowed Chair in Neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He has also been awarded the Hunterian Research Award (2005), Sherman Award for Neurosurgery Resident Achievement (2008), Harvey Cushing Award for Research Excellence (2012), Hellen Taussig Award for Outstanding Research (2012), Reinhoff Scholar Award (2016) and the American Association of Cancer Researchers Team Science Award for Liquid Biopsies (2017). |
DR. BEN BOGIN
Associate Professor and Director of Asian Studies at Skidmore College Dr. Benjamin Bogin, a scholar of Himalayan Buddhism, is Associate Professor and Director of Asian Studies at Skidmore College. Bogin writes and teaches on the intersections of biographical literature, sacred geography, visual art, and ritual practice in Himalayan cultures. He is the author of The Illuminated Life of the Great Yolmowa and the coeditor of Himalayan Passages: Tibetan and Newar Studies in Honor of Hubert Decleer. |
UGYAN CHOEDUP
History PhD, Penn State University/ Part time Podcaster @khyeltam Ugyan Choedup is from Bir, India. He completed his PhD in History from Pennsylvania State University. His research focuses on the history of nationalism and democracy among Tibetans. Currently he is a postdoc teaching fellow at Penn State. He also co-host the Khyeltam podcast. |
TSERING CHOEDRON
Director, Green Feather Foundation Tsering Choedron, originally from Lhasa, Tibet, is an alumna of the American University School of International Service. Currently serving as the Education Director at the Green Feather Foundation, she has co-authored Tibetan children's books including "A Little Frog and A Crow," "Little Shepherd, Little Shepherd, What Are You Doing?," and "Lhamo Trung Trung and Menpa Dhondup." |
DR. TENZIN CHOEPHEL
Senior Aerospace Engineer at Pratt & Whitney Dr. Tenzin Choephel is a Senior Aerospace Engineer at Pratt and Whitney, a major jet engine manufacturer based in Connecticut. Tenzin is part of Missions and Vehicle Analysis Division where he conducts aircraft performance and flight mechanics studies for commercial airplanes and helicopters. Currently, as a flight vehicle performance lead, Tenzin supports the development of Pratt and Whitney’s game-changing geared turbofan (GTF) engines for the Japanese-built Mitsubishi regional jets and the Brazilian-built Embraer regional jets. Apart from his daytime job, Tenzin serves as a board member of Tibetan Scientific Society, a non-profitable organization in India that promotes STEM education among Tibetans in exile. The society has organized national-level conferences, science workshops, Buddhism and science dialogues, essay contests etc. Tenzin earned a PhD in Aerospace Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University. |
TENZIN CHOEZIN
COO, KIMA app Born and raised in Pokhara, Nepal, within the Paljorling Tibetan Camp, Tenzin Choezin's early years were rooted in this community until the age of 7. A significant shift occurred when his mother made the courageous decision to relocate to NYC in pursuit of a better life. Tenzin's initial years in the city were marked by frequent moves, and he remained blissfully unaware of his immigrant status. However, as he approached the end of high school, the challenges of being an immigrant began to surface. During the process of obtaining citizenship, Tenzin found himself increasingly intrigued by the complexities of immigration law. This newfound interest led him to choose it as his major in college. Currently, he is employed by a small firm, where he specializes in handling bankruptcy cases. Tenzin Choezin's journey reflects a fusion of diverse experiences, shaping his professional path in the legal field. |
TENZIN CHODEN
Studying Master of Science in Business Analytics at the Wisconsin School of Business, UW Madison Tenzin Choden is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Business Analytics at the Wisconsin School of Business, UW Madison, and is a recipient of the Together Forward Scholarship. Tenzin graduated with a Bachelor of Science this past May from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, double majoring in Data Science and Economics. She was one of six international students in her cohort to receive a fully funded merit-based, King Morgridge Scholarship for her bachelor’s degree. Tenzin was born and brought up in Darjeeling, India. After her 10the grade, she spent a year and a half in SOS TCV Bylakupee. She was then selected for the Pestalozzi Scholarship to pursue her A-Levels in the United Kingdom. |
KC CHOONG
Board of Directors of Machik, President of Machik Canada KC Choong received the 2008 Machik Spirit Award for his long term dedication to Machik's mission and programs. He serves on the Board of Directors of Machik in the USA and is the President of Machik Canada. He and his wife Hong Choong have long supported Chungba school projects. KC has visited the Chungba schools and community twice. Originally from Singapore, he was trained in civil engineering in England and Canada. His social engagement started in the early 70s, where he coordinated aid from Singapore, China and Australia to Vietnam, Africa and Pakistan. |
SONAM CHOKEY
Artist As an exiled stateless Tibetan settler in Canada, Sonam Chokey acknowledges that she has directly benefited from the colonization and genocide of the original caretakers of this land. Where she lives in Tkaronto, the land has been governed by the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant and includes the following nations; the Anishinaabe, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, the Huron-Wendat, and more recently the Mississaugas of the Credit River. The indigenous peoples of Turtle Island are still thriving on this land, and Sonam Chokey is grateful to have a home here. She also commits herself to continue to unlearn and decolonize spaces she occupies and work in solidarity with indigenous peoples in their struggle. |
KALSANG DOLMA
Founder, Juniper Immigration Canada Kalsang Dolma is an award-winning Tibetan Canadian artist and professional based in Toronto, Canada. She has worked as a settlement counsellor for over a decade, helping newcomer families and immigrants navigate complex issues as they settle in Canada. A proud and passionate advocate for the community of Parkdale, Kalsang most recently served as co-chair of the Parkdale Community Legal Services, and was also on the board of Parkdale Neighbourhood Land Trust and Toronto Green Community. She co-founded DreBu in 2008, a non-profit that celebrated urban immigrant arts and stories. In 2014, Kalsang was awarded the Ontario Newcomer Champion Award by the province of Ontario. She ran as a municipall councillor candidate in the 2018 for the riding of Parkdale-High Park. In 2020, she received the Trailblazer award from Afro Politan Canada. Kalsang started an immigration consulting business, Juniper Immigration Canada, in 2021. |
PHUNTSOK DOLMA
Associated degree in general studies at Baltimore Community College Phuntsok Dolma was born in Tibet and attended the TCV School in Bylakuppe in southern India and completed an associated degree in general studies at Baltimore community college. She currently resides in Maryland with her family. Phuntsok Dolma is deeply passionate about children’s education and Tibetan cultural preservation, especially in the diaspora context. She is navigating this terrain while being dedicated to raising three young children. She will welcome a discussion on these topics in her workshop at Machik Weekend. |
TENZIN DOLMA GYALPO
Software Engineer Tenzin Dolma Gyalpo came from a small family of five in Dharamsala. She is the eldest child and currently working as a software engineer at an EdTech startup company. She has a strong passion for using technology to improve various aspects of the community, such as education, health, and climate. She was introduced to Machik during her first year of college, about 7 years ago, and has been attending Machik Weekend and retreats ever since. Each year, attending Machik Weekend fills her with joy and hope, leaving her energized and motivated. |
RIGZIN DOLMA
LLM. Candidate at Georgetown Washington Law Center Rigzin Dolma completed her law school (BA.LLB) in 2018 from JSS Law College (Mysore), right after her legal studies she joined a junior Legal-Assistance in Leh-District Court, wherein she practiced civil legal disputes as well as participated in legal awareness outreach program. After she earned the Bar Council license of Advocate based in Delhi, she had experience of working under Supreme Court Senior Adv. Rajiv Dutta. She had recently graduated from the LLM program on “American Legal System” in William & Mary Law School via virtual mode from August 2020 to May 2021 . She is currently LLM. Candidate at Georgetown Washington Law Center. |
TASHI DOLMA KUYEE
RN, Machik Board of Directors, Canada Tashi Dolma Kuyee is a Registered Nurse serving patients at an Intensive Care unit in Toronto, Canada. She has served as a board member of Tibetan Women Association of Ontario and is deeply committed to community service. She is currently Chair of the Selection Committee of the Machik Medical Awards. Tashi Dolma is also a member of Board of Directors Machik, Canada. |
LAUREN ECKERT
Ph.D Candidate, University of Victoria Lauren Eckert is a conservation scientist, adventure enthusiast, and Ph.D. student affiliated with the Applied Conservation Science Lab at the University of Victoria. Her undergraduate journey, enriched with ecological field experiences worldwide, unveiled the intricacies of interconnected social and ecological systems. This exposure fueled her passion for conservation science, with a commitment to upholding Indigenous knowledge and human rights. |
ALEX FOOTE
Customer Success Associate at Sourcemap Alex Foote first volunteered with Machik’s Summer Enrichment Program and Tibet Governance and Practice Forum. This experience inspired her passion for sustainable development, and now she works for a supply chain technology tech company, helping corporations create more transparent supply chains. |
CAMERON GEHLERT
MPA from American University in Washington, D.C. Cameron Gehlert comes from rural mid-Missouri where he gained a strong sense of community and helping others. Though from a region devoid of any links to Asian culture, at around age 7, he managed to discover eastern cultures through books and documentaries– he especially took an interest in Tibet and Buddhism. In 2022, he graduated summa cum laude from Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri with a BA in four majors: environmental studies, transnational studies, religious studies, and political science. Currently, he is pursuing an MPA from American University in Washington, D.C. Cameron has also been a practicing Tibetan Buddhist for around seven years and this has allowed him to come further into contact with Tibetan culture and identity. Cameron has been honored to be able to volunteer at Machik this fall and has made a personal commitment to dedicate his life in any way possible to help create a better future for Tibet and her people. |
DR. FREDRIK HIEBERT
Archaeologist Fredrik Hiebert is an archaeologist. He mostly studies ancient trade routes, such as the Silk Road, a network that stretched from China to Europe and Africa. He also leads underwater archaeology projects, such as searching for evidence of prehistoric settlements on land that is now beneath the Black Sea. |
JULIA HUTTER
Infectious disease pediatrician Julia Hutter, is an infectious disease pediatrician and works on preventive vaccines for HIV, TB, and COVID with a focus on protecting vulnerable populations. She medically supports humanitarian missions for hurricane victims, refugees, and disease outbreaks. She has been a long-term supporter of Machik and traveled to Kham in 2006 to address medical and public health needs at the Chungba School. The Hutter family hosted the first Machik weekend, and her daughters Sophie and Isabella are now Machik volunteers. |
SOPHIE HUTTER
Green and Clean Team Coordinator Born and raised in Washington D.C., Sophie grew up hearing stories about Machik from her parents, who visited the Chungba School. Now she is a Junior at the German International School in Washington D.C. In the summer of 2022, she volunteered with Machik in their office at the vibrant Eaton Hotel. |
DR. YANGDRON KALZANG
Founder, President & Licensed Acupuncturist, Menpa (Dr. of Tibetan Medicine and Acupuncture.) Dr. Yangdron Kalzang is the Founder, Director, and Lead Practitioner of the Kunde Institute since 2005. She holds a Doctor of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine (DAOM) from Five Branches University, earned in 2018, and has been a licensed acupuncturist in California since 2005. Dr. Kalzang is also a certified acupuncturist and herbalist by the NCCAOM since 2003. With a Doctorate in Tibetan Medicine (Menpa) obtained in 1994, she brings a diverse range of expertise to her practice. Dr. Kalzang is a founding member and Secretary of the American Tibetan Medical Association (ATMA) since 2004, showcasing her commitment to the field. Additionally, she is a founding member and current faculty at the Shang Shung Institute in Conway, Massachusetts. Fluent in English, Tibetan, and Mandarin Chinese, Dr. Kalzang balances her professional achievements with her role as a wife and mother of two children. |
KHAYING
Graduate of Northeastern University, Master of Non Profit Management Khaying is a graduate of Northeastern University’s Master of Nonprofit management. Born and raised in Lhasa, she completed her undergraduate studies at Communication University of China majoring Public Relations with a minor in TV and Audio editing. |
UNYONG KIM
Stress Management Teacher & Author | Stress Burner Tips | Ancient and Cutting Edge Leadership Skills Unyong has had a lifelong love of Tibetan culture, especially after learning Buddhist Dharma and meditation at Naropa University in the early 1980’s in Boulder, CO. After moving back east, she got involved in volunteering at the International Campaign for Tibet, and made many wonderful friends through that, including Losang and then Tashi Rabgey. The entire Rabgey family, including Pa-la and Ama-la, Pencho and Tsering, their parents, have been a heartfelt connection for her, and since meeting them, her family and some friends have come to love and support them also. Seeing Machik unfold over the years has been a blessing, and she has enjoyed supporting them along the way. Her three daughters and their friend did a lemonade and cookie sale fundraiser for Chungba School years ago when they were small, some customers happily paying a bonus $5-$20 for a cup. Tashi dubbed them “the Lemonade Warriors”! As a yoga and stress management instructor with Stress Burner Yoga, Unyong organized a fundraiser yoga class for Machik, introducing some new enthusiastic supporters to their work. She was invited to offer stress management leadership skills to young Tibetan leaders at a retreat Machik convened. She has offered a few other yoga and stress management sessions in the past, at a Gender Equity seminar, and at a Machik Weekend in New York City. She has also helped to facilitate a discussion group with Chupal Sangpo, who was a Machik Weekend keynote speaker that year. |
DR. TENZIN KUNSEL
Physics Design Engineer at ASML Tenzin Kunsel was born in Dharamsala, India and studied in Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV) school.He completed his PhD in theoretical condensed matter Physics from University of Groningen, The Netherlands. His PhD research focused on unraveling intricate details of nano-systems inspired from nature, by employing various optical spectroscopic techniques, shedding light on the complex relationship between their structure and properties. He finds it particularly interesting how scientific tools and mathematical reasoning enhances our senses and allows us to uncover dimensions of reality that are not directly accessible. He also draw so much inspiration from how much one can learn from nature, in the pursuit for technologies that improve the quality of the life significantly. After completing his PhD, he joined ASML as a Physics Design Engineer. At ASML he innovate and strive to provide cutting-edge technologies that meet the need for abundant and powerful microchips, now and in the future. |
PHUNTSOK LHAMO
Research Assistant at John Hopkins Hospital Phuntsok Lhamo was born in Lithang Detsa, Tibet. She finished her high school at TCV Selakui and completed her pre-medical course at Hunter College in New York. She has been serving underprivileged communities by helping them navigate new cultural and educational worlds since 2018. Serving communities gives her a sense of joy and purpose. She believes change can happen only with collective effort from individuals. |
LYDIA NAGELHOUT
Summer 2012 Cultural Mapping Project Participant Lydia Nagelhout is a law student at Georgetown University. She holds a B.A. from Columbia University where she studied economics and sustainable development. Lydia was a participant in Machik’s Cultural Mapping Project (CMP) in Gyalthang, Tibet, during the summer of 2012. Following her experience with CMP in 2012, as a senior at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, DC, Lydia worked as a program intern at Machik’s office. During the summer of 2013, Lydia coordinated the CMP program in Amdo. Recently, Lydia has been working as a volunteer with Machik to finalize the production of the three CMP books. |
REBECCA MARTIN
Board of Machik and Telluride Mountainfilm. Rebecca Martin—Founder and President, Exploration Connections—has spearheaded pivotal programs at National Geographic and has cultivated extensive networks of explorers. She is widely recognized as a leader in empowering explorers around the world. Rebecca served as Senior Director of Explorer Programs at National Geographic, where she oversaw high-profile explorers—including Sylvia Earle, Robert Ballard, and Mike Fay—among many others. In addition, she significantly expanded National Geographic’s prestigious Awards Program, supported many cutting-edge exploration projects and developed a new mentorship program tailored for explorers. While she was director, the Expeditions Council awarded nearly 800 grants totalling $24 million for exploration around the world. Rebecca created the Young Explorers Program at National Geographic or exceptional fieldwork in exploration, conservation and storytelling. In 11 years nearly 800 Young Explorers received grants. She was recognized by Outside magazine on “The Power List” of the 25 most influential people in the outdoor world—alongside Yvon Chouinard, Melinda Gates and Conrad Anker. Rebecca serves on the Board of Machik and Telluride Mountainfilm. She has traveled widely, including two trips to Tibet. |
DR. MARTHA G MILLER
Moderators Coordinator Martha Miller's family traveled often in her childhood, and so, her early interest in cross-cultural communication was later incorporated into a unique skill set of skills and competencies. As a management consultant, she has worked long focused on managing diversity, creating effective work teams, and cross-cultural communication. Her clients include the Center for Disease Control, Hewlett Packard, IBM, Twitter, and more. Dr. Miller received her Ph.D. from Harvard University. She taught for seven years at Yale's School of Organization and Management and later became the Associate Dean. Dr Miller also was the editor of the Journal of Small Group Research, has published numerous articles and was Associate Dean for MBA Programs at UCLA's Anderson School of Management. She now lives in Washington, D.C. where she works as a consultant on leadership and cross-cultural management and teaches Executive Education programs for UCLA, the Brookings Institution, and other organizations. |
DR. MICHAEL MONHART
Psychoanalyst (M.A., S.T.M., LP) Dr. Michael Monhart (M.A., S.T.M., LP) is a psychoanalyst in private practice in the Hudson Valley in New York and a faculty member at the Jungian Psychoanalytic Association and the Blanton-Peale Institute. He is the author of “Into the Frog Swamp: Jungian Conceptions of the Unconscious in Practice” in The Unconscious Refracted: Contemporary Psychoanalysis Struggles With Its Source Object published in 2020 by Routledge. He is a Tibetan translator and is the co-editor and translator of Enticements (SUNY 2018), the short stories of the Tibetan author Pema Tseden. His publications in Tibetan Studies include essays on Tibetan ritual music (rol mo) and on the 18th century Nyingma lama, Katok Tsewang Norbu. |
DR. PETER MORAN
Director of the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program at the Institute of International Education (IIE) Dr. Peter’s background in international education begins with his own experience studying and living abroad. He lived in Nepal for over 15 years, first as a student, then conducting his Ph.D fieldwork in anthropology there under a Fulbright award, and eventually returning to take on the role of Executive Director for the Fulbright Commission in Nepal from 2005-9. He then returned to the United States to serve as Director of the Study Abroad Office for the University of Washington. These prior experiences with international education directly informed his current role as Director of the Humphrey Program. |
SANG MOTA
Specialist in Domestic Violence Sangmo Ta was born and grew up in Amdo Chapcha Tibet (Tsolu prefecture). She was a dancer/singer at Tsolu Dance Troupe for 6 years. Later, she worked as a choreographer and a book-keeper in a Tibetan middle school in Chapcha. In the early 1990s, Sang went to Northern India, Dharamsala. In 1996, Sang came to America as a translator and has remained in the United States since. Sang completed her Bachelor's degree (B.A) in Psychology at Hunter College and completed her Master's Degree in Social Work (2009) at Hunter College. From 2009 to 2016, Sang has worked as a social worker in the Victim Services Unit of the Kings County District Attorney's Office. She specializes in domestic violence (DV) in the Eastern Asian population, and also works in Human Trafficking, Homicide, and Crimes Against Children offering cultural competent services and supportive counseling. Since May, 2016 to present, Sang works as a Real Estate salesperson at Douglas Elliman In New York. |
GREGORY SONAM MULLENS
Counsel at Calcagni & Kanefsky LLP / White-Collar Defense and Government Investigations Gregory Sonam Mullens is a Tibetan of mixed heritage. He was born and raised in Canada, but his athletic talents brought him to New York where he played NCAA Division I Baseball for Columbia University. In 2005, Greg signed with the New York Mets, becoming the first professional baseball player of Tibetan ancestry. After earning Pitcher of the Year honors in his first year, Greg advanced within the Mets organization and pitched for two more years until an arm injury ended his career in 2008, leading him to later attend the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. After graduation, Greg was a prosecutor in New Jersey and tried over 20 cases, including those involving domestic violence, gun possession, assault and homicide. Greg is now in private practice and focuses on criminal defense and internal investigations. |
KALDEN NAMGYAL
International & Public Affairs and Economics at Brown Univeristy Kalden Namgyal is a Brown Senior majoring in International & Public Affairs and Economics. Born in Tibet, upon feeling into exile, he grew up in India and the U.S. partly attending two schools. His background and experience have considerably shaped his interest in education and social entrepreneurship as avenues to serve his community and the world at large. In his free time, Kalden enjoys making coffee, learning new recipes, and biking. |
TASHI NAMGYAL
Ph.D. scholar at Penn State University specializing in Sino-Tibetan and trans-himalayan history Tashi Namgyal was born in Tibet and received his early education in Lhasa. He escaped to India in 2000 to continue his studies. Tashi completed his schooling from TCV and went on to study in colleges in Madras and Bangalore. Upon graduation he worked with several companies in Bangalore as analyst, translator, and project coordinator. Between 2018 and 2020, through the Tibetan Scholarship Program (TSP), Tashi studied M.A. in International Affairs from George Washington University (GWU). During his time at GWU, Tashi was actively involved in various programs of Machik and Tibet Governance Project. Tashi is currently pursuing a Ph.D. program in History at Penn State University, specializing in Sino-Tibetan and trans-himalayan history. |
TSEWANG NAMGYAL
CO, KIMA app After graduating from Namygyal High School in Nepal, Tsewang Namgyal relocated and pursued a degree in IT security at John Jay College. With over 7 years of experience in collaborating with prominent IT groups, he remains an active member of the Tibetan community. Tsewang is currently serving as the treasurer of his hometown community in New York. |
TENZIN NORDON
Program Officer at GRH Foundation Tenzin Nordon has worked in the youth development, college access, and community development sectors since 2008. She brings a strong ability to communicate, network, and work effectively with a diverse range of people. She possesses extensive experience in the leadership and management of people, processes, and events. Nordon was born and raised in Chandigarh, India until she immigrated to the United States with her family in 1998. Since then, she has been studying, living, and working in Minnesota. Her previous work in the Tibetan community led her to co-found Lamton (a college access program) in 2008 where she served as a board member for over 10 years. Last July, she completed two years of service as the Education Chair for the Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota. This fall, she continues serving another term on the Lamton board. Nordon obtained her B.A. in Biology from Carleton College in 2011. She obtained her M.A. in Organizational Leadership from St. Catherine University in 2020. Her master's thesis is titled "Women Beyond Tea: Fostering Tibetan Women Leaders of Tomorrow." She describes her research on Tibetan Women Leaders in a podcast episode titled "Fostering Women Leaders: Learnings from a Tibetan Leadership Development Context" |
LOSANG NYIMA
Chungba Graduate and Pratt Institute, Brooklyn Losang Nyima was born and raised in the small, rural village of Chungba, far from modern cities and therefore influenced by traditional Tibetan culture and religion. He entered Chungba Primary School in 2003 as part of the second cohort of students ever to attend. He was supported by Machik through middle school as well and then introduced to Appleby College in Canada in 2012. Now graduated from Appleby College, he is pursuing a B.A. in Interior Design from Conestoga College in Ontario. |
LYNDEN PARRY
Registration Coordinator/Rapporteur Lynden Parry (they/them) is a farm worker studying restoration ecology on beautiful Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. They have been supporting Machik's work since 2020 and are so excited to be coming to DC for their fourth Machik Weekend. When they are not working or studying, you can find them knees-deep in a bog exploring the local native flora and fauna. |
DR. GAURAV PATHANIA
Assistant Professor of Sociology and Peacebuilding at the Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, Virginia Gaurav J. Pathania is an assistant professor of Sociology and Peacebuilding at the Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, Virginia. His first book “The University as a Site of Resistance: Identity and Student Politics” (Oxford University Press, 2019) conceptualizes the student resistance in higher education in India. His current research examines socio-political activism of the South Asian diaspora in the US and UK. Dr. Pathania serves as an deputy editor to the South Asia Research journal published by SOAS, University of London. He is also an anti-caste poet and activist. His social justice writings have been featured in the Boston Globe and he was interviewed by PBS and BBC regarding the issue of caste in the United states. |
DR. TENZIN PHAKDON
Graduate Research Assistant, University of Arizona Dr. Tenzin Phakdon is a Graduate Research Assistant at the Water Energy and Sustainable Technology Center and Sustainable Bioeconomy for Arid Regions (SBAR) fellow at University of Arizona. Born and raised in Bir, a Tibetan settlement in India. She has an undergraduate in Civil Engineering and a master’s in environmental engineering with scholarship from Tibetan Scholarship Program. Currently, pursuing doctoral degree in Environmental Engineering. Her research project includes electrochemically enhanced high efficiency reverse osmosis process for converting brackish water into potable water and engineering processes for treatment and disposal of waste brine produced in various membrane processes. |
PENCHO RABGEY, MSC
Cofounder, Machik Pencho Rabgey, MSC, is Machik's visionary cofounder and a true driving force behind Machik's work in Tibet. Pencho spent the first thirty years of his life as a scholar monk, studying with great masters in Tibet and India. He spent the next thirty years working in a factory in Canada building caskets. As one of the first Tibetan families in Canada, the Rabgeys set up the Potala Tibetan Dance Troupe in 1975, and, in the 1990s, Pencho founded the Chompa Tibetan Cultural Foundation. Pencho returned to Chungba in the 1980s with his family and subsequently dedicated himself to building a school for the local community. He withdrew his retirement funds as the seed money to begin Machik and to build the Chungba Schools. For his lifelong dedication to community service and citizenship, Pencho received the 'Special Achievement Award' from the Lindsay and District Chamber of Commerce, at its annual Evening of Excellence in 2014. In 2018, Pencho and family received the Meritorious Service Cross from the Governor General of Canada. |
TSERING RABGEY, MSC
Cofounder, Machik Tsering Rabgey, MSC has worked tirelessly to provide quality education for children and youth in rural Tibet. She continues to invest extraordinary time and energy to projects supporting the Chungba Valley community. She received the 'Special Achievement Award' from the Lindsay and District Chamber of Commerce at its annual Evening of Excellence in 2014 for her lifelong dedication to community service and citizenship. In 2018, Tsering and family received the Meritorious Service Cross from the Governor General of Canada. |
DR. TASHI RABGEY
Machik Co-founder Dr Tashi Rabgey is a Research Professor of International Affairs at the Elliott School, specializing in Tibet, China and the politics of statehood and governance. Through interdisciplinary research initiatives she has led on public policy and governance in Tibet, Professor Rabgey's work has enabled the development of new inquiries into the institutional structure and process of the People's Republic of China's policymaking in Tibet. She currently directs the Tibet Governance Lab and the Research Initiative on Multination States (RIMS) at George Washington University through which she has been developing comparative regional studies of the Basque Country, Kurdistan and other case studies of regional autonomy. Before joining the Elliott School, Tashi Rabgey was a lecturer in contemporary Tibetan studies at the University of Virginia where she was also co-director of the UVa Tibet Center. Committed life-long to community empowerment, she has traveled extensively to remote regions across Tibet over the past three decades. She holds a Ph.D. from Harvard University as well as law degrees from Oxford and Cambridge where she studied as a Rhodes scholar. She was a Fellow in the Public Intellectuals Program of the National Committee on US-China Relations from 2011-2013. Rabgey is currently Visiting Professor at the University of Kurdistan in the KRG (Kurdistan Region of Iraq). |
DR. LOSANG RABGEY
Machik Co-founder Born a Tibetan refugee in India and raised in Canada, Dr Losang Rabgey is the first Tibetan with a PhD in Gender Anthropology. She is the first Tibetan Commonwealth Scholar and National Geographic Explorer. In 1998, she and her sister Dr Tashi Rabgey co-founded Machik with their parents as a nonprofit whose mission is to grow a global community committed to a stronger future for Tibet. In 20+ years, Machik has mentored and supported education for thousands of people in Tibet and in diaspora, mostly girls and women. Machik’s work currently centers on civic engagement, gender equity and social innovation. Programs include Machik Fest, a global platform for bridging global divides, Machik Gender Summit, Machik Khabda, and more. Machik also works with social innovators inside Tibet focused on education, film, conservation, health, etc. Dr Rabgey and her sister were recognized by Harvard University as Women Inspiring Change, along with others including Stacey Abrams, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and Vice President Kamala Harris. Dr Rabgey and her family received the Meritorious Service Cross by the Governor-General of Canada. She recently became member of the Explorers Club 50 and is a member of the Review Committee of the Explorers Club Discovery Expedition Grants. She is a frequent public speaker, including at Yale, Harvard, UC Santa Cruz, and the Nobel Peace Forum. |
LAMU SHANGCHOO
Writer/Director Born in Tibet, grow up on the mountain, now base NYC. Lamu’s work has strong inclusiveness towards culture and genre, reflects mental health, identity, generation issues and moral dilemmas. Her short film "Theo: Beyond Expression" has been selected for numerous international film festivals and was nominated for Best Short Film and won Best Performance at the NEW ERA Film Festival. Her BFA Thesis film "Walk Alone" won the DGA Student Film Awards for Best Female Filmmaker and was selected for the Rhode Island International Film Festival and the Rome International Short Film Award. Her work has been exhibited at the Museum of the Moving Image, New York, and the Producers Club, New York. Lamu will continuously create poetic and authentic works with her unique storytelling and visual styles to inspire more audience. |
DR. DHONDUP TASHI
Dr. Bettegowda Scholar, CMO Gaden Jangtse Charitable Hospital Dr. Dhondup Tashi, Chief Medical Officer at Gaden Jangtse Charitable Hospital in Mundgod since 2013, is the 2023 Dr. Bettegowda Scholar. Renowned for his dedication to clinical practice in underserved rural areas, he stands out for advanced training, specialization, and leadership in growing Tibetan medical capacity. Dr. Tashi's influence extends beyond borders, inspiring Tibetan medical practitioners in India and beyond. |
TENZIN TSEDUB LODOE
Undergraduate Student, University of Virginia Tenzin Tsedub Lodoe is a co-founder of Bodja Newsletter and a proud recent graduate of Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA). At NOVA, as the Student Body President and a College Board Member, Tsedub worked diligently to represent the needs of 80,000 constituents. He recently transferred to the University of Virginia to study Global Development and Social Entrepreneurship. In the summer of 2022, he was privileged to serve in the first cohort of interns at the White House under the current administration. Tsedub has also volunteered at his local Tibetan Sunday language school teaching Tibetan language culture history and 'Social Emotional Learning’ to elementary school children. Tsedub has also interned at the World Bank and the IMF and is a two-time winner of Tibet Fund's "Let's Talk in Tibetan" competition. He believes that "being smart is not enough; we also need a warm heart.” |
KUNSANG TSEPHEL
Director of Empowering the Vision Project, Yamuna Khimtsang Co-founder Kunsang Tsephel, originally from Chamdo, Tibet, left his hometown at the age of four. He completed his education at the Tibetan Children's Village School and pursued his undergraduate studies at Delhi University. With a Master's degree in Environmental Studies, he conducted research on air pollution and respiratory health in Delhi. Kunsang advocates for individual efforts to create a cleaner environment, including waste segregation and reducing plastic usage. Currently, he is the Director of Delhi based NGO, Empowering the Vision Project. He along with his friends started Yamuna Khimtsang community in Delhi to help foster human-animal relationship. |
DHUNDUP TSERING
Tibetan Baby Books Dhundup Tsering was born in the Amdo region of Tibet. He immigrated to the US in the nineties. Since then, in his own small ways, kept working for the promotion and preservation of Tibetan language and culture in the west. Few years back, he started a publication project called the 'Tibetan Baby Books'. His first publication 'The Tibetan Alphabet Book' was first of its kind with pictures and illustrations and became very popular. |
DR. DECHEN TSEWANG
Family Physician Dr Dechen Tsewang is a daughter of two former teachers who together taught Tibetan children in diaspora for thirty years in India. She immigrated to USA with her family where she obtained her medical degree at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. She feels fortunate to work as a Family Physician serving many indigenous communities in the region. She is passionate about equality, social justice and women’s rights. She lives in Santa Fe with her husband and two daughters. |
NELSON WALKER
Cinematographer and documentary filmmaker Nelson Walker is a New York-based cinematographer and documentary filmmaker whose work spans production, education, and film programming. He got his start in cinematography working alongside the late Albert Maysles, and since then his work has appeared in many notable films, such as MAKING A MURDER, IRIS, WATCHERS OF THE SKY, CIVIL WAR, THE FIGHT, CAPTURING THE FLAG, THE REVEREND and most recently NAM JUNE PAIK: MOON IS THE OLDEST TV and INVISIBLE BEAUTY. With his partner Lynn True, Nelson also shoots and directs his own films, including LUMO (winner of the Student Academy Award), SUMMER PASTURE (winner of the Peabody Award), and IN TRANSIT, which he co-directed with Albert Maysles and others. In addition to his work as a filmmaker, Nelson is founder of the Congo in Harlem film series (www.congoinharlem.org) and the Kham Film Project (www.khamfilmproject.org), which seeks to expand opportunities for Tibetan filmmakers. Nelson currently serves as Interim Executive Director of Maysles Documentary Center, a Harlem-based non-profit cinema that uses film to promote community, education, and social justice (www.maysles.org). Nelson is a graduate of Brown University and Columbia University School of the Arts. |
TENZIN WODEN
Environmental Engineer, MA DEP & Co-founder of OTE Tenzin Woden is an Environmental Engineer with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection where she oversees the use of federal infrastructure fund on Clean and Drinking water improvement projects in around Massachusetts. Woden is also a cofounder and longtime member of the Online Tibetan Education( OTE) where Tibetan all across the globe connect while learning about the Tibetan language, Buddhism and culture. In her free time, she loves being with her family, bonding with friends over board games, and watching her nephew grow, virtually. |