Ākāśa Zhönnu Skye

Right now, my major interest is in the role of religion in healing, particularly from human-caused traumas such as childhood abuse. I am currently looking at pairing traumatized humans and animals to support trauma healing for both the animal and the human.

Holly Hisamoto

Where did you grow up? Where did you go to school before UWest? In addition, if applicable, what we were you doing professionally before coming to UWest?

I was born in Fairbanks, Alaska and grew up in Hawaii, New Mexico, Oregon and California. I received my Bachelor’s degree in Religous Studies from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. Prior to this program, I was an AmeriCorps service member and worked in early childhood education, social work and community organizing. I began graduate studies in Arizona in 2009, studying applied ethics and training to be an ethicist in hospice environments. As a hospice volunteer, I learned about the spiritual care profession and realized that my passions for religious studies, philosophy, community work and caregiving could be combined in the profession of the chaplain. In 2010, After searching for Buddhist-based spiritual care programs, I transferred to the Masters of Divinity program at UWest.

What do you like about UWest?

The diversity of the student body is my favorite aspect of the UWest program. Every week, I sit in a classroom with peers from China, India, Taiwan, Canada, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and elsewhere, from both monastic and lay communities. The great variety of nationalities, languages, cultures and religions represented in the department, in the university and in greater Los Angeles, make this a unique place to study interfaith approaches to care. The diverse environment helps me build communication skills, learn to work with conflict and difference, gives me a broader knowledge of the world, and aids my ability to take multiple perspectives.

What have been some of the most helpful things you have learned (here at UWest and elsewhere) about how best to care for others?

I’ve learned a lot about the importance of valuing people. I really think love is the crucial thing, when all is said and done. It seems so basic, but people need to be reminded that they’re worthy of love, just as they are, and that you believe in their capacity for insight and transformation. I’ve also learned that the giver/receiver duality becomes questioned with genuine intimacy, in that we find that we as “helpers” are just as broken and just as whole as those we are “helping” …we each have something to gain by learning and something to give by sharing what we have, whatever we have. I’ve also learned that skillful chaplaincy is both a science and an art. If we lean too much on the science side, we become mechanical and technique-y, and if we lean too much on the art side, we can lose touch with professional standards or become vague and undiscerning. I also find that chaplaincy requires working with personal vulnerability and coming to terms with our own most difficult questions. The professional training is a spiritual practice in itself.

What do you like to do for fun?

Run long-distance, camp in the woods, shave my head, read philosophy and classic novels, question authority, study and marvel at heroic women, build sandcastles with people under five, eat muffins, meditate, roll sushi, wrestle with my concept of God, build community, enjoy solitude.

What are your plans for after graduation?

I’d like to be a hospice chaplain.

Anthuan Vuong

Where did you grow up?

Four different countries: Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, and U.S.

Where did you go to school before UWest?

Cal. State Univ.—Long Beach (CSULB). B.A. in Religious Studies. Minor in Education.

In addition, what we were you doing professionally before coming to UWest?

Banking, Finance, business/economic development. High School T.A. Professional Dharma Bum at various spiritual centers & monasteries. In fact, I have lived in monasteries & spiritual centers on & off for a total of 2 years.

What do you like about UWest?

The small size of the school & student body. This allows better class participation & interaction between faculties & students. Relationships between peers are easily formed making it a close niche atmosphere. As an undergrad., I went to a public school comprising of over 30,000 students. It’s a daunting and makes everyone feel anonymous.

What have been some of the most helpful things you have learned (here at UWest and elsewhere) about how best to care for others?

This is my first semester & I sense how communal the whole school gets when a tragedy happens or a death occurred. One of our beloved faculty died after a surgery and the whole school gathered together to perform services, offer prayers, and condolences. This is something I will take away from into my life of service.

What do you like to do for fun?

• Basketball
• Sleep—it’s a luxury when one’s an insomniac
• Go on dates with women who are willing to put up with my Buddhist & Religious jargon as well as my student budget.

What are your plans after graduation?

To become a Chaplain at a university. Sumi Loundon Kim, Lama Migmar Tseten, and Kyôon Dokurô are chaplains of inspirations.

Ven. Hue Hai

I was born near Philadelphia, but I grew up in Normal, IL. Currently, I live at a Vietnamese temple in San Gabriel, CA. However, before returning to UWest (I have my MA in Religious Studies from UWest as of 2008) I was living in Nepal studying at the Rangjung Yeshe Institute. Before that I was living at a temple in Seoul, South Korea.

Professionally speaking, I had worked mostly in Residential Life (running student residence halls) in years past.

I like the diversity of Buddhist traditions represented on campus, and the overall international feel of UWest. As a small campus, it’s next to impossible to get lost in the crowd, because there usually isn’t a crowd to get lost in. Mostly, I like the uniqueness of the Divinity program. Very few schools have fully accredited Buddhist M.Div. programs available.

As for caring for others, the most important thing I have learned is to trust in my abilities, though I need to develop those abilities further. I feel like what I’m developing here is the ability to discern how to continue to grow going forward.

Fun? What is fun? As a perfectly holy bhikshu, I spend all my spare time in deep samadhi. :) Actually, I spend time with friends, post useless things on Facebook, and occasionally get up into the mountains for some fresh air. I also love “Dr. Who” and “Fringe.” I wish I enjoyed exercise more, but I just don’t.

After graduation, I would like to go into private practice as a pastoral counselor. I am also certified in anger management facilitation and am interested in teaching courses for the public on Buddhism.

Raymond McDonald

I grew up in northeast Los Angeles, California.

At age 18, I entered the United States Military Academy (West Point).  I graduated in 1993 with a BS in Foreign Area Studies, Latin America.  Then, I served as an Armor (tanks) officer (1993-1998) attaining the rank of Captain.

I earned an MBA from the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business in 1999.  In business, I served in various positions of leadership.  Functionally, my primary responsibilities centered on organizational change, continuous improvement, and transformational leadership (i.e. turnarounds).

Through these experiences, I developed an awareness of non-dual suffering in others and in myself. With the support of a loving family, I acted on a decision to live a life of beneficence and non-maleficence, to leverage these experiences to do good and to do no harm.  Thus, I chose to apply to the Master of Divinity in Buddhist Chaplaincy program at the University of the West.

At University of the West, the scholar-practitioner model cultivates my capacity to understand the causes of suffering, the interdependence of suffering, and how to facilitate the transformation of suffering at the individual level and group levels.  As spiritual leaders, we prepare to engage in radical love and social justice to transform and heal at the community level and beyond.

My extra-curricular activities include being a co-founder and member of Veterans Engaging Together (V.E.T.), an agenda-less community of Veterans helping Veterans re-integrate with themselves, their families, and their communities.  I am also President of the Chaplaincy Club.

As a member of the Claremont United Church of Christ, I believe the multi-faith/interfaith Chaplaincy orientation of the M. Div. program to be supportive of the United Church of Christ’s global mission of social justice, Stillspeaking Voice, and Open and Affirming (ONA) congregationalism marked by extravagant welcome.  It is my hope, upon graduation, to serve as an ordained congregational minister.

The students, staff, and faculty of the University of the West are a supportive community.  They model lovingkindness.  Their support helps make being a husband, father, volunteer, and full-time graduate student possible.

I enjoy reading, cooking, being with friends and family, nature, meditation/prayer, and travel.