Dr. Shubham Sapkota is a research associate at the Crown Wellness Institute at CU Boulder and the Associate Editor for HIMALAYA, The Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies. Born and raised in Kathmandu, Nepal, he moved to the Denver area for his graduate studies, earning a bachelor's degree in political science from Hope College and a master's degree in international studies from the University of Denver. After his master's, he returned to Nepal to assist in development aid projects and serve as a liaison between private companies and USAID.
Inspired by his upbringing, interests in South Asian spiritual practices, and extensive backpacking experiences, Dr. Sapkota completed a PhD in Religion and Theology through a Joint PhD Program at the University of Denver and the ILIFF School of Theology. His research focused on integrating Buddhist meditation practices into academic, pedagogical, and community contexts. At the Crown Institute, he will collaborate with the Dalai Lama Fellows and the Mindful Campus Program, advocating for mindfulness practices to enhance community and mental health.
Dr. Sapkota holds a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Certificate and has participated in 10-day Vipassana meditation retreats. He is knowledgeable in Tibetan Buddhist and Zen meditative practices and has attended Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction workshops. Fluent in Nepali and English, and conversational in Hindi, he is also independently learning Tibetan and Sanskrit. Passionate about the mountains, Dr. Sapkota is delighted to call Colorado his second home, bringing his rich cultural background and expertise to his work in promoting global meditation practices.