Paula K. Arai

Paula K. Arai

Core Faculty

Eshinni and Kakushinni Professor of Women and Buddhist Studies / Program advisor, Certificate in Soto Zen Buddhist Studies

Harry Gyokyo Bridge

Shin Buddhist Ministerial Program Coordinator

Program advisor, Certificate in Shin Buddhist Studies

Courtney Bruntz

Core Faculty

Professor of East Asian Buddhism / Director of Assessment and Accreditation / Program advisor, Certificate in Buddhist Studies

Thomas Calobrisi

Research Fellow

Research focuses on the recontextualization of Buddhist ideas and practices in the American religious and intellectual landscape from the mid-twentieth century to the present.

Lilu Chen

Core Faculty

Associate Professor of Spiritual Care and Interreligious Engagement / Director of Field Education

CJ Sokugan Dunford

Daijaku Judith Kinst

Professor Emerita

Professor Emerita Contact: daijaku@shin-ibs.edu After completing formal training as a Soto Zen priest, Daijaku obtained a Master’s degree in psychology, licensure as a psychotherapist, and trained as a chaplain at UCSF Medical Center. She completed her PhD in 2004. Her […]

Taigen Daniel Leighton

taigen108@gmail.com Taigen is Guiding Dharma Teacher of Ancient Dragon Zen Gate in Chicago, and priest and Dharma successor in the Suzuki Roshi Zen lineage. He has taught at IBS since 1994. His previous books include Faces of Compassion: Classic Bodhisattva […]

Nancy G. Lin

Core Faculty

Noboru and Yaeko Hanyu Professor of Buddhist Chaplaincy, Tibetan and South Asian Studies / Program advisor, Certificate in Buddhist Chaplaincy

David Ryoe Matsumoto

President Emeritus

President Emeritus Rev. Dr. David Ryoe Matsumoto served as a member of the faculty from 1995 and as IBS President from 2016 until his retirement in 2024 whereupon the Board of Trustees named him President Emeritus. Degrees and Certifications: Ph.D., […]

Scott A. Mitchell

Core Faculty, IBS President

President / Yoshitaka Tamai Professor of Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Studies

Takashi Miyaji

Core Faculty, Dean

Dean / H.E. Kosho Ohtani Professor of Shin Buddhist Studies

Richard K. Payne

Professor Emeritus

Professor Emeritus Contact: rkpayne@shin-ibs.edu During his dissertation research into tantric fire ritual (Skt. homa, Jpn. goma) on Mt. Kōya in Japan, Payne also completed training as a Shingon priest (ajari). Clustering around his core research program on tantric ritual are […]

Charlie Korin Pokorny

korin108@gmail.com Charlie began Sōtō Zen practice in 1991 at the San Francisco Zen Center and trained as a resident at Tassajara and Green Dragon Temple (Green Gulch Farm) from 1994 to 2006. He received a master’s degree in religious studies […]

Natalie Fisk Quli

Core Faculty

Yehan Numata Professor of Buddhist Studies / Chief Editor of Pacific World journal / Program advisor, Certificate in Theravāda Studies

Luke Thompson

lukenoelthompson@gmail.com Luke Thompson received his Ph.D. from Columbia University in 2017, where he researched medieval Japanese Buddhist intellectual history, focusing in particular on a resurgence in devotion to Śākyamuni around Nara during the twelfth century. More broadly, he is interested […]

Rima Vesely-Flad

Research Fellow

Dr. Vesely-Flad is the Founding Director of the Initiative for Black Buddhist Studies and the author of three books and several academic articles on Buddhism and Black culture, as well as religious approaches to systemic violence.

Mutsumi Wondra

Research Fellow

Resident minister of the Orange County Buddhist Church (OCBC) in California.

Seigen H. Yamaoka

Professor Emeritus Rev. Dr. Yamaoka left a lasting impact on the IBS. He passed away in 2024. You can read about his life and legacy here.  Degrees and Certifications: M.A. Litt.D., Ryukoku University, Kyoto M.R.E. and D.Min., Pacific School of […]