Academic Background

Education

A.B.D. in History of Religions

Primary Religion: Indo-Tibetan Buddhism
Secondary Religion: Hinduism

M.A. in History of Religions

Primary Religion: Indo-Tibetan Buddhism
Master's Research: “Mahāmudrā Through Time”

Intensive Summer Introductory Sanskrit Program

Intensive Summer Tibetan language Program

B.S. Systems and Computer Science Engineering

Bachelor's Thesis: “Redesigning the Evaluation Process in Educational Systems based on the Principles of Total Quality”
Graduated with honors (Summa Cum Laude and highest average of the university’s graduating class from all fields).

High School equivalent with specialization in Computer Science (Bachillerato en Computación)

Graduated with honors (Magna Cum Laude and highest average of the school’s graduating class from all specializations).

Research Experience

Doctoral Research while at University of Virginia

Babesa Monastery (Country: Bhutan, District: Thimphu, Block: Thim Throm, Town: Babesa), temporary residence of the Montastic College (bshad grwa) for the monks of the historical Semtoka Monastery – Studied Drukpa Kargyu ('drug pa dkar brgyud) doctrine focusing on view, dialectics and meditational practices around the Great Seal tradition as presented by the tradition's most prolific author, Pema Karpo (padma dkar po).

Manjushree Center of Tibetan Culture (Darjeeling, India) – studied Tibetan texts with lay and monastic scholars. Focused mainly on Dakpo Kagyü (dwags po bka' brgyud) doctrine.

Rangjung Yeshe Institute (Katmandu, Nepal) – studied Tibetan texts with monastic scholars and colloquial Tibetan with lay teachers. Focused mainly on Nyingma (rnying ma) doctrine.

College Of Higher Tibetan Studies (Sarah, India), an undertaking of Institute of Buddhist Dialectics (mtshan nyid slob grwa) recognized and affiliated to the Department of Education, Central Tibetan Administration – Studied debate as is traditionally performed in the Geluk (dge lugs pa) Order.

Awards

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Fellowship for Summer Foreign Language Institute, University of Virginia

First place at the National Competition of Computer Programming (university level, as a team with Jorge Veliz and Ernesto Urrutia) in the XIV, XV and XVI Convention of Computer Science organized by the Association of Computer Science of Guatemala (ADIG, Asociación de Informática de Guatemala) and the Managers Association of Guatemala (AGG, Asociación de Gerentes de Guatemala).

The Distinguished Student of The Year Award, Francisco Marroquin University

Trained the teams that earned second, first, first, third and first places respectively in the XIII, XIV, XVI, XVII and XVIII Convention of Computer Science at the National Competition of Computer Programming (High School/Bachillerato en Computación level) organized by the Association of Computer Science of Guatemala (ADIG, Asociación de Informática de Guatemala) and the Managers Association of Guatemala (AGG, Asociación de Gerentes de Guatemala).

First place in the category of physics (high school level) in the National Olympiad of Sciences, organized by the San Carlos University.

Second place in the category of mathematics (high school level), in the National Olympiad of Sciences, organized by the San Carlos University.

First place at the National Competition of Computer Programming (high school level, as a team with Jorge Veliz) in the XII Convention of Computer Science organized by the Association of Computer Science of Guatemala (ADIG, Asociación de Informática de Guatemala) and the Managers Association of Guatemala (AGG Asociación de Gerentes de Guatemala).

Languages

Spanish – native language

English – speak fluently and read/write with high proficiency

Tibetan – speak with high proficiency, read fluently, and write with basic competence.

Sanskrit – read with high proficiency and write with basic competence.

French – read with basic competence.

Workshops Attended

Teaching Foreign Tongues Seminar

Conferences

The 2003 National Quality Education Conference (Albuquerque, NM).

The 2001 Data, Information and the Future of Learning Conference (Memphis, TN). Organized by Netedu, Incorporated.

The 2000 National Quality Education Conference (Durham, NC).

The 1999 National Quality Education Conference (Atlantic City, NJ).

The 53rd. Annual Quality Congress and Exposition. (Anaheim, CA).