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News & Updates

Melissa Lago, MDiv

Visiting Instructor, Faculty Resident Chaplain

Wisdom Traditions Department

melissa.lago@naropa.edu

EDUCATION:

BA, Political Science, Yale University; MA, Philosophy and Religion, California Institute of Integral Studies; MDiv, Harvard Divinity School

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS:

BA Yoga Studies, MA Yoga Studies, Master of Divinity

COURSES TAUGHT:

Yoga History, Theory, and Philosophy / Yoga 1: Foundations / Yoga Meditation / Meditation in Yogic and Tantric Traditions: A Practicum / Meditation in Yogic and Tantric Traditions II / Death, Dying, and Mourning / Contemplative Communication in Spiritual Caregiving

Melissa Lago, MA, MDiv, was introduced to yoga as a child while attending the Oak Grove School founded by Jiddu Krishnamurti in Ojai, CA. In 2018 she completed a Master of Divinity degree where she worked to bring yoga, spiritual care, and chaplaincy together. Her research and studies culminated in her thesis titled, “Yoga Transforms Us: Building Resiliency and Intrinsic Spiritual Reliance through Yoga.” Prior to completing her MDiv, she taught yoga, philosophy, interdisciplinary studies, and world religions at Holy Names University in Oakland, CA. In 2022 she joined the faculty of the Yoga Studies program at Naropa University as a Visiting Instructor. She now teaches in the Master of Divinity program as well. In addition to teaching at Naropa, she enjoys teaching at The StarHouse, Drala Mountain Center, Kondition, privately, and for groups. To learn more about her background, please visit her website at https://www.yogatransformsus.com/.

PUBLICATIONS:

“What Does It Mean to be Awake?” Harvard Divinity School, Cambridge, MA, 2018

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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.

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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. 

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. 

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At a time when the value of higher education is being questioned, Naropa University stands firmly rooted in its mission to create a more just and regenerative world by nurturing insight, awareness, courage, and compassion in its students. By making a gift to Naropa, you play a pivotal role in helping to create the authentic, effective & mindful leaders that the world desperately needs.

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Naropa University campuses are closed on 12/17/2025. 

Due to adverse weather conditions of high winds and planned power outages, all Naropa campuses will be closed today. 

 

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Spring and Summer Start Dates for the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentrations

In support of students and in response to federal legislation impacting financial aid for graduate students, Naropa University will be accepting applications for MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling for spring starts through January 10.

Graduate School of Counseling concentrations listed below will be offering online and low-residency courses to start their programs in January 2026 as well as our Summer 2026 terms.

Beginning a graduate program in Spring 2026 or Summer 2026 means that you will have access to apply for Graduate Plus loans as these loans will be eliminated at the federal level starting in Fall 2026.

Contact Admissions (admissions@naropa.edu) today to learn how you can begin the next step in your graduate education journey.

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