Our Teachers

Resident Teacher: Gen Kelsang Chogden

Gen Kelsang Chogden is an American Buddhist nun and the Resident Teacher of Kadampa Meditation Center Maryland. Gen Chogden has been practicing Kadampa Buddhism since 1998 under Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, who gave her the title “Gen” indicating that she is a senior ordained teacher of the Kadampa Tradition.

Gen Chogden is well-loved for her warmth, kindness, and wisdom, which have come from her sincere and heartfelt practice of Kadam Dharma over many years.

Her teachings are always practical and easy to apply to everyday life. Through her gentle and joyful approach and her peaceful example, she has helped many people find true happiness in their hearts.

Rick Ratigan

A long-time member of KMC Maryland, Rick has been practicing Kadampa Buddhism since 1999, and has been teaching for about 15 years. He is retired from the State of Maryland with a background in Social Services. He is a sincere meditator and Dharma practitioner and is well liked for his compassion and a good sense of humor. Rick’s classes are down-to-earth and practical.

Amanda Greenwood

Amanda teaches our weekly Meditations for World Peace class. She is a student in our Foundation Program, and has been studying & practicing Kadampa Buddhism since early 2022. She presents Buddha's teachings in a clear and practical way, and is admired for her warmth and kindness.

Marlene Robinson

Marlene has been studying Kadampa Buddhism since 2016, and is a heartfelt and inspiring Buddhist practitioner and teacher. Her explanations emphasize practical Kadampa Buddhist views, intentions, and simple meditation techniques that are easy to integrate into our busy daily life.

Andrew Gaudreau

Andrew teaches our weekly branch class in Canton. He is a student on our Foundation Program, and is a sincere Kadampa practitioner.  His teachings are clear and heartfelt, and come from his own personal experience of putting the teachings into practice and seeing the positive effects in his life.

Sharon Fisher

Sharon Fisher has been a practicing Buddhist since 2006.  She is currently a member of the Teacher Training Program.  She is also a mother, nurse practitioner, business owner, and author.  She loves helping people integrate Buddhist teachings into their daily life to manage stress,  anxiety, and pain.

Tamara Muhammad

Tamara has been studying and practicing Kadampa Buddhism since 2015, and she is currently studying in our Foundation Program. Her teachings are engaging, practical and easy to relate to. She is admired for her humorous and sincere approach and positive, kind example.

Mary O’Flaherty

Mary is a Baltimore native, and a retired RN and a former childcare worker. She has been practicing Kadampa Buddhism for over 10 years. Her teachings are heartfelt and gentle, and reflect the strength of her own personal practice of meditation and Buddha’s teachings.

Kathy Kern

Kathy has been studying and practicing Kadampa Buddhism since 2015.  She is currently a member of the Foundation Program.  She is a sincere and kind hearted practitioner, and her calm and friendly manner puts everyone in her classes at ease.

Clara Cremeans

Clara is a heartfelt practitioner of meditation and Kadampa Buddhism, and she studies on our Foundation Program.  Her teachings are focused on practical applications of Buddha's wisdom based on her authentic and varied life experience, and she brings a lightness to her practice through her good sense of humor.

Jenny Lee-Summers

Jenny has been a sincere Kadampa practitioner for several years and is a Foundation Program student at KMC Maryland. Her teachings are accessible and insightful as she leads her students to deeper understandings and experiences of profound Dharma, and its practical applications in daily life.

Kelsang Gyaltsen

Kelsang Gyaltsen has been practicing Kadampa Buddhism since 1998 and is a founding member of the Center. He has done many retreats, including two three-month silent retreats at Tharpaland International Retreat Center in Scotland. He is also a qualified Kadampa artist who has worked on statues for a number of Kadampa temples. He is admired for his sincerity and gentle, light-hearted approach to teaching, meditation, and practice in daily life.

Heather Grant

Heather has been practicing Kadampa Buddhist teachings since 2010 starting in Washington state, and has been involved with KMC Maryland since 2015. She is currently studying on the Teacher Training Program, and is the Education Program Coordinator for the center. She enjoys sharing meditation and Buddha’s teachings with others to help them experience greater inner peace and freedom from stress, anxiety and other suffering.

Rachel Renz

Rachel has been practicing Kadampa Buddhism and meditation since 2005. She studies on our Teacher Training Program, and for several years was also a full time volunteer manager at KMC Maryland. Rachel is a dedicated and sincere practitioner, and shares Buddha’s wisdom through her example and practical teachings.