M.F.A. Combined Northeastern/Tufts University Degree
M.A. The Harvard Divinity School
B.A Religious Studies NYU
Certificate in Advanced Film Production NYU
Biography:
Harsha Menon is a scholar and practitioner of Buddhism and a filmmaker. She graduated from The Harvard Divinity School with a Masters of Theological Studies with a focus on South Asian religious traditions with Buddhism in particular. She has been an Executive Board Member at the Tufts Buddhist Mindfulness Sangha from its inception. She had assisted Venerable Priya for many years, helping him to grow the Tufts Sangha. She served as Interim Buddhist Chaplain from January-May 2021.
As an artist, writer and filmmaker, Harsha wrote a monthly column on Buddhism in America for Buddhist door Global. She was the blog coordinator for Sakyadhita International Association for Buddhist Women. She served as secretary on the Board of Directors of DGLI Inc., a Buddhist charity for women founded by Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo of Dongyul Gatsal Ling Nunnery. Harsha wrote and produced the film titled Living Vinaya, which records the first ever Vinaya training for Buddhist nuns in North America. Her research interests include Buddhist studies, film studies, post-colonial theory, social practice, sonic ethnography, transnational feminisms, and the role of research in cinematic and artistic practice. Harsha has taught visual anthropology, experimental film, and civic engagement and contemporary arts at Tufts. She combines filmmaking with Buddhist practice and social service projects about women, literacy and food insecurity in many parts of the world.
