At MasZen Foundation, we believe every culture has something to teach us about helping people thrive. Through the lens of Educational Anthropology, we travel, observe, listen, and learn how communities cultivate emotional well-being, belonging, resilience, and healthy relationships. We then share those insights in practical, culturally responsive ways that support children, families, educators, and communities.
Core Values
Our Board reflects MasZen Foundation's belief that emotional well-being is strengthened through diverse perspectives. Together, our directors bring experience in education, engineering, business, organizational leadership, and mindfulness, united by a shared commitment to learning from cultures around the world and fostering thriving communities.
Founder, President & Educational Anthropologist
Monja founded the MasZen Foundation after nearly three decades as an educator. Drawing on her background in anthropology, educational psychology, and language and literacy, she studies how cultures cultivate emotional well-being, belonging, resilience, and the conditions that help people flourish. Through global research, cultural exchange, and thoughtful observation, she brings those insights home to support children, families, educators, and communities.
Treasurer & Board Member
Kurt Nordyke has built a career through curiosity, innovation, and determination. A self-taught mechanical engineer and successful entrepreneur, he has founded and operated two businesses while developing expertise in engineering, finance, and strategic decision-making. His thoughtful systems thinking and natural problem-solving abilities make him a valued member of the MasZen Foundation Board of Directors, where he helps guide the Foundation's financial stewardship and long-term vision.
Director of Research & Innovation
Dr. Sanjeev Sathe is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), one of the profession's highest honors recognizing outstanding engineering achievement. Throughout his distinguished career, he has led engineering innovation across aerospace, defense, semiconductor technology, thermal engineering, and advanced manufacturing, contributing to projects for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the U.S. Navy, IBM Semiconductor Division, and other high-technology industries.
An accomplished engineer, researcher, and former editor of the International Journal of Energy for a Clean Environment, Dr. Sathe brings exceptional expertise in systems thinking, innovation, and complex problem-solving to the MasZen Foundation. His interdisciplinary perspective strengthens the Foundation's mission to advance emotional well-being through Educational Anthropology, global research, and cultural exchange.
Secretary & Director of Strategy
Clint Crowell is a transformational leader recognized for guiding organizations through complex change at the intersection of strategy, technology, and people. His experience in biopharma and medical technology, coupled with his emphasis on empathy, human-centered design, and organizational agility, brings valuable insight to MasZen Foundation. Clint believes leadership is an act of stewardship—of ideas, people, and purpose—and contributes a thoughtful systems perspective to the Foundation's work.
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