Board of Directors

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 Secretary.

Fresh “Lev” White is a love and compassion activist. He offers mindfulness, mediation, diversity training, writings, and coaching as tools for shifting all of us towards more authentic, conscious, and compassionate living. From SF Drag King 1999, to SF Pride Grand Marshall 2016, to celebrating his 9th year as a teacher at the East Bay Meditation Center, Lev uses their coaching, leadership, and teaching certifications to entertain, ground us in the present, and prepare us for the work of both meeting and creating our future with seeds of love, compassion and empathy. https://affirmativeacts.org

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 the Chief Financial Custodian.