Naropa University, the Buddhist-inspired institution in Boulder, Colorado, has announced the appointment of Dr. Paul Burkhardt as its next president. The announcement comes six months after the current president Charles (Chuck) Lief declared his retirement and the university began its search for new leadership in December 2024.
In a press release announcing Dr. Burkhardt’s appointment, Naropa stated, “Dr. Burkhardt brings decades of academic and administrative experience to Naropa and will officially assume his role on August 1.”
“Higher education in the U.S. is at a critical juncture, and I couldn’t be happier with the selection of Paul as the leader to guide Naropa into the future. I look forward to partnering with him on a successful transition,” said Lief, who served as president for 13 years.
Dr. Burkhardt holds a background in comparative cultural and literary studies from the University of Arizona. He most recently served as provost at the University of Olivet in Michigan and also held the role of executive vice president and provost at Prescott College in Arizona.
Burkhardt fills the roll at a transitional time, as the university identified in their search they were looking for a president to lead the institution into he next fifty years of the institution.
Naropa board co-chairs Suzanne Benally and Mark Wilding expressed their strong support for Dr. Burkhardt, stating, “The Naropa Board of Trustees has complete confidence in Dr. Burkhardt’s vision, courage, and leadership — and in his deep alignment with Naropa’s core values. We are confident he will carry forward Naropa’s legacy of fostering a culture of belonging, embracing our social and ecological interdependence, and working together with our students to create a more just and regenerative world.”
Naropa University was founded in 1974 as a pioneer in contemplative education, blending Eastern wisdom traditions, in particular Buddhism, with Western academic scholarship. Its mission is to offer its students a transformative educational experience rooted in mindfulness and social engagement.
Looking ahead, Dr. Burkhardt will focus on expanding and supporting student learning across three modalities — residential, low-residency, and fully online — while also developing a sustainable educational and financial plan to ensure Naropa’s long-term future.
“Naropa’s mission and approach to education — rooted in contemplative practice and guided by compassion, critical inquiry and courageous engagement — give me so much hope for the future,” said Dr. Burkhardt in the announcement. “Naropa invites us to engage the world not with fear or cynicism but bravely with presence, purpose and care, and I look forward to leading with and learning from the wonderful faculty, staff, students and alumni.”
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