Rev. Monica Sanford, PhD – Curriculum Vitae
Education
Claremont School of Theology, Claremont, CA
PhD in Practical Theology, Spiritual Care & Counseling Track, received May 2018
Dissertation: “The Practice of Dharma Reflection among Buddhist Chaplains: A Qualitative Study of ‘Theological’ Activity among Non-Theocentric Spiritual Caregivers”
University of the West, Rosemead, CA
MDiv in Buddhist Chaplaincy, received May 2013
University of Nebraska – Lincoln, Lincoln, NE
BS in Design, Emphasis in Architecture, received May 2007
Honors and Awards
Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
Rising Star Staff Award Nominee, 2019
Claremont School of Theology, Claremont, CA
Claremont Scholarship, 2013-2015
University of the West, Rosemead, CA
Adjunct Faculty of the Year, 2013-2014
Outstanding Alumna 2014
Student Leader of the Year 2013 (UWest Student Association)
International Buddhist Education Foundation Scholarship 2011-2013
University of Nebraska – Lincoln, Lincoln, NE
A.C. & R.J. Glandt Memorial Scholarship 2007
UNL Tuition Assistance Grant 2006 & 2007
Charles & Emma Novotny Scholarship 2006
UNL Opportunity Grant 2005
Professional Experience
Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
Assistant Director for Spirituality & Religious Life, February 2018-Present
University of the West, Rosemead, CA
Institutional Planning, Effectiveness, and Campus Culture Officer, June 2013-Jan. 2018
General Education Adjunct Faculty, June 2013-January 2018
Campus Chaplain (volunteer), August 2013- January 2018
Accreditation Specialist, April 2012-June 2013
Academic Affairs Assistant, May 2011-April 2012
University of Nebraska – Lincoln, NE
Community Planning Intern (via the College of Architecture graduate assistantship placement program) to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Rural Health, January 2009-July 2010
Daily Nebraskan (student newspaper), Lincoln, NE
Opinion Section Assistant Editor, January 2009-May 2010
Summer Opinion Section Editor, May-August 2009
Opinion Section Columnist, January 2008-May 2010
Rocky Mountain Institute, Boulder, CO
Built Environment Team Research Consultant, August 2008-January 2009
Built Environment Team Research Intern, May-August 2008
University of Nebraska – Lincoln, NE
Teaching Assistant, College of Architecture, January-May 2008
Library Assistant, UNL Libraries, August-December 2007
Gallery Monitor, Department of Art & Art History, August-December 2007
Facilities Intern, Athletics Department, August-December 2007
Shambhala Mountain Center, Red Feather Lakes, CO
Assistant to the Director of Expansion & Planning, May-August 2007
University of Nebraska Rural Initiative, Lincoln, NE
Dialogues Across Nebraska Intern, May 2006-May 2007
University of Nebraska – Lincoln, NE
Staff Secretary, Military Science Department, August 2004-August 2006
Nebraska Earth Science Education Network Coordinator, School of Natural Resources, September 2004-August 2006
University of Nebraska at Omaha, NE
Student Worker, Criminal Science Department, May-August 2004
Metropolitan Community College, Omaha, NE
Beginning Fencing Instructor (non-credit class), June 2002-June 2004
Academic Publications and Presentations
Sanford, Monica. “Reading Scripture 'As-If': Promoting Interreligious Understanding via Contextualized Perspective-Taking," The Georgetown Companion to Interreligious Studies, edited by Lucinda Mosher. Georgetown University Press, June 2022.
Sanford, Monica. Kalyāṇamitra: A Model for Buddhist Spiritual Care, Volume I. Nepean, ON: Sumeru Press, 2021. ISBN 978-1896559452.
Sanford, Monica. “The Emptiness of 'Religion:' Buddhist Strategies for Deconstructing / Decolonizing Religion & Embracing Diverse Lifeways in Chaplaincy Education & Spiritual Care Praxis.” Innovations in Chaplaincy Unit, American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting, December 9, 2020.
Sanford, Monica. “Campus Chaplains & Research: Speaking Higher Education Language,” “Leading from Difference: When Students are Not ‘Congregants’ or ‘Members’,” and “Religion is Optional, Meaning is Mandatory: Facilitating Programs for the Unaffiliated.” [3 separate presentations] International Association of Chaplains in Higher Education Conference, Sheffield, UK, [forthcoming] June 2021.
Sanford, Monica. “Reading Scripture ‘As-If:’ Promoting Interreligious Understanding via Contextualized Perspective Taking as Part of a Critical Pedagogy for Teaching Religious History.” Georgetown Companion to Interreligious Studies. Edited by Lucinda Mosher. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press, [forthcoming, 2021].
Sanford, Monica. “Kalyāṇamitra: Spiritual Friendship as a Paradigm for Buddhist Chaplaincy.” Presentation at the American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA. November 24, 2019.
Sanford, Monica. “Formation and Training in Contemporary Spiritual Care Panelist.” Panel presentation at the American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA. November 23, 2019.
Sanford, Monica. “Secret Atheist: Internal and External Tensions affecting Buddhists as Inter-Religious Professionals.” Navigating Religious Pluralism in Spiritual Care and Counseling: Essays in Honor of Kathleen J. Greider. Edited by Jill Snodgrass. Claremont School of Theology Press, 2019.
Sanford, Monica. “Preparing Buddhist Chaplains for Higher Education.” Conference on Buddhist Chaplaincy and Faith-Based Social Service, Columbia University, New York, NY. May 5, 2019.
Sanford, Monica. “Building Institutional Alliances: Speaking Higher Education Administrations’ Language on Learning Outcomes, Assessment, and Data-Driven Decision Making.” National Association for College & University Chaplains and Association for University Religious Affairs Joint Annual Conference, Albuquerque, NM. February 26, 2019.
Sanford, Monica and Michon, Nathan Jishon. “Buddhist Chaplaincy.” Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Religion. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. February 2019. DOI: 10.1093/acrefore/9780199340378.013.641
Sanford, Monica. “Theological Reflection Without ‘Theo:’ Transcendent Connections for Buddhist Chaplains in Inter-Religious Settings.” Presented at the American Academy of Religions Annual Conference, Theology and Religious Reflection Unit, November 17, 2018.
Sanford, Monica. “Buddhist Practical Theology.” In Michon, Nathan Jishon, and Daniel Clarkson Fisher, eds. A Thousand Hands: A Guidebook to Caring for Your Buddhist Community. 2016.
Sanford, Monica. “Getting it Wrong: The Feeling of Buddhism in America.” Presentation at the Humanistic Buddhism Youth Forum, Fo Guang Shan, Singapore, September 10, 2016.
Lingard, Robert, Jay Robins, Mary Hudson, Gunther Sturms, Monica Sanford, and Jill Shaw. “Digging Deeper in Dialogue about the Diversity of Doing Chaplaincy or an International, Intentional and Interactive Investigation of Chaplaincy Incarnations or Pulling Apart a Platypus.” Panel presentation at the Global Conference for Chaplains in Higher Education, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, July 16, 2016.
Sanford, Monica. “Sustained Compassion Demands Self-Care: But How Do We Do That?” Workshop at the Global Conference for Chaplains in Higher Education, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, July 15, 2016.
Sanford, Monica. “Communicating Religious Pluralism as a Spiritual Value: A Buddhist University’s Experience.” Presentation at the Global Conference for Chaplains in Higher Education, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, July 12, 2016.
Sanford, Monica. “Is All Care Spiritual? Chaplaincy Research in the Academy.” Presented at Frontiers in Buddhist Chaplaincy Symposium, Rosemead, CA, April 28, 2014.
Sanford, Monica, respondent and panelist. “The Challenge of Compassion,” 2013 Annual Forum for the Los Angeles Buddhist-Catholic Dialogue. Los Angeles, CA: Loyola Marymount University, April 13, 2013.
Sanford, Monica. “Self-Care, Compassion, & Metta Meditation.” Presented at Hoedang Studies Conference, Rosemead, CA, 2012.
Sanford, Monica. “Self-Care & Saying ‘No’ From a Tradition of Radical Generosity.” Global Conference of Chaplains in Higher Education. New Haven, CT: Yale University. June 25-29, 2012.
Franta, Greg. Cooling the Warming: The Connection Between Climate Change and the Built Environment. Boulder, CO: Rocky Mountain Institute, 2010. [Research assistant Monica Sanford]
Sanford, Monica and Krug, Nathan. “Service Learning: A Student’s Point of View.” In City/campus: proceedings of the 2007 ACSA Central Fall Conference, edited by Jeffrey H. H. M. Lederer and Rick Haldenby. Cambridge, ONT: Riverside Architectural Press, University of Waterloo, 2007. Paper presented at the conference October 19-21, 2007.
Sanford, Monica. “Youth Led Community Development in Nebraska.” Poster presentation at Undergraduate Research Conference, Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska – Lincoln, 2007.
Courses Taught
Harvard Divinity School
- HDS 2933 Meaning Making, fall 2021 and spring 2022
- HDS 3118 History of Non-Religious Movements in the U.S., 4 units spring 2022
Rochester Institute of Technology
- HIST370 Global History of Religions, 3 units, spring 2019, spring 2020
- ASCS100 Year One, 0 units, Fall 2018
University of the West
- BMIN 607 Research Methods, 3 units, spring 2021
- WELL130 Willpower, 1 unit, fall 2015, spring 2016, spring 2017
- IRL101 Information Literacy, 3 units, summer 2015-fall 2017
Grants & Major Donations Secured
$19,000 – Harvard Divinity School Research Grant, co-PI Cheryl Giles, “Mapping Buddhist Chaplains in the U.S.: A Collaborative Mixed Methods Research Project,” July 2020
$130,000 – Kosher Dining Fund, Rochester Institute of Technology, March 2020
$1,000 – Interfaith Youth Core Curriculum Development Grant, Project Lead: Rev. Monica Sanford, Grant Writer: Reg. Monica Sanford, May 2019
$1,000 – Genesee Valley Association of the UCC/CCC PAMS Grant, Project Lead: Rev. Monica Sanford, Grant Writer: Reg. Monica Sanford, December 2018
$4,000 – Interfaith Youth Core Innovation Grant, Project Lead: Rev. Monica Sanford, Grant Writer: Rev. Monica Sanford, July 2018
$15,000 - Frederick P. Lenz Foundation for American Buddhism Capacity Grant, Project Lead: Rev. Monica Sanford, Grant Writer: Rev. Monica Sanford, January 2017
$10,000 - Interfaith Youth Core (& the Teagle Foundation) Interfaith Studies Course Sequence Development Grant, Project Lead: Rev. Monica Sanford, Grant Writer: Rev. Monica Sanford, July 2016
$5,000 – Wabash Center for Teaching & Learning Religion & Theology Small Grant for the project “Teaching Contemplation across Traditions: An Inter-religious Colloquium,” Project Leads: Dr. Jane Iwamura & Rev. Dr. Tina Jitsujo Gauthier, Grant Writer: Rev. Monica Sanford, April 2016
$2,500 – Frederick P. Lenz Foundation for American Buddhism Women in Buddhism Grant for the Sakyadhita USA Conference, Project Lead: Dr. Jane Iwamura, Grant Writer: Rev. Monica Sanford, December 2016
$2,500 – Frederick P. Lenz Foundation for American Buddhism Women in Buddhism Grant for a Visiting Scholar/Leader in Residence, Project Lead: Rev. Dr. Victor Gabriel, Grant Writer: Rev. Monica Sanford, January 2016
Webinars & Workshops Presented
Convergence Webinars
- Exploring Buddhism: How to Support Emerging Identities on Campus, co-presented with Dr. Ellen Katz, December 10, 2019
- The Role of Chaplains in Higher Education, February 20, 2019
Rochester Institute of Technology Webinars & Workshops
- Mindfulness Workshop, December 13, 2019
- Self-Care for Student Leaders, October 4, 2019
- Self-Care for Busy Professionals, June 19, 2019
- Self-Compassion for Work and Home, April 3, 2019
- Religious Diversity at RIT, January 9, 2019
- Spiritual Formation in College Students, January 4, 2019
Extracurricular and Volunteer Experience
Journal of Interreligious Studies
Board of Advisors, November 2019-Present
American Academy of Religion, Innovations in Chaplaincy Panel
Steering Committee Member, January 2019-Present
Buddhist Ministry Working Group (decentralized network)
Resources Committee Chair, March 2017-Present
Steering Committee Member, March 2017-Present
University of the West Student Association, Rosemead, CA (now University of the West Student Government, Inc.)
Vice President (appointed to vacancy), September 2012-May 2013
President, January 2011-April 2012
Treasurer, September 2010-January 2011
University of the West Chaplaincy Club, Rosemead, CA
Treasurer, 2010-2011
Association of Students of the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
Graduate Studies Senator, 2006-2007 & 2007-2008
Academic Fees Advisory Committee Member, 2007-2008
Academic Committee Member, 2006-2007
Chancellor’s Commission on the Status of Women at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, NE
Student Member, 2005-2006 & 2006-2007
Shambhala Mountain Center Service Learning Partnership with University of Nebraska – Lincoln, NE and Red Feather Lakes, CO
Co-Founder and Client-School Liaison, April 2006-December 2008
Emerging Green Builders, UNL Chapter, Lincoln, NE
Green Dorm Room Project Director, January 2008
Webmaster, 2006-2007 & 2007-2008
Director of Education and Outreach, 2006-2007
Founding Member, April 2006-May2010
University of Nebraska – Lincoln Multicultural Center Design Advisory Committee
Student Member, January-May 2007
American Institute of Architecture Students, UNL Chapter, Lincoln, NE
Member, 2004-2010
Additional Qualifications
International Center for Chinese Buddhist Culture and Education (美國漢傳佛教國際文教中心), Montebello, CA
Ordained Buddhist Lay Minister (Dharma name: Pu Shan 菩善), received August 8, 2015
Academy for Jewish Religion, Los Angeles, CA, a satellite of Methodist Hospital, Arcadia, CA
Clinical Pastoral Education Unit 4 (Level II), completed June 2017
Clinical Pastoral Education Unit 3 (Level II), completed June 2016
Clinical Pastoral Education Unit 2 (Level I), completed June 2015
Clinical Pastoral Education Unit 1 (Level I), completed June 2014