Board & Advisors

Nick Herzmark helped build Dhamma Dena and was a close student, friend of Ruth Denison from 1977.  Later, she sent him to study and retreat with Sayadaw U. Pandita in Burma who emphasized non-stop mindfulness through intensive one-pointedness. For the last 45 years, he has been practicing within the Theravadan, Tibetan and Zen traditions. 

Currently he’s practicing Tibetan tradition under the guidance of Venerable Tsoknyi Rinpoche, who emphasizes resting the mind within a non-conceptual, open awareness; meeting each moment with a compassionate, open mind. 

Each year he continues to attend retreats, as well as spending time doing personal retreat practices in the desert at Dhamma Dena. Nick is a licensed psychotherapist and a mindfulness, core Buddhist concepts teacher who blends mindfulness with western methods.  He is currently serving as Board Co-Treasurer.

Sakti Rose, M.A., S.E.P.  (she, her) www.saktirose.org. Sakti studied and taught meditation under the guidance of Ruth Denison beginning in 1995. She remained a close student until Ruth’s death in 2015.  After that time, she has remained a close friend and teacher at Dhammadena.  Sakti is a senior Somatic Experiencing practitioner and teacher, helping individuals suffering from symptoms of stress and trauma.  She trained directly with Peter Levine, the Somatic Experiencing founder.  She graduated Naropa Institute in Contemplative Psychotherapy in '84.  Sakti developed and taught skills joining somatics and meditation at Spirit Rock Meditation Center from 2008 to 2021.

Sakti taught Mindfulness classes in several hospital and corporate settings for 25 years.  She has also practiced and taught Maitri Space work, a particular energy practice developed by Trungpa Rinpoche.  She is currently a student of Ven. Tsoknyi Rinpoche. She is currently serving as Board Secretary.

Hooman Anvar is a dedicated meditation practitioner with a deep connection to underrepresented communities in diaspora. He has been in service of a multitude of community organizations for over two decades serving as board member to founder to volunteer. 

He has found a sense of belonging, connection, and refuge in the inclusive, secular spiritual communities, deeply valuing the focus on shared humanity and accessibility. 

Hooman has been supporting Dhamma Dena since 2018. He joined the board in 2023 and is currently serving as Board President and Co-Treasurer.

Sonya Pongsavas (they/them, she/her) was born into a Buddhist family in Thailand and raised within the Theravāda tradition. At the age of ten, they emigrated to the United States, where their connection to Buddhism remained strong, continuing to be shaped by the presence and guidance of Buddhist monks in their community.

A pivotal moment in Sonya’s spiritual journey came in 2007 when they met Ruth Denison, a highly respected Vipassanā teacher and one of the first women authorized to teach in this tradition. From 2007 to 2015, Sonya spent significant time with Ruth, accompanying her on travels and at Dhamma Dena deepening her meditation practice under Ruth's mentorship. This relationship marked a turning point, inspiring Sonya to commit more seriously to the path of inner stillness, insight, and compassionate service.

Guided by her deepening practice, Sonya went on to become a Buddhist chaplain, offering presence and support to those in hospice care. Her work is grounded in mindfulness, compassion, and a deep understanding of the importance of presence in human connection. Since 2022, Sonya has lived and worked on an organic farm with their spouse in the Pacific Northwest, where their daily life integrates awareness of sensations, service, and ecological stewardship.

Caitrìona Reed, is a trans woman who transitioned in 1998. She has led trainings, workshops, and retreats worldwide for four decades. She was empowered as a teacher by Thich Nhat Hanh in 1991. She bridges Zen, Vipassana, Deep–Ecology, and Social Activism, guided by a passion to integrate authentic spiritual practice with engagement in the ‘real’ world. She works with and trains individuals in NLP, Hypnotherapy, and Family Constellation work, and mentors artists, entrepreneurs, and creatives to embody the understanding that creativity, success, spiritual awakening, and joy are an inside job. Caitriona and Michele both currently work with teachers from the global south to lend indigenous perspectives to current global crises. Prior to cofounding Manzanita Village Retreat, between 1981 and 1993, she led regular retreats at Dhamma Dena.        

www.fivechanges.com

Michele Benzamin-Miki is an artist who has exhibited widely. She has worked with conscious entrepreneurs, front line activists, and youth in the prison system. Along with her partner Caitriona she bridges Zen, Vipassana, Deep–Ecology, and Social Activism. She trains individuals in NLP, Hypnotherapy, and Family Constellation work. She works with creatives, artists, and visionaries who have a strong desire to create positive impact in their communities and in the world. She is one the world’s highest ranking women in the martial disciplines of Aikido and Iaido Sword, and has taught non-violence, meditation, creativity, and diversity for organizations, schools, within the prison systems, and on Native reservations. In 1997, along with Jack Kornfield, she initiated the first POC retreats at Spirit Rock.  With Caitriona she led retreats at Dhamma Dena for twelve years prior to cofounding Manzanita Village.

www.fivechanges.com