Kilung Foundation Board of Directors
H.E. Dza Kilung Jigme Rinpoche, President
As well as acting as the Foundation’s Board President from beginning, Kilung Rinpoche is also its Executive Director. Rinpoche manages Foundation business while in Tibet through the magic of cyberspace, which only recently came to the remote reaches of Dzachuka. Rinpoche plays multiple roles: managing Kilung Monastery, providing leadership for Kilung community, Buddhist teacher in Asia and the west, and important tulku and lineage holder of the Longchen Nyingtik.
Diane Berger (Rigdzin Chödron), Vice-President
Diane co-founded the Kilung Foundation with Kilung Jigme Rinpoche who accepted her invitation to come to the west in 1998. Since then she has devoted herself to strengthening the culture of Dzachuka, Tibet, through the work of the Foundation. She has traveled many times to Tibet, China, Nepal and India, often staying for extended periods. Diane is the Foundation’s Managing Director and personal assistant to Kilung Rinpoche. She also leads trips to Tibet. She has a degree in journalism and anthropology from The Evergreen State College. rigdzin (at) kilung (dot) org
Cary Peterson, Secretary/Treasurer
Cary is known for her extensive volunteerism, including as a board member of the Whidbey Camano Land Trust. After many years of interest in Buddhism and Tibet, Cary met Kilung Rinpoche in 2005. She's been a longtime sponsor of Tibetan families, whom she met on her pilgrimages to India, Nepal and Tibet. She was a bicycle racer and member of the US National Cycling Team. Cary graduated from the University of Rochester with a BA in Biology. She now runs a successful land care business. cary54 (at) gmail (dot) com
Kilung Foundation Volunteers
Sarah Hood, Administrative Assistant
After having grown up in the Vajrayana Buddhist tradition, Sarah met Kilung Rinpoche in 1999. She took on the role of Administrative Assistant for the Foundation in 2004, and manages multiple Kilung sponsorship programs for children’s education, monks and nuns, and Kilung elders. Sarah is a fine arts jewelry maker, with a BA from the New School in NYC, and a BFA from the University of Washington. She also volunteers for a Seattle arts organization, Artist Trust. hoodsarah (at) hotmail (dot) com
Le Ming Yang (Pema Norbu), Photographer
Le Ming Yang has been traveling regularly to Dzachuka since 2005, fascinated by the people and environment, deeply moved by the spiritual life found there. Specializing in stunning landscapes, nature, and portraits, his photography assignments take him all over China. He has worked with Kilung Rinpoche on several photography projects, and donates his fine images to the Kilung Foundation, many of which are found on this website.
Dr. Cheng Yun (Dr. Dondrup Tso), Medical Doctor
Dr. Dondrup Tso has volunteered in Tibet over several years, and has been instrumental in the development of a medical clinic for nomads at Kilung Monastery. She was trained in clinical medicine in China, and holds a Masters Degree of Public Health from the University of New South Wales, Australia. She describes herself as an intensive traveler and a lover of Tibet.
Gabe Marihugh, Web Master and Designer
Gabe began as Kilung Foundation’s webmaster in 2008. He has been a web designer and developer for the past eight years, specializing in Flash interactive design and development. He is a lover of fine Asian teas, hiking and playing music with the exotic and enchanting sounds of the digjeridoo, the bansuri flute, clay udu drums and voice. www.glopilot.com
Kilung Foundation deeply appreciates
the many volunteers whose efforts have generously supported its work—
past, present, and future.