Planning Committee

Machik team

Dr. Losang Rabgey

DR. LOSANG RABGEY
Machik Co-founder

Born a Tibetan refugee in India and raised in Canada, Dr Losang Rabgey is the first Tibetan with a PhD in Gender Anthropology. She is the first Tibetan Commonwealth Scholar and National Geographic Explorer. In 1998, she and her sister Dr Tashi Rabgey co-founded Machik with their parents as a nonprofit whose mission is to grow a global community committed to a stronger future for Tibet. In 20+ years, Machik has mentored and supported education for thousands of people in Tibet and in diaspora, mostly girls and women. Machik’s work currently centers on civic engagement, gender equity and social innovation. Programs include Machik Fest, a global platform for bridging global divides, Machik Gender Summit, Machik Khabda, and more. Machik also works with social innovators inside Tibet focused on education, film, conservation, health, etc. Dr Rabgey and her sister were recognized by Harvard University as Women Inspiring Change, along with others including Stacey Abrams, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and Vice President Kamala Harris. Dr Rabgey and her family received the Meritorious Service Cross by the Governor-General of Canada. She recently became member of the Explorers Club 50 and is a member of the Review Committee of the Explorers Club Discovery Expedition Grants. She is a frequent public speaker, including at Yale, Harvard, UC Santa Cruz, and the Nobel Peace Forum.

Dr. Tashi Rabgey

DR. TASHI RABGEY
Machik Co-founder

Dr Tashi Rabgey is a Research Professor of International Affairs at the Elliott School, specializing in Tibet, China and the politics of statehood and governance. Through interdisciplinary research initiatives she has led on public policy and governance in Tibet, Professor Rabgey's work has enabled the development of new inquiries into the institutional structure and process of the People's Republic of China's policymaking in Tibet. She currently directs the Tibet Governance Lab and the Research Initiative on Multination States (RIMS) at George Washington University through which she has been developing comparative regional studies of the Basque Country, Kurdistan and other case studies of regional autonomy. Before joining the Elliott School, Tashi Rabgey was a lecturer in contemporary Tibetan studies at the University of Virginia where she was also co-director of the UVa Tibet Center. Committed life-long to community empowerment, she has traveled extensively to remote regions across Tibet over the past three decades. She holds a Ph.D. from Harvard University in political and legal anthropology, as well as law degrees from Oxford and Cambridge where she studied as the first Tibetan Rhodes scholar. She was a Fellow in the Public Intellectuals Program of the National Committee on US-China Relations from 2011-2013. Rabgey is currently Visiting Professor at the University of Kurdistan in the KRG (Kurdistan Region of Iraq).

Tenzin Dolma

TENZIN DOLMA
Machik Program Coordinator

Tenzin Dolma was born in Tibet and left for education in India around eight years old. After completing her schooling at TCV Schools, she earned degrees in BBA Travel and Tourism Management from Christ University, Master of Commerce from St Joseph's College of Commerce, and MSc. International Business from IESEG School of Management. During her college days, she served as a member of the student council, student groups and volunteered as a local host for Machik events in the past. She enjoys reading, traveling, photography, hiking, and painting.

VOLUNTEER TEAM

It takes a dedicated team of people to make Machik Weekend a reality, year to year. We are blessed once again with a truly talented and committed core team who have been working for weeks to actuate the first hybrid Machik Weekend! Our sincere and heartfelt gratitude to each team member for contributing their time, talent and heart to co-create a rich program of speakers, panels, meals, music, screenings, workshops, and so on. Pivoting once again, this year our determined team has been learning how to bring you a hybrid program.

In huge part, it is this team's invaluable contribution that keeps the cost of Machik Weekend accessible to a broad global Machik community. Please join us in thanking them! We are truly grateful for all past and present volunteers who are themselves vital changemakers.

Shaokyi Amdo

SHAOKYI AMDO
Film Night Coordinator

Shaokyi Amdo is a Communications Manager at Twitter focused on machine learning/ethical AI, technology infrastructure, accessibility, and other emergent issues in tech. She graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2018 with a Creative Writing major and a double minor in Economics and Corporate Strategy. While in college, she served on the executive board of Vanderbilt's nationally recognized Alternative Spring Break program. She also co-founded Project YETI in 2017, which uses virtual mentorship to connect Tibetan-Americans pursuing higher education, and served on the planning committee of Machik Weekend 2019 as Community Co-Chair. She lives in Washington, D.C. with her cat, Olo, and her dog, Norbu.

Dechen Atsatsang

DECHEN ATSATSANG
Registration Coordinator

Dechen is a second-year student at William Rainey Harper College pursuing her Associate of Arts in Political Science with an Honors and Global Scholar Distinction. Upon graduation, she plans to transfer to a four-year university in Washington, D.C., to complete her undergraduate education and pursue a master’s degree in International Relations. As a second-generation Tibetan American, Dechen is deeply passionate about social justice and human rights.

Gelek Badheytsang

GELEK BADHEYTSANG
Video Editing Coordinator

Gelek Badheytsang is a Tibetan Canadian communications professional based in Toronto. He was born and raised in Kathmandu, Nepal, and arrived in Canada as a refugee in 2001. His writing and photography have been published in various media outlets and events. He has been involved with projects like “Engaging Black People and Power,” a publication that highlighted engagement practice and policy approaches for addressing spatialized anti-Blackness in cities across North America. He currently works as the Strategic Communications Lead for the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer. He also hosts and produces “A Good Refugee Podcast.”

Tenzin Choden

TENZIN CHODEN
Outreach and Ticket Sales Coordinator

Tenzin Choden is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Business Analytics at the Wisconsin School of Business, UW Madison, and is a recipient of the Together Forward Scholarship. Tenzin graduated with a Bachelor of Science this past May from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, double majoring in Data Science and Economics. She was one of six international students in her cohort to receive a fully funded merit-based, King Morgridge Scholarship for her bachelor’s degree. Tenzin was born and brought up in Darjeeling, India. After her 10the grade, she spent a year and a half in SOS TCV Bylakupee. She was then selected for the Pestalozzi Scholarship to pursue her A-Levels in the United Kingdom.

Tenzin Chokki

TENZIN CHOKKI
Outreach Team

Born and raised in India, Tenzin Chokki immigrated to the United States with her family in 2009. While in Boston, she completed her undergraduate studies at Tufts majoring in Child Development & Community Health, and also spent a semester studying in Greece. After graduation, Chokki worked at Machik for three years, honing her skills in program management, graphic design, communications and operations. An ardent advocate for grassroots community change, she is all ears about growing civic engagement, intergenerational connections and a sense of borderless love. In the past, she has helped co-produce an oral history book titled Tibetan Resettlement Stories: Voices of Boston. She recently launched her new project Khawakarpo Press and is excited to produce eco-conscious products that are infused with a multicultural design aesthetic. In her spare time, she also enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time outdoors with loved ones.

Tseten Choezom

TSETEN CHOEZOM
Merchandise Coordinator

Tsetan Choezom, a third-year college student majoring in Business Finance, has a deep appreciation for all the work carried out by Machik. She feels privileged to be a part of this year's volunteer team.

Tashi Dolma Kuyee

TASHI DOLMA KUYEE
Health Coordinator and Stage Manager

Tashi Dolma Kuyee is a Registered Nurse serving patients at an Intensive Care unit in Toronto, Canada. She has served as a board member of Tibetan Women Association of Ontario and is deeply committed to community service. Tashi Dolma is a member of Board of Directors Machik, Canada.

Phuntsok Dolma

PHUNTSOK DOLMA
Food Coordinator

Phuntsok Dolma was born in Tibet and attended the TCV School in Bylakuppe in southern India and completed an associated degree in general studies at Baltimore community college. She currently resides in Maryland with her family. Phuntsok Dolma is deeply passionate about children’s education and Tibetan cultural preservation, especially in the diaspora context. She is navigating this terrain while being dedicated to raising three young children. She will welcome a discussion on these topics in her workshop at Machik Weekend.

Alex Foote

ALEX FOOTE
Registration Coordinator

Alex Foote first volunteered with Machik’s Summer Enrichment Program and Tibet Governance and Practice Forum. This experience inspired her passion for sustainable development, and now she works for a supply chain technology company, helping corporations create more transparent supply chains.

Cameroon Gehlert

CAMERON GEHLERT
Ushers Coordinator

Cameron Gehlert comes from rural mid-Missouri where he gained a strong sense of community and helping others. Though from a region devoid of any links to Asian culture, at around age 7, he managed to discover eastern cultures through books and documentaries– he especially took an interest in Tibet and Buddhism. In 2022, he graduated summa cum laude from Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri with a BA in four majors: environmental studies, transnational studies, religious studies, and political science. Currently, he is pursuing an MPA from American University in Washington, D.C. Cameron has also been a practicing Tibetan Buddhist for around seven years and this has allowed him to come further into contact with Tibetan culture and identity. Cameron has been honored to be able to volunteer at Machik this fall and has made a personal commitment to dedicate his life in any way possible to help create a better future for Tibet and her people.

Caitlin Hayes

CAITLIN HAYES
Facilitator Coordinator

Caitlin Hayes is a recent graduate from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa with a Master of Arts in Asian Studies. While living in eastern China prior to study at UH, they spent their winter break backpacking through Gyalthang (known in the West as "Shangrila") on the southern Tibetan Plateau; it was here where they were first introduced to traditional Tibetan lifeways, observing the nuanced intersection of Tibetan culture with Chinese and Western tourism imaginations. Since then, they have fostered a deep academic and personal interest in traditional Tibetan lifeways, cultural and ecological tourism, and environmental activism. Caitlin is honored to have been given the opportunity to provide support to Machik Weekend and its mission of fostering cultural connections among Tibetan communities all across the globe.

Dr. Martha G Miller

DR. MARTHA G MILLER
Moderators Coordinator

Martha Miller's family traveled often in her childhood, and so, her early interest in cross-cultural communication was later incorporated into a unique skill set of skills and competencies. As a management consultant, she has worked long focused on managing diversity, creating effective work teams, and cross-cultural communication. Her clients include the Center for Disease Control, Hewlett Packard, IBM, Twitter, and more. Dr. Miller received her Ph.D. from Harvard University. She taught for seven years at Yale's School of Organization and Management and later became the Associate Dean. Dr Miller also was the editor of the Journal of Small Group Research, has published numerous articles and was Associate Dean for MBA Programs at UCLA's Anderson School of Management. She now lives in Washington, D.C. where she works as a consultant on leadership and cross-cultural management and teaches Executive Education programs for UCLA, the Brookings Institution, and other organizations.

Sophie Hutter

SOPHIE HUTTER
Green and Clean Team Coordinator

Born and raised in Washington D.C., Sophie grew up hearing stories about Machik from her parents, who visited the Chungba School. Now she is a Sophomore at the German International School in Washington D.C. In the summer of 2022, she volunteered with Machik in their office at the vibrant Eaton Hotel.

Kim Kaston

KIM KASTON
Facilitator Team

Kim had a dual-career in aerospace and entertainment, and is currently a choreographer for Disney Live Entertainment. She was also a senior manager in communications, supporting enterprise supply chain for a leading aviation and aerospace company. She has extensive experience in supply chain processes, communications, knowledge management, project management; along with event design and production for executive supplier engagements. Kim is also a Board Director for the Orange County Children’s Therapeutic Arts Center (OCCTAC) and is involved in other nonprofit organizations. She has traveled extensively to over 60 countries in six continents and has a keen interest in cultural diplomacy and cultural exploration. Kim has a BA in Sociology from UCLA; a Master in Communication Management [M.C.M.] from the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism; and a certificate in Public Diplomacy from the Summer Institute, USC Center on Public Diplomacy Summer Institute, and an executive certificate in Nonprofit Fund Development from the Mendoza School of Business, University of Notre Dame.

Unyong Kim

UNYONG KIM
Rapporteur

Unyong has had a lifelong love of Tibetan culture, especially after learning Buddhist Dharma and meditation at Naropa University in the early 1980’s in Boulder, CO. After moving back east, she got involved in volunteering at the International Campaign for Tibet, and made many wonderful friends through that, including Losang and then Tashi Rabgey. The entire Rabgey family, including Pa-la and Ama-la, Pencho and Tsering, their parents, have been a heartfelt connection for her, and since meeting them, her family and some friends have come to love and support them also.

Seeing Machik unfold over the years has been a blessing, and she has enjoyed supporting them along the way. Her three daughters and their friend did a lemonade and cookie sale fundraiser for Chungba School years ago when they were small, some customers happily paying a bonus $5-$20 for a cup. Tashi dubbed them “the Lemonade Warriors”! As a yoga and stress management instructor with Stress Burner Yoga, Unyong organized a fundraiser yoga class for Machik, introducing some new enthusiastic supporters to their work. She was invited to offer stress management leadership skills to young Tibetan leaders at a retreat Machik convened. She has offered a few other yoga and stress management sessions in the past, at a Gender Equity seminar, and at a Machik Weekend in New York City. She has also helped to facilitate a discussion group with Chupal Sangpo, who was a Machik Weekend keynote speaker that year.

Khaying

KHAYING
Outreach Team

Khaying is a graduate of Northeastern University’s Master of Nonprofit management. Born and raised in Lhasa, she completed her undergraduate studies at Communication University of China majoring Public Relations with a minor in TV and Audio editing.

Nori Latif

NORI LATIF
Audio Visual Coordinator

Nori Latif was born in Queens, NY, and grew up in Northern Virginia. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Virginia with a major in English and minor in East Asian Studies. In the summer of 2019, she traveled to Kathmandu, Nepal, as part of an international study abroad trip. While living in Kathmandu for three months, Nori stayed with a Tibetan host family and studied colloquial Tibetan. Currently, she works remotely as a technical writter on cybersecurity. In her spare time, she enjoys visiting museums in DC, discovering new music, and attending concerts.

Phuntsok Lhamo

PHUNTSOK LHAMO
Translation Team

Phuntsok Lhamo was born in Lithang Detsa, Tibet. She finished her high school at TCV Selakui and completed her pre-medical course at Hunter College in New York. She has been serving underprivileged communities by helping them navigate new cultural and educational worlds since 2018. Serving communities gives her a sense of joy and purpose. She believes change can happen only with collective effort from individuals.

Norzin Lhadon

NORZIN LHADON
Facilitator Team

Norzin is a freshman at Columbia University looking to major in the STEM field. As a Tibetan-American, she has been passionate about Tibet and involved in her community from a young age. At school, she participates in her Hall Council where she advocates for her resident hall’s needs. In the past, she has also interned for UC Berkeley Development and UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland. In her free time, she likes reading, dancing, and playing music.

Rebecca Martin

REBECCA MARTIN
Film Night Coordinator

Rebecca Martin—Founder and President, Exploration Connections—has spearheaded pivotal programs at National Geographic and has cultivated extensive networks of explorers. She is widely recognized as a leader in empowering explorers around the world. Rebecca served as Senior Director of Explorer Programs at National Geographic, where she oversaw high-profile explorers—including Sylvia Earle, Robert Ballard, and Mike Fay—among many others. In addition, she significantly expanded National Geographic’s prestigious Awards Program, supported many cutting-edge exploration projects and developed a new mentorship program tailored for explorers. While she was director, the Expeditions Council awarded nearly 800 grants totalling $24 million for exploration around the world. Rebecca created the Young Explorers Program at National Geographic or exceptional fieldwork in exploration, conservation and storytelling. In 11 years nearly 800 Young Explorers received grants. She was recognized by Outside magazine on “The Power List” of the 25 most influential people in the outdoor world—alongside Yvon Chouinard, Melinda Gates and Conrad Anker. Rebecca serves on the Board of Machik and Telluride Mountainfilm. She has traveled widely, including two trips to Tibet.

Tsering Norbu

TSERING NORBU
Tech support Team

Tsering Norbu is a Cat daddy, born in Tibet, and software engineer by profession.

Nordron

NORDRON
Art Curator

Nordron was born and raised in Tibet and graduated from the University of Virginia. She received her master’s degree in religious studies with a focus on Tibetan Buddhism in 2017. Her interests also include Himalayan Art and Tibet studies.

Tenzin Nordon

TENZIN NORDON
Welcome Team Coordinator

Tenzin Nordon has worked in the youth development, college access, and community development sectors since 2008. She brings a strong ability to communicate, network, and work effectively with a diverse range of people. She possesses extensive experience in the leadership and management of people, processes, and events.
Nordon was born and raised in Chandigarh, India until she immigrated to the United States with her family in 1998. Since then, she has been studying, living, and working in Minnesota. Her previous work in the Tibetan community led her to co-found Lamton (a college access program) in 2008 where she served as a board member for over 10 years. Last July, she completed two years of service as the Education Chair for the Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota. This fall, she continues serving another term on the Lamton board. Nordon obtained her B.A. in Biology from Carleton College in 2011. She obtained her M.A. in Organizational Leadership from St. Catherine University in 2020. Her master's thesis is titled "Women Beyond Tea: Fostering Tibetan Women Leaders of Tomorrow." She describes her research on Tibetan Women Leaders in a podcast episode titled "Fostering Women Leaders: Learnings from a Tibetan Leadership Development Context"

Lynden Parry

LYNDEN PARRY
Registration Coordinator/Rapporteur

Lynden Parry (they/them) is a farm worker studying restoration ecology on beautiful Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. They have been supporting Machik's work since 2020 and are so excited to be coming to DC for their fourth Machik Weekend. When they are not working or studying, you can find them knees-deep in a bog exploring the local native flora and fauna.

Tenzin Tsega

TENZIN TSEGA
Tech support Coordinator

Tenzin Tsega is currently studying Global Security and Justice at University of Virginia.

Kunsang Tsephel

KUNSANG TSEPHEL
Rapporteur

Kunsang Tsephel, originally from Chamdo, Tibet, left his hometown at the age of four. He completed his education at the Tibetan Children's Village School and pursued his undergraduate studies at Delhi University. With a Master's degree in Environmental Studies, he conducted research on air pollution and respiratory health in Delhi. Kunsang advocates for individual efforts to create a cleaner environment, including waste segregation and reducing plastic usage. Currently, he is the Director of Delhi based NGO, Empowering the Vision Project. He along with his friends started Yamuna Khimtsang community in Delhi to help foster human-animal relationship.

Tsephel Shaneytsang

TSEPHEL SHANEYTSANG
Childcare Team

Tsephel is a Grade 9 student who loves to support the Tibetan cause and Machik. Born in raised in Canada, she is attending her second Machik Weekend this year and is excited to once again connect with her heritage and Tibetan roots.

Pasang Wangmo

PASANG WANGMO
Zoom Meeting Team

Pasang Wangmo graduated from Emory University with a Neuroscience degree in 2018. Currently she is working in Finance as a Technology Associate.

Coco Xue

COCO XUE
Photography Coordinator

Coco recently graduated from George Washington University, and is currently working as an educational aide at DCPS.

Sonam Yeshi

SONAM YESHI
Graphics Team

Sonam Yeshi was raised in a Tibetan community in the Himalayan foothills surrounded by Tibetan traditional craftsmen. Monks making carefully researched Tibetan costumed dolls lived in her house. Their workshop was her playroom, and she began painting and drawing at an early age. At 19, she left for New York where she studied fashion design at Parsons. She was most drawn to working with color and prints and later realized how much her surroundings and environment influenced her work. Since returning to India in 2007, she has devoted all her time to art and design, creating paintings while working on interiors and products for the Norbulingka Institute in Dharamsala, India.

Nordron, Lobsang Tsewang, Tenzin Gonsar, Xifan Xue, Tenzin Tsewang, Kalden Namgyal, Nori Latif, Tenzin Tsega, Tashi Chogyal, Tsering Norbu, Phuntsok Dolma, Sonam Tsering, Sophie Hutter, Bella Hutter, Tenzin Tsephel, Tenzin Deleg Lodoe, Kalsang Palmo, Yunze Yang, Tshering Yangzom, Sonam Dhargye, Tashi Jheshong, Tseten Choezom, Tenzin Tsedub Lodoe, Sonam Kyi, Thupwang Amdo, Tenzin Gonsar, Karma Yeshi Tsultrim, Khaying, Donming Zhang, Ngawang Lobsang, Tenzin Nordon, Shiwa Yangzom, Gelek Badheytsang Kalsang Dolma, Caitlyn Hayes, Dr. Tenzin Phakdon, Martha Miller, Barghavi Viswanath, Alex Foote, Unyong Kim, Jason Zeidenberg, Julia Hutter, Dechen Atsatsang, Kalsang Nyima, Tsering Lhamo, Norzin Lhadon, Shaokyi Amdo, Sonam Dajie, Rinchen Drolkar, Kunsang Tsephel, Thubwang Amdo, Tsering Kyi, Dolma Lhazom, Tenzin Choedon, Yeshe Tsultrim, Karma, Kalsang Palmo, Tenzin Tsewang, Sonam Yeshi, Tenzin Dolma Gyalpo, Tenzin Chokki, Losang Nyima Phuntsok Lhamo, Cameron Gehlert, Tsetan Choezom, Lhakpa Dhondup, Tenor Sharlho, Tenzin Khaying, Dhundup Tsering, Dawa Samphel, Sonam Chokey, Tenzin Choden, Rajat Agarwal, Tashi Dolma Kuyee, Tenzin Tsewang, Tenzin Tsega, Tsehering Yangzom, Rinchen Drolkar, Sonam Tsering, Sonam Yeshi, Tenzin Tsewang, Uyong Kim, Lynden Parry, Tsering Choedron, Dedan Choezom, Kalsang Dolma, Rebecca Martin, Rigzin Dolma, Dongming Zhang, Dechen Atsatsang, Nyima Bhuti, Tsering Lhamo, Tenzin Kelyang, Woden Lama, Tsering Dolkar, Passang Bhuti Phuntsok Lhamo, Tom Chacko, Sandy Chacko, Rigpi Yeshe Satho, Khawa Kemo, Jordan Gonmpa, Tenzin Dasel, Tsering Tashi Atso, Lhamo Janchub Atso, Peter Moran, Tenzin Pelha, Pasang Wangmo