50 years of Naropa
Joshua Vang
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Joshua Vang

Joshua Vang, (BA Yoga Studies, ’19), chose Naropa University due to a serendipitous series of recommendations that highlighted the institution’s commitment to holistic student support. Drawn to Naropa’s faculty and their investment in students’ mental, emotional, and spiritual growth, Vang sought to merge his passions for dance and psychology to enhance his community service. At Naropa, he found a nurturing environment that supported his multifaceted identity as a Person of Color, LGBTQ individual, and U.S. Army Veteran, fostering both professional and personal development.

Michael Franklin
Michael A. Franklin, PhD, ATR-BC, is a distinguished professor and former chair of the graduate Transpersonal Contemplative Art-Based Counseling program at Naropa University. Learn more
Ayleen Guzman 
Ayleen Guzman serves as the Student Liaison and Student Diversity Officer for the Student Union of Naropa (SUN), where she facilitates communication between students, SUN, and the administration. Learn more
Tashi Browder
Tashi Browder has been at Naropa since 2000 after moving from New York City where she lived for twelve & half years after immigrating from India. She is an ethnic […] Learn more
Dennis Kerr
Dennis Kerr (Traditional Eastern Arts ’16), is a distinguished Naropa alumnus with a background in yoga, taijiquan, and ballroom dance, and a veteran of Army Music. Learn more
Lorenzo Gonzales
Lorenzo González has been a theatre performer, director, and educator for thirty years Learn more
Christopher Hormel 
Christopher Hormel is a dedicated philanthropist and environmental activist who has resided in Boulder, Colorado, since 2007. Learn more
Judith Simmer-Brown 
Judith Simmer-Brown, PhD, Distinguished Professor Emeritx of Religious Studies, is a founding faculty member of Naropa University, having joined at the end of 1977 on a one-year contract. Learn more
Richard Brown 
Richard Brown is the founder of the Department of Contemplative Education at Naropa University, established in 1990. With a background in both public and Buddhist-inspired K-12 education, Brown has dedicated his career to exploring and expanding the field of contemplative education. Learn more
Christine Caldwell 
Christine Caldwell, PhD, is the esteemed founder and professor emeritus of the Somatic Counseling Program at Naropa University. Learn more
Shannon Boarman
MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling '23 Learn more
Carla Burns
Carla Burns, MDiv, is a dedicated instructor at Naropa University’s Core College and the Graduate School of Counseling & Psychology, where she specializes in integrating contemplative practices with emotional and embodied wisdom. Learn more
Jeffrey Pethybridge
Jeffrey Pethybridge, PhD, is the interim Vice President for Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer at Naropa University. Learn more
Jerry Granelli
Jerry Granelli, a revered jazz drummer and educator, made an indelible mark on Naropa University through his pioneering spirit and passion for improvisation. Learn more
Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi
Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, a transformative figure in the world of spirituality and interreligious dialogue, left an indelible impact on Naropa University as the second World Wisdom Chair holder. Learn more
Diane di Prima
Diane di Prima, a seminal figure in the Beat Generation and a revolutionary voice in feminist literature, left a profound legacy at Naropa University as a co-founder of the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics. Learn more
Karen Kissel Wegela
Karen Kissel Wegela, PhD, is a distinguished professor at Naropa University, where she has profoundly influenced the field of contemplative psychotherapy for over four decades. Learn more
Marvin Casper
Marvin Casper was a foundational figure in the creation of Naropa University, whose vision and dedication shaped the institution from its earliest days. Learn more
Ram Dass
Ram Dass, an influential spiritual teacher and former psychology professor, significantly impacted Naropa University during the summer of 1974 with his course on the Yogas of the Bhagavad Gītā. Learn more
Gregory Bateson
Gregory Bateson, a celebrated anthropologist, philosopher, author, naturalist, systems theorist, and filmmaker, was an early faculty member at Naropa University. Learn more
Joanna Macy
Joanna Macy, PhD, a distinguished Buddhist and environmental scholar and activist, has made a profound impact on Naropa University and beyond through her extensive work in environmental activism, nuclear guardianship, and deep ecology. Learn more
Charles G. Lief
Charles G. Lief has been a dedicated member of the Naropa University community for thirty-nine years, contributing to the early discussions that led to the creation of the Naropa Institute in 1974. Learn more
Judy Lief
Judy Lief served as the president (dean) of Naropa Institute from 1980 to 1985. She has been deeply involved with the university since its founding and has served in a variety of roles: staff, adjunct faculty, Bali study-abroad director, and trustee.   Learn more

Additional Resources

Chögyam Trungpa Institute

The Chögyam Trungpa Institute serves a diverse worldwide community of those inspired by the work of Chögyam Trungpa, by the practice of meditation, and by the Buddhist tradition and teachings, historically and in contemporary times.

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Naropa Tea House

In the early 1980s, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche designed a Japanese-inspired tea house which his students then built for his birthday. Originally located at Trungpa Rinpoche’s Boulder home, the tea house was moved to Naropa’s Arapahoe Campus in 1989, two years after his passing.

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Alaya Preschool ​

Alaya Preschool was founded by a group of parents and teachers in 1976 under the direction of Naropa’s founder, the late Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. 
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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. 

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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.

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