SpEAKERS
Ella Al-Shamahi
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ELLA AL-SHAMAHI
Paleoanthropologist, Archaeologist Ella Al-Shamahi is a paleoanthropologist and archaeologist specializing in Neanderthals and Denisovans —and she is a stand-up comic. She searches for fossils in caves in disputed territories. Comedy is both a coping strategy for the darker side of her work and a way to communicate science. She performs widely, including at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She is currently undertaking her Ph.D. and is the presenter of a highly successful 5-part BBC/PBS/NOVA series call Human which has had over 3.5 million views in Britain. The series launched in North America on 17 September. Ella was a 2015 National Geographic Emerging Explorer. |
Dedan Choezom
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DEDAN CHOEZOM
College Freshman Dedan Choezom is a freshman in college, and Machik 2025 will be her tenth in-person Machik Weekend! Over the years, Machik has become a special space for her to reconnect with her Tibetan identity, meet inspiring mentors, and build friendships that feel like family. She loves staying involved with her community by volunteering with Machik. In her free time, she creates YouTube videos to support Tibetan language learners around the world, hoping to make learning Tibetan more accessible and fun. For Dedan, these experiences are not only ways to give back but also reminders of the importance of community, connection, and cultural pride. |
Penpa Dolma
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PENPA DOLMA
Graphics Team, Program Book Coordinator, Registration Co-coordinator Penpa Dolma was born in Lhasa, Tibet, and grew up in Dharamsala, India. She is a recent graduate of Oberlin College of Arts and Sciences in Ohio, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science. In the summer of 2024, she interned with Machik, where she continues to deeply admire the organization’s mission and vision for the future of Tibet. |
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NGAWANG DOLKAR
Co-founder and Co-chair, Ocean of Wisdom School Ngawang Dolker grew up in Dharamsala, India. She immigrated to Minnesota where she embraced the cultural diversity of her new home while remaining deeply connected to her Tibetan heritage. Ngawang pursued her studies in Political Science, which laid the foundation for her career as an immigration lawyer. As part of her commitment to the Tibetan community, she served on the board of the MN Tibetan association for five years. Ngawang was appointed to the board of the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans by the governor, where she works to amplify Asian Pacific Islander communities. As a mother of three young children, she recognizes the urgent need to preserve Tibetan language and culture, motivating her involvement in the Tibetan Charter School project. As a founding member and co-chair, she is committed to creating an educational environment that fosters Tibetan identity and values for future generations. |
Gentsu Gyatso
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GENTSU GYATSO
Researcher/lecturer, film maker Gentsu Gyatso (b. 1979, དཀོན་མཆོག་རྒྱ་མཚོ།), a.k.a. Bai Bin (白斌), received his Master of Fine Arts – Painting from Sichuan Fine Arts Institute in 2004 and his Master of Design–Contemporary Art from the University of South Australia in 2020. He is the first Tibetan to obtain a Master's degree from Sichuan Fine Arts Institute. In 2003, he studied at Kassel Academy of Art in Germany as an exchange student. He also travelled through Tibet to study traditional Tibetan architecture and Tibetan Buddhist wall paintings. Gyatso has lectured in visual art at the university level for over 9 years, with a focus on translating traditional Tibetan art into contemporary art through paintings, sculptures, architecture, video, and animation. The aim of his research is to discover the potential of indigenous arts and culture in the contemporary world. Gyatso's short film, “The Hunter And the Skeleton" (2012), is regarded as the first Tibetan independent animated film in Tibetan. |
Dr. Yangdron Kalzang
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DR. YANGDRON KALZANG
Tibetan Medicine Doctor and Licensed Acupuncturist Dr. Yangdron Kalzang is a Doctor of Acupuncture, Oriental, and Tibetan Medicine, and a Licensed Acupuncturist with nearly 30 years. Born and trained in Lhasa at Tibetan Medical University in Lhasa and further educated at Five Branches University, Santa Cruz, CA. Dr. Kalzang is the founder and director of the Kunde Institute Tibetan Wellness & Acupuncture Center focusing on the daily clinical patients care as well as is founding officer and secretary of the American Tibetan Medical Association (ATMA). Dr. Kalzang has collaborated with Stanford University, University of California, San Francisco & Berkeley, and San Francisco State University, co-hosting the Tibetan & Western Integrative Medical Symposiums (TWIMS) at Stanford and providing clinical shadowing opportunities for Stanford medical students and sharing the benefits of Tibetan Medicine at the San Francisco Public Libraries. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Kalzang initiated a series of free public webinars to help ease fear and anxiety, and later developed the “Discover Tibetan Medicine” online program to promote self-care and holistic well-being during this challenging period. In addition, Dr. Kalzang initiated, taught, and developed a three-level Tibetan literacy program for children ages 0–5 in the Bay Area Tibetan community, guiding families to teach Tibetan to newborns, infants, toddlers, and preschoolers during this crucial stage for mother-tongue learning. |
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KHAYING
Master of Non-profit Management 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. |
Unyong Kim
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UNYONG KIM
Food Co-coordinator, Rapporteurs Unyong Kim is a Korean‑American, immigrant, mother, dog mom, spouse, and published author. Unyong brings decades of study and teaching in stress reduction—blending ancient and modern techniques—to help busy people reclaim joy. Her vision: equip positive change makers with easy, elegant self‑care skills that prevent burnout and help them thrive. Decades long student of mindfulness, Tibetan Buddhism, supporter of Machik and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Unyong feels that is a privilege and joy to be in a wondrous community of people as come together for Machik Weekends. |
Dr. Tenzin Lhamo
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DR. TENZIN LHAMO
President, Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota Dr Tenzin Lhamo has been the President of the Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota (TAFM) since July 2024. Under her leadership, TAFM continues to facilitate major programs and functions that strengthen cultural preservation, community engagement, and advocacy for Tibetans. Tenzin Lhamo earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree in 2024 and a Master’s in Adult Gerontology from St. Catherine University. She is presently as a Nurse Practitioner at a correctional facility where she provides medical care to a vulnerable population of inmates. Beyond her professional and community commitments, Tenzin Lhamo is an avid runner and proudly completed her first half marathon in 2025. |
Dr. Tenzin Namdul
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DR. TENZIN NAMDUL
Medical anthropologist, Tibetan Medicine doctor Dr. Tenzin Namdul is an Assistant Professor and the Director of Tibetan Healing Initiative at the University of Minnesota’s Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing. His research focuses on cognitive resilience, cross-cultural medicine, death and dying, aging, and end-of-life care. He received his PhD in Medical Anthropology from Emory University and Tibetan medicine degree from the Men-Tsee-Khang Tibetan Medical College in India. He incorporates his diverse training to examine how the intersection of bio-sociocultural factors shapes the ways individuals age and die, and care for the dying. He examines how people’s perspectives about death and dying translate into their care for dying individuals and their own dying process. Specifically, he studies the Tibetan Buddhist contemplative practice of tukdam—a meditation an adept practitioner indulges in after clinical death—through ethnographic study and shows how it informs and shapes both the sociomoral fabric of life and the sense of wellbeing at the time of dying among Tibetans in southern India. Tenzin’s current research is an interdisciplinary study of healthy aging among Tibetan Buddhist monks in India. |
Kalden Namgyal
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KALDEN NAMGYAL
Brown University Graduate Kalden is a recent Brown University graduate with degrees in Economics and International & Public Affairs, driven by a passion for strategy, education, and social impact. As a first-generation student and Tibetan refugee, he has experienced firsthand the transformative power of education. Most recently, he helped build Clever Noodle (sold), a literacy startup dedicated to making learning accessible and fun. Kalden is now eager to continue creating meaningful impact—especially through initiatives that empower communities like the one that shaped him. He sees Machik’s work as a natural extension of his journey to learn, serve, and give back to the Tibetan community. In his free time, Kalden enjoys brewing coffee or matcha, experimenting with new recipes, and listening to music. |
Kylee Nelson
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KYLEE NELSON
Program Director, Connect& Kylee Nelson is the Program Director of Connect&, an initiative to bridge generations and combat loneliness. She leads the development of connection tools like Connect& Reflect, a conversation card deck that guides people of all ages to share their stories while celebrating who we are. Kylee brings nonrprofit experience, cross-sector project leadership, and relationship-building. A graduate in International & Cultural Studies, she has carried her love of travel, learning, and seeing the world through others’ eyes into her work. From designing collaborative civic projects to guiding conversations that spark empathy and progress, her career has centered on empowering communities and individuals while amplifying stories that connect us across all life experiences. She is especially excited to bring Connect& to Machik Weekend as a concurrent workshop in which intergenerational dialogue can help build bridges of understanding, healing, and connection. |
Tenzin Nordon
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TENZIN NORDON
Tenzin Nordon has worked in youth, college access, and community development since 2008. Based in Minnesota, she co-founded Lamton, a Tibetan college access program, and has held long-term leadership roles within the Tibetan community. She holds a B.A. from Carleton College and an M.A. in Organizational Leadership from St. Catherine University, with research focused on Tibetan women’s leadership. |
Dr. Dorjee Norbu
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DR. DORJEE NORBU
MD, Family Medicine and Psychiatry physician Dr. Dorjee Norbu is a dual-trained Family Medicine and Psychiatry physician and National Health Service Corps Scholar dedicated to advancing equitable, compassionate care for underserved communities. Born in a Tibetan refugee settlement in India and raised in Minnesota, he brings a deep understanding of the immigrant experience to his clinical and community work. He earned his MD from Rush Medical College and completed a combined residency in Family Medicine and Psychiatry at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he served as Chief Resident, leading initiatives to strengthen resident wellness, education, and leadership. Dr. Norbu recently joined Minnesota Community Care in Saint Paul as a Family Medicine physician, where he provides integrated primary and mental healthcare to diverse populations. He is also the co-founder and president of the Tibetan American Medical Association (TAMA), a nonprofit empowering Tibetan physicians, medical students, and pre-health students across the U.S. His ongoing research explores mental health perceptions within the Tibetan diaspora and promotes culturally grounded models of healing. |
Dr. Losang Rabgey
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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 and social innovation. Programs include Machik Weekend, a global platform for bridging global divides, Machik Film Screenings, health screenings and more. She and her sister were recognized by Harvard University as Women Inspiring Change. Dr Rabgey and her family received the Meritorious Service Cross by the Governor-General of Canada. She is a member of the Explorers Club 50 and is a frequent public speaker. |
Dr. Tashi Rabgey
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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 as well as law degrees from Oxford and Cambridge where she studied as a Rhodes scholar. She was a Fellow in the Public Intellectuals Program of the National Committee on US-China Relations from 2011-2013. Rabgey is Visiting Scholar at the University of Toronto Law School. |
Tenzin Rabgye
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TENZIN RABGYE
Singer/song writer Tenzin Rabgye (aka RYTHA) has emerged as a captivating voice on the contemporary Tibetan music scene. Blending soulful vocals, lyrical Tibetan storytelling and: a global sound that transcends borders, RYTHA creates an acoustic soundscape that carries a weightless flow with songs like Ma, Tenzin la, Nyima Metok and Logdro, showcasing his gift for melody and mood. RYTHA's songs feel personal, carrying the weight of home and longing yet with an ease of presence that is riveting. Based in Dharamsala, India, RYTHA is shaping a new Tibetan fusion sound--one that has the uncanny ability to make Tibetan audiences feel seen. This new soundscape invites listeners into a shared emotional space where tradition and modernity meet in RYTHA's mesmerizing inflections and his spellbinding cadence of belonging. |
Renée San Souci
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RENÉE SAN SOUCI
Program Coordinator of Healing Ribbons Renée Sans Souci is an enrolled member of the UmoNhoN Tribe of Nebraska. Renée is an Indigenous matriarch, educator, and spiritual leader. With a degree in education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and being an Umonhon woman, Renée Sans Souci combines her life experiences with a learning process that helps learners to engage in their own cultural identities and languages. Renée is a Cultural Consultant, Lecturer, and Curriculum Developer, and has been a Teaching Artist since 2009. Sans Souci was featured in the PBS American Masters Series: UNLADYLIKE 2020, and is a recipient of the UNL Institute of Ethnic Studies 2023 Leo Yankton Award for Indigenous Justice. Renée joined the Healing Ribbons Team in 2025 to lead the Art of Healing Cohort and other program initiatives. |
Amina Tirana
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AMINA TIRANA
Professor, NYU Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service Amina Tirana is a global leader in socio-economic development with experience in public, private and non-profit sectors. Her expertise includes applying investigative insights, research and metrics to strategic planning, advocacy, policy and service delivery. Prior to NYU, Amina led global policy strategies and public sector partnerships at Visa to accelerate financial inclusion, including related programs in China, and then social impact policy, research and measurement. She was also the founding Equity and Inclusion Fellow at the Visa Economic Empowerment Institute. Earlier in her career, Amina established and directed the Office of the UN Secretary General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA). She led policy and advocacy at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to advance the foundation’s then-new Financial Services for the Poor program. Amina also worked for the UN, Harvard Institute for International Development, International Rescue Committee and other organizations in Asia, Africa, the Americas and the Balkans on refugee aid, crisis response and socio-economic development. Amina earned a B.A. at Princeton University and an M.P.P. at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. |
Otro Tashi
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OTRO TASHI
Sound Artist Otro Tashi is a multidisciplinary artist who creates video and sound works that explore texture, memory, and Tibetan cultural identity. His practice moves between ambient soundscapes and rhythmic projects, from the No-Tea Teahouse, a Tibetan-language hip-hop mixtape, to 2009, a sound-storytelling experiment. Drawing on both tradition and contemporary forms, Otro Tashi’s work unfolds as textural narratives — immersive environments where sound and image become tools for questioning how culture is felt, spoken, and imagined. He’s a nominee for Best Sound Design at the 2023 Broadway World Awards and is the founder of the Tibetan creative collective Loop Lab. |
Sonam Tsering Sherpa
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SONAM TSERING SHERPA
Sherpa and Tibetan heritage Sonam-Tsering Sherpa is a college student born and raised in the Bay Area. Of Sherpa and Tibetan heritage, Sonam enjoys reading and running, and is passionate about pursuing a career in dentistry — a field that combines precision, care, and creativity to help others. Sonam has moderate proficiency in speaking Tibetan and is continuing to develop skills in reading and writing the language. One of the ways Sonam engages with reading and writing is by studying old Sherpa folk songs, which offer fascinating insights into cultural traditions and storytelling. Sonam also runs Namkha Studios, a nonprofit organization dedicated to offering arts and crafts workshops and supporting local Tibetan organizations by providing essential supplies. Through leading Namkha Studios, Sonam has discovered how creativity and community can work together to preserve cultural traditions while making them accessible to new generations of Tibetans. Instagram: @namkhastudiossf |
Lobsang Tsewang
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LOBSANG TSEWANG
Artist/Curator Lobsang Tsewang is an artist and curator based in New York who is dedicated to serving the Tibetan community through art, education, and cultural preservation. Drawing on his curatorial background and artistic work, he mentors young and emerging Tibetan artists to promote and sustain Tibetan culture and traditions in contemporary settings. He has curated and exhibited internationally at venues such as the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, CUE Art Foundation, Joan Mitchell Foundation, and the Ulsan International Woodcut Festival. Tsewang is currently the Exhibitions Manager at the Fashion Institute of Technology. |
Sonam Wangchuk
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SONAM WANGCHUK
Tibetan Spelling Bee Emcee & Poetry reader in Kham Dialect Until around seventh grade, Sonam attended school intermittently while learning Chinese and Tibetan languages. Meanwhile, he helped with various tasks such as herding yaks and sheep. He entered a monastery and studied Buddhism to some extent. Later, he worked at a local weekend school as a teacher and part-time general assistant. |