Branch Teachers
Nancy Fleming
Nancy Fleming has studied Kadampa Buddhism and taught classes at many locations in New Jersey. Her motivation for teaching Dharma comes from her sincere wish to help others find peace in dealing with the difficulties of life. Nancy’s teachings are clear and practical. She has formal education as a biologist and is active in the animal rights movement.
Danna Lyons Hunking
Danna Lyons Hunking is an experienced practitioner and teacher at the Dharmachakra Buddhist Center. She has taught classes for both children and adults and her classes have been featured in the New York Times. She is a mother and long time resident of Maplewood with first hand knowledge of applying meditation to everyday family life.
Charles McNamara
Charles McNamara has been studying Buddha Dharma for seven years, and lives with his family in Maplewood. He is a film lighting technician, and screenwriter, and he has seen how it is possible to create a happy and peaceful environment in the midst of the mind-bending chaos that family, and professional life can be.
Tom Obrzut
Tom Obrzut has been studying at the Dharmachakra Buddhist Center for the past two years. He has been meditating since 1980. Tom runs housing programs for the formerly homeless in Manhattan. He, his wife and two children, have lived in Maplewood for almost ten years.
Lori Petrozzello-Karn
Lori Petrozzello-Karn has been practicing Buddhism in formal study programs with the New Kadampa Tradition for many years. She holds a Master's Degree in Social Work and works in higher education. She finds Buddhist meditations to be a useful tool for finding solutions to daily problems.
Gina Plaitakis
Gina Plaitakis has been practicing Buddhism at the Dharmachakra Center for a number of years and feels blessed and grateful to join its teaching staff. She wishes to help others learn methods for improving their mind and to avoid negative states such as anger. Buddhism has helped her to let go of stress, improve relationships, and take life as it comes more willingly and joyfully. Gina has a degree in Fine Arts and enjoys taking care of her young daughter.
Nagarani Ramasubramaniam
Nagarani Ramasubramaniam is a Pediatric and Internal Medicine Physician, who practices Dharma to help her better offer compassion and healing for those she comes in contact with. She is a warm and humorous teacher.
Robert Selwyn
Robert Selwyn attends classes regularly at the Dharmachakra Buddhist Center. Rob, a former Philosophy major in college, has been drawn to Buddhism by its practical methods and thoughtful approach to daily life. Buddhist practice has helped him cope with modern American every-day stress and to enjoy and understand life more fully.
Yeoung Shin Shim
Yeoung Shin Shim has been practicing Buddhism with the New Kadampa Tradition for several years. She has attended meditation retreats and international festivals of Kadampa Buddhism. Yeoung is an Art Historian at the Gyeonggi Provincial Museum in Korea. She is very grateful to teach Dharma that she has been studying with NKT.
Arthur Young
Arthur Young runs a technology sales recruiting business to pay the bills, and practices Dharma to maintain his sanity and contribute positively to others. His real life experiences combined with a hint of humor will make for a relaxing and beneficial teaching