Susan Boyle is the dean of admissions and has been at Naropa University since 1998. She came to Naropa from the Friends World Program at Long Island University where she worked in enrollment management for four years. She holds a BA from St. Lawrence University and an MA in education from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Her passion lies in working in progressive institutions of higher education that are mission-driven and provide students the opportunity to take risks, think critically and explore not only the outer world but their internal wisdom as well. Susan serves on various university-wide committees as well as shares in the work and responsibility of managing a very busy Office of Admissions.
Amy Atkins is the associate director of admissions. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a BA in public relations and obtained a MS from Colorado State University where she studied multicultural-based approaches to environmental education. She spent three years as an admissions counselor at Agnes Scott College in Georgia and served as the director of campus life and interim dean of admissions at the American Hebrew Academy in North Carolina. She also has a background in theater, wilderness and outdoor leadership, diversity training, and leading camps for Jewish youth. Amy works with students in the core program from the western slope of Colorado, the Southeast and Alaska. She also works with transfer students into our psychology department.
Shawn Rae Passalacqua
Assistant Director of Admissions & Multicultural Recruitment Coordinator spassalacqua@naropa.edu
Shawn Rae Passalacqua is the assistant director of admissions and multicultural recruitment coordinator. He has joined Naropa University after working at his alma mater Middlebury College where he served as assistant director of admissions and coordinator for multicultural recruitment. Originally from San Diego, Shawn Rae followed the traditional liberal arts path while attending Middlebury before choosing to major in French; he then completed three years of graduate studies in Paris, receiving his MA degree in Francophone Literature and Civilization from Middlebury (Université de Paris X-Nanterre). Shawn Rae will counsel students from Hawai'i, Illinois, New Mexico, Texas, Wisconsin and from the Front Range and eastern plains of Colorado. Shawn Rae will work with undeclared students from those areas as well as with students from underrepresented populations. In his free time, you will find Shawn Rae practicing yoga, exploring hiking trails, abstractly photographing friends and strangers, or listening to one of the many music albums in his vast collection.
Donna McIntyre
Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions donna@naropa.edu
Donna McIntyre has been a staff member in the Admissions Office since 1996 and is currently the assistant director of admissions. She is the admissions counselor for the following Master of Arts programs: Contemplative Education, Contemplative Psychotherapy, Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, Indo-Tibetan Buddhism with Language, Religious Studies, Religious Studies with Language and Somatic Counseling Psychology. She is also the counselor for the Master of Divinity program. She received her MA degree in Contemplative Psychotherapy from Naropa University in 1984, and has been a teacher's assistant in meditation classes at Naropa for many years. She is passionate about, and serves as the point person for, diversity issues in the Admissions Office.
Kate Levene
Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions Counselor klevene@naropa.edu
Kate Levene is the admissions counselor for all Naropa's BA & BFA transfer majors excluding Contemplative Psychology, and works with undeclared BA applicants from California and Arizona. In addition Kate manages Naropa's efforts with veterans, international students, and non-traditional aged students. She is originally from northwestern England, where she worked for the University of Manchester before immigrating to the United States in 1996. Kate has strived to maintain her British sense of humor but has, according to her family, acquired an unfortunate mid-Atlantic accent, which she doesn't find funny at all.
Alice DiTullio has been an admissions counselor at Naropa for nine years. She works with the Transpersonal Counseling Psychology concentrations: Art Therapy, Counseling Psychology and Wilderness Therapy. She also works with the low-residency Transpersonal Psychology and Ecopsychology programs. Alice graduated from Naropa in May of 1999 with a BA in Contemplative Psychology, and in May of 2008 she graduated with a MA in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology. She came to Naropa as an older student with a long history of both volunteer and professional experience in the human service field. She has worked with a variety of populations, including children with special needs, Central American refugees and runaway youth. Guiding students toward programs that emphasize self-awareness, solid skills and compassion in the field of psychology is what she finds most satisfying about her work.
Dave Christy is an Graduate Admissions Counselor working with prospective students interested in the MA Contemplative Education, MA Environmental Leadership, Graduate Religious Studies (MA Religious Studies, MA Religious Studies with Language, and Master of Divinity degrees), along with the low-residency programs in Transpersonal Psychology and Ecopychology. He also works with alumni who want to continue to connect with Naropa at events the Admissions counselors hold while On the Road. Dave came to Naropa in 2004 and graduated from the Master of Divinity program in 2008. While he was a student Dave worked closely with the student government, various action committees, the Naropa Chaplaincy Project and was also the student representative to the Board of Trustees. Dave is a volunteer chaplain at Boulder Community Hospital, he has been a Zen practitioner since 2000 and is also a Naropa Mindfulness Instructor. His distinctive laugh can often be heard echoing across the Naropa green.
Mark Hatfield assists undergraduate applicants from New York, Florida, and Hawaii, and also transfer students majoring in music, contemplative psychology, or visual arts. He is a 2004 graduate of Naropa University's MFA degree program in Actor Created Physical Theater, and works with the theater community in Boulder.
Leticia Benally is the Inquiry and Technology Coordinator for the Office of Admissions. She is from Boulder, but also calls New Mexico (specifically the Navajo Nation) home. Her favorite thing about Boulder is the wide range of activities available and of course the mountains! Letty came to Boulder by the way of the University of Colorado and the Colorado Art Institute. Her position in the Office of Admissions allows her to engage with a diverse range of individuals, often from many different places and countries. Letty understands and identifies with much of the excitement and frustration that students sometimes feel. Letty sees Naropa as a good fit for anyone who is looking for a more community-based atmosphere.
Helen Garczynski is the administrative director of admissions. She
is originally from Orange County, California—home of Disneyland, beautiful beaches and Hollywood stars. In addition to California, she has lived near Seattle, Chicago and, more recently, Boston. She values having been exposed to so many different locations, cultures and people. As the administrative director of admissions, she manages the day-to-day operations of the office. She sees her work as helping to create a better future for students. In addition, she has numerous opportunities to learn from her colleagues, build relationships with others on campus and discover how Naropa University changes lives.
Sarah, a first year undergrad double-majoring in Religious Studies and Peace Studies, is originally from Minneapolis. She enjoys exploring all walks of relgious traditions and participating in community support, such as Food not Bombs. Why did choose Naropa? "The programs are exceptional, the small class room size, and the contemplative aspect of education offered." Her favorite aspects of Naropa include the "intensity of the programs" and "how much you can really sink into each class and get so much out of it." After Naropa, her goals include working in high schools and prisons, integrating contemplative practice and peace building seminars.
Susan Boyle
Amy Atkins 
Shawn Rae Passalacqua
Donna McIntyre
Mark Hatfield
Rika Rossing
Shay Byington