KADAMPA CENTER - Key Persons
Dan has long been interested in Eastern philosophy and ways of thought. He has been coming to Kadampa Center since 2000, and began running our bookstore in 2001. He managed several different bookstores for ten years before switching to the public sector with Wake County Public Libraries, where he is a librarian.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Treasurer of the Board of Directors
David Strevel discovered the Kadampa Center in 2004 and became a member soon after. He is thankful that the Tibetan Buddhist practice at Kadampa Center is the most engaging and beneficial spiritual tradition he has ever found. David has been on the Board since 2009 and is currently the Treasurer. As a volunteer, he was the Project Manager for adding the Classroom Building to the Center in 2009-2010 and was a leader on the team building the Center's Kadampa Stupa, 2011-2013. He also volunteers as a photographer of Center events. He has a Ph.D. in business and is retired from computer center management.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Spiritual Program Coordinator
Donna started attending Kadampa Center in 1999, and knew she had found her spiritual home the first time she walked through the doors. Over the years she has found the Dharma to be of incredible benefit in living her daily life, raising her daughter in partnership with her husband, and helping her parents make the transition into death.
She has worked in a variety of roles at the Center and hopes her service as spiritual program coordinator will be of benefit to our teachers, our community, and all beings.
Elise starting coming to the Kadampa Center in 2004, when she first learned about it at a lecture by Dr. Robert Thurman. The people and teachings there have been enriching her life ever since. In return for this great gift, she tries to give back to the Kadampa Center by promoting Outreach opportunities and other various activities. Elise is also a member of the Triangle Interfaith Alliance.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Erin attended Kadampa Center for the first time in 2002 when her friend invited her to see a favorite visiting teacher. Not only was she energized by Venerable Robina's direct and engaging style, but the teachings resonated deeply. When Kadampa Center moved to the current building in fall 2007, her first child was one-and-a-half and the second was soon to be on his way. As she continued her studies, she spent several years volunteering in the preschool room followed by five years coordinating the Family Program. Today, she continues to volunteer for both youth and adult programs and is excited to expand her service with a role on the board. She brings with her experience in corporate management and in running Digital P Media with her husband.
I came to The Kadampa Center in 1998 looking for a sense of community. I attended all the regular classes and then became Facilities Manager in spring of 2014. Geshe-la tells us this Center belongs to all of us and my goal in this role is to help people feel that this Center truly belongs to them.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Julie has participated at Kadampa Center since 1993. She started practicing Zen Buddhism in 1985 and, after attending teachings by His Holiness in 1988, made Tibetan Buddhism her primary spiritual path. She is the principal of Mayin, LLC, a real estate finance and development consulting business.
Julie served as a Spiritual Program Coordinator from 1999-2008 and now lives in Kentucky, participating online regularly.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Linda Saah found Buddhism and the Kadampa Center around the turn of the century and became an avid student in 2006 when she embarked on the Discovering Buddhism course offered at the Center. Linda is ever grateful to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the Kadampa Center, its Sangha members and to all of the many teachers who continue to enable her spiritual growth and development. Linda has been contributing in a big way to the spiritual and community life of Kadampa Center for more than a decade. She co-coordinated the Family Program for many years, has been managing the Discovering Buddhism program for several years, serves on our visiting teachers team, and most recently joined Donna as co-Spiritual Program Coordinator.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Vice - Chairman of the Board of Directors
Rebecca has been a member of Kadampa Center since 2008, and has attended teachings by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Khen Rinpoche Geshe Lobsang Delek, Ven Robina Courtin as well as many of the inspirational Sangha who are in residence at, or who have visited the Center. She has volunteered in varying capacities over the years, and is delighted to now serve Kadampa Center, our community and the FPMT through participation on the Board of Directors.
Job Titles:
- Center Director
- Member of the Board of Directors
Robbie Watkins first studied with Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Kopan Monastery in 1980. He became a member of Kadampa Center in 1993. After serving as Spiritual Program Director, he became Director of the Center in 1998. He is involved in leading Discovering Buddhism. During his spare time, he works as a family physician in Cary.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Secretary of the Board of Directors
Royden Saah became a member of the Kadampa Center in 2007. The teachings offered practices and a philosophy that Royden has found beneficial on all levels including the ‘everyday' aspect. Royden has found that the Kadampa Center is one of the easiest places to put the teachings into practice and strives to take that motivation with him wherever he goes (with varying degrees of success). Among other roles, Royden has participated in the Newcomer Question and Answer sessions as a way to increase comfort for those that visit our center just one time, or stay for a lifetime.
Sandy joined Kadampa Center in 2010. A practicing Buddhist for many years, she aspires to use the teachings in every aspect of her life. Over the years, Sandy has volunteered in many roles at the Center, most currently as one of the Buddhism in a Nutshell Class leaders. She and her husband, John, own Blue Yonder Media, a communications company specializing in strategic messaging, HD Video Production and web-based identities.
Stephanie "Steep" Smith first attended the Kadampa Center in 1997. She hosted Geshe Gelek in the top floor of her home from 1999, when he first arrived in NC, until 2008. In her professional life, she was trained as a clinical social worker and works as a family mediator.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
I became a member in 2009 took refuge with Khensur Rinpoche that same year, was immediately interested and became a volunteer. I have joyfully engaged in a number of planning and execution roles, from the Annual Appeal to Light of the Path. I am currently on the Board of Directors, help clean up and will take the trash out! I feel very fortunate to give back to our community at Kadampa.