Board of Directors

Robbie Watkins (Center Director) 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 both the Discovering Buddhism and Basic Programs at the Center. During his spare time, he works as a family physician in Cary.

David Machles (President) David has been a member of Kadampa Center for only a few years, but suspects he has been a Buddhist all of his life. He and his wife Karen own a business providing safety and health management consulting. They have 24 year old twins in Asheville and live in North Raleigh with their 2 dogs and cat.

Margie Harris (Secretary) Margie first came to Kadampa Center in 1996 to take an evening class.Don Brown taught that night on the fragility of the human body, among other matters relating to death and the need to practice Dharma now. It was so different from what she had heard anywhere else and so refreshing! Margie is very grateful for the opportunity to serve on the Center.s Board of Directors and looks forward to helping the Center pursue its many goals in any way she is able. Margie is an attorney, though she is on indefinite maternity leave, raising four young boys at home in Raleigh.

Suzanne Weigand (Treasurer) Suzanne Weigand was introduced to Buddhism and to Kadampa Center at the same time back in 1996 by long-time friend of the Center, Teri Beckman. Suzanne has been a member since 1997 and functioned as bookkeeper for the Center from 1998 to 2004. She now is very grateful to have the chance to serve the Center again as a member of the Board. She lives in Cary with her husband, Ken, and her cat, Shorty.

Ven. Lhundub Tendron (Assistant to Resident Teacher and Spiritual Program Coordinator) Venerable Lhundub Tendron has been coming to Kadampa Center since 1998. Following Lama Zopa Rinpoche.s advice, she ordained with Geshe Sopa in 2002. She joined the Chenrezig Nuns Community at Chenrezig Institute in Australia to develop as a nun and study. Ven. Tendron completed the FPMT Basic Program at CI in 2007 and now assists Geshe Gelek by leading discussion groups for the Basic Program, teaching Sunday Dharma when Geshe-la is away, and teaching Lamrim 101 and Discovering Buddhism.

Julie Jones 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.

Scott Miller Scott was very pleased to discover Kadampa Center after moving to the Raleigh area from Florida in 2007. Although he had not previously attended a Dharma center, he had developed a strong interest in Buddhism and had been particularly inspired by the teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Scott enjoys being a part of the Kadampa Center community and feels very honored to serve on the board. He lives in Pittsboro and works as the Volunteer Coordinator for Carolina Tiger Rescue, a nonprofit wildlife sanctuary.

David Strevel

Shankha Mitra

 

Kadampa Center, Raleigh, NC, USA
Affiliated with the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition in the lineage of His Holiness the Dalai Lama