Kelly Zepelin, PhD

Kelly A Zepelin

Adjunct Professor

BA Psychology Online

EDUCATION:

BA, Psychology, specialization cognitive science and neuroscience MA, Cultural Anthropology, specialization health and wellbeing PhD, Cultural Anthropology

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS:

BA Psychology Online

COURSES TAUGHT:

PSYB-462E

I have been Zen Buddhist for nearly two decades, practiced monastically in Asia and at monasteries in Colorado and Oregon. As a Fulbright scholar and research fellow, I have worked as a cognitive scientist in India, Japan, and Sri Lanka where I researched the impact of meditation on the brain, cognition, bodily awareness, and interpersonal perception. It was working in this capacity — with monks and nuns, who for example had been meditating in a cave for decades — that made me feel a need to find a more holistic way to study human experience outside of quantitative data. This is what led me to move into anthropological study of human experience and utilize qualitative research methods. I recieved my MA in the anthropology of health and wellbeing where I examined the impact of meditation on views of self/ecology among American Zen monastics. After a surprise diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in 2016, however, I became interested in the role of diet in inflammatory disease. I pursued my PhD in cultural anthropology to examine contemporary wild food traditions of the United States and the human and ecological health ramifications, as well as the legal issues of such “alternative” food practices within a colonial context. I am currently based in Durango, Colorado, with my husband, dog, and my young daughter, Lily.

YOU ARE READY.

This is where experiential learning meets academic rigor. Where you challenge your intellect and uncover your potential. Where you discover the work you’re moved to do—then use it to transform our world.

“*” indicates required fields

Search Naropa University

Search

Academics

Contemplative education brings together the best of Western scholarship and Eastern world wisdom traditions. Therefore, your pursuit of wisdom at Naropa means learning both about academic subjects and about your own place in the world. This innovative approach places Naropa on the cutting edge of the newest and most effective methods of teaching and learning.  

Admissions & Aid

If you’re seeking an education that resonates with both personal fulfillment and global impact, Naropa could be your top choice. At Naropa, you will experience a comprehensive curriculum that integrates the best of Eastern and Western educational approaches. Explore how Naropa can fuel your journey of intellectual and spiritual development.

Life at Naropa

Through its incredibly vibrant and welcoming community,  “Naropa offers a home for those who aren’t willing to conform to convention—the mystic, the healer, the prophet, the rebel, the artist, the revolutionary, the oddball—those who are incredible contributors to the evolution of society and of our planet.”—Core Associate Professor Zvi Ish-Shalom

The Naropa Difference

How is Naropa different from other universities? At Naropa, a liberal arts education balances rigorous academics with powerful interpersonal skills and self-awareness to educate the whole person. Naropa’s contemplative approach is inspired by Buddhist philosophy and the conviction that we can build a diverse, contemplative, enlightened society when we have transformed education to affirm the basic goodness of every person. 

About Naropa

Located in Boulder, Colorado, Naropa University is a Buddhist-inspired, nonsectarian liberal arts university that is recognized as the birthplace of the mindfulness movement. Naropa offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs that emphasize professional and personal growth, intellectual development, and cultivating compassion. 

Naropa Logo

Naropa Campuses Closed on Friday, March 15, 2024

Due to adverse weather conditions, all Naropa campuses will be closed Friday, March 15, 2024.  All classes that require a physical presence on campus will be canceled. All online and low-residency programs are to meet as scheduled.

Based on the current weather forecast, the Healing with the Ancestors Talk & Breeze of Simplicity program scheduled for Friday evening, Saturday, and Sunday will be held as planned.

Staff that do not work remotely or are scheduled to work on campus, can work remotely. Staff that routinely work remotely are expected to continue to do so.

As a reminder, notifications will be sent by e-mail and the LiveSafe app.  

Regardless of Naropa University’s decision, if you ever believe the weather conditions are unsafe, please contact your supervisor and professors.  Naropa University trusts you to make thoughtful and wise decisions based on the conditions and situation in which you find yourself in.