Judith Simmer-Brown Elected as Faculty Trustee

BOULDER, Colo. (September 29, 2011) – Naropa University announces that the Board of Trustees, during its Fall 2011 meeting, has elected Judith Simmer-Brown as Faculty Trustee, effective immediately.

Judith Simmer-Brown has been a core faculty member in Religious Studies at the university since 1978. She lectures and writes on Tibetan Buddhism, women and Buddhism, Buddhist-Christian dialogue and American Buddhism; and is an Acharya (senior dharma teacher) in the Shambhala Buddhist tradition. She serves on the Board of the Society of Buddhist-Christian Studies and a member of the Lilly Buddhist-Christian Theological Encounter.

Raised a minister's daughter in Nebraska, Judith Simmer-Brown began meditation practice as a student of Suzuki Roshi. It was while teaching religion and Buddhism at Western Washington University in Bellingham that Judith received a flyer inaugurating The Naropa Institute. Meeting the Vidyadhara at that first summer session in 1974 "blew her world apart," and Judith fled back to Bellingham, "not sure whether to hide or pack." But when offered a position in the new Buddhist Studies M.A. program at The Naropa Institute in 1977, Judith accepted with one week's notice to join the tiny faculty and has been serving with the faculty ever since.

“Judith Simmer-Brown represents the continuity of Naropa’s lineage, as well as the university’s unique approach to contemplative higher education,” states Naropa’s President Stuart C. Lord. “Her constant commitment to the mission, community, and the inherent value of a Naropa education has impacted countless students, staff, and faculty. We are honored to have her as our faculty board trustee.”

During her early years of teaching at Naropa, Judith worked with the Vidyadhara on various projects and he always encouraged her to trust her own experience, to teach, and to "not care so much what other people think." Judith taught at Seminaries, served on the founding faculty of the Ngedon School, directed a series of Buddhist-Christian conferences, and influenced Naropa Institute through its early, difficult years. Judith continues to teach at what is now Naropa University, chairing the religious studies department; guides the Ngedon School; and serves on several international Buddhist-Christian dialogue groups. Judith founded Naropa's Engaged Buddhism program, and has been a member of the Board of Directors of Shambhala International since 1995.

“Judith Simmer-Brown is a pioneer both in the field of Buddhist Studies and contemplative education and in the almost four decade arc of Naropa University,” states Chuck Lief, the Chair of Naropa’s Board of Trustees. “We are thrilled that her colleagues elected to return Judith to the Board of Trustees as faculty representative and look forward to working closely together.

In 1980 Judith married Richard Brown, chair of the education department at Naropa. They have two children, Owen and Alicia. Judith's special passion has long been the Vidyadhara's teachings on "feminine principle," which led her to research and write Dakini's Warm Breath: The Feminine Principle in Tibetan Buddhism, published by Shambhala Publications in 2001. Her other books include Benedict's Dharma: Buddhists Comment on the Rule of St. Benedict with Brother David Steindl-Rast, et. al., (Riverhead, 2001).

Naropa University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Naropa University is a private, nonprofit, nonsectarian liberal arts institution dedicated to advancing contemplative education. This approach to learning integrates the best of Eastern and Western educational traditions, helping students know themselves more deeply and engage constructively with others. The university comprises a four-year undergraduate college and graduate programs in the arts, education, environmental leadership, psychology and religious studies.

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