Who We Are
Board of Directors
Alliance for Bhikkhunis operates under a group of decentralized volunteer board members. Our current membership consists of a President, Secretary, and Treasurer, as well as several board-member-at-large positions.
Founder
Susan Pembroke worked as a psychotherapist, and was the founder and guiding teacher of Insight Meditation of Ventura. She began meditating in 1986 and has studied with a number of teachers within the Buddhist Theravada tradition. Susan was drawn to the jhanas (states of concentration) and studied these meditative absorptions with Ayya Khema. One of Ayya Khema’s enduring concerns was the revival and support of the Bhikkuni Sangha. Founding the Alliance for Bhikkhunis, an organization that supports monastic Theravadin women, was Susan’s way of showing gratitude to Ayya Khema and honoring her memory. Susan was the recipient of an Outstanding Women in Buddhism Award in 2009.
Who We Are
Board of Directors
Alliance for Bhikkhunis operates under a group of decentralized volunteer board members. Our current membership consists of a President, Secretary, and Treasurer, as well as several board-member-at-large positions.
Founder
Susan Pembroke worked as a psychotherapist, and was the founder and guiding teacher of Insight Meditation of Ventura. She began meditating in 1986 and has studied with a number of teachers within the Buddhist Theravada tradition. Susan was drawn to the jhanas (states of concentration) and studied these meditative absorptions with Ayya Khema. One of Ayya Khema’s enduring concerns was the revival and support of the Bhikkuni Sangha. Founding the Alliance for Bhikkhunis, an organization that supports monastic Theravadin women, was Susan’s way of showing gratitude to Ayya Khema and honoring her memory. Susan was the recipient of an Outstanding Women in Buddhism Award in 2009.