Board of Directors
Melanie Van Amsterdam, Chair
Melanie Van Amsterdam has been a Zen Buddhist and student at the Bodhi Manda Zen Center since 1997. She has also practiced at the Albuquerque Zen Center and currently with the Cheong Ryang Sa Zen Buddhist Order in Jensen Beach, Florida.
She first joined the Board of Trustees in 2015, serving as Chair in 2016-2017. She happily rejoined the Board as Chair in November 2021. She is committed to helping the Bodhi Manda evolve as an American Zen Center and to support the practice of the Sangha, the Abbess Jiun Hosen Ranger and Roshi Danan Henry.
In secular life, she is a Palliative Medicine physician. She lives in Stuart, Fl with her wife and 2 dogs.
David Feasby
David Feasby’s first trip to the Bodhi occurred in the 1980’s when he participated in a meditation/spiritual workshop. His takeaway memory was the Bodhi itself and his deep connection with the land. Subsequently, he has attended several retreats at the Bodhi.
David founded and was CEO of IMPACT - Management Systems, Inc. until 2018 when he sold the company and retired. David has over thirty years of experience in line management, business consulting including strategic planning, and executive coaching plus management training both domestically and internationally.
In addition to receiving a Master’s Degree in Physics from the University of Michigan, David received a Certificate in Management from the University of California.He also served as President of a small manufacturing company, managed a local office of a national management consulting firm, operated his own businesses on two occasions, and worked for two Fortune 500 companies; General Dynamics and Fluor-Daniels.
Tom Brennan
Tom Brennan has studied Zen and Contemplative Prayer since 1978 with strong emphasis on Thomas Merton. He helped to establish the Completive Prayer Center with Brian Taylor and Joko Beck (San Diego Zen Center) at St Michaels and All Angels Episcopal Church and has visited and practiced at the Bodhi since 2000. For Tom, the blending of eastern and western approaches is intuitive and crucial. The chance to add value to the Bodhi, actively participate in its programs and to seek convergence of truth draws him to the Bodhi, to Hosen and to the expanding refined mission that we are collectively attempting to offer more succinctly to our community and the world.
With ARCH Venture Partners since 2008. Currently leading their LabStart, ARCH Technical Services (ATS), New York City Life Science Funding Initiative NYC LSF and all aspects of early stage technology commercialization with emphasis on life sciences, platform and completely disruptive technologies.
Elaine Hausman
Elaine Hausman’s first experience at the Bodhi was in 1983, for a retreat weekend with the Sathya Sai Baba organization. Since then, the Bodhi has been a spiritual home for the Sai Baba organization, with members meeting there annually on Labor Day weekends for 38 years. To honor her deep respect for Hosen, Elaine volunteered to be the Bodhi bookkeeper in 2014. She is honored to now serve as a Member of the Board of Directors and as Treasurer of the Bodhi Manda Zen Center.
As a longtime supporter of arts for young people, Elaine was a founding director of the Santa Fe Youth Symphony in 1994. Elaine served as Treasurer and then Executive Director of the Moving People Dance Santa Fe from 2004 through 2009.
She is currently a Member of the Board of Directors and Treasurer of Moving Arts Española, which offers fine arts instruction to youth in one of the most under-served counties in New Mexico.
Mrs. Hausman also serves as the Southwest Region 9 President for the Sathya Sai Baba International Organization.
Jan Wooten
Jan Wooten is a retired research chemist who lives in Richmond, VA. He was introduced to the Bodhi while attending a retreat more than 20 years ago. After a number of retreats, he often returned to the Bodhi for personal Zen practice and vacation. He was introduced to Zazen and Zen philosophy at the Bodhi.
Jan has participated in fund raising and is currently the newsletter editor and webmaster. He joined the board of directors in April, 2022.