President Susan Rounds reflects on DRBU’s growth over her eleven years of leadership and shares a heartfelt farewell as she passes the torch to our next president, Professor Doug Powers.

As I come to the end of my eleven years of service as president of DRBU, I look back on all that we have accomplished. To name just a few:

• The student body has grown from 27 students in 2015 to more than 50 students today, with an even larger cohort entering this fall.
  
• We have successfully passed two accreditation reviews by the WASC Senior College and University Commission, the most recent of which granted DRBU accreditation through 2030.
  
• Since 2019, we have welcomed students from every continent except Antarctica. In that same year, we launched a one-year Translation Certificate Program.
  
• This summer, DRBU will host a study abroad program in Taiwan, in collaboration with the Association for Core Texts and Courses (ACTC). The program has attracted students from colleges across the country.
  
• We have maintained an active schedule of renovating and restoring various facilities on the DRBU campus at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, as well as at the Sudhana Center in downtown Ukiah.

All of these accomplishments serve the vision of Venerable Hsuan Hua, who founded DRBU nearly fifty years ago. He envisioned a university that would provide a transformational education—one that not only involved deep and sustained study of wisdom traditions, but also emphasized the importance of ethical conduct. He said:

“Dharma Realm Buddhist University is being established in the hope of influencing youth not to be selfish. Everyone should be very public-spirited and not selfishly motivated. Then without effort this world will be peaceful. What is needed is a fundamental change in people’s habits of mind.”

When I listen to students talk about their experiences at DRBU, I know we are following the path laid out for us many years ago.

“I feel Master Hua’s aspiration to develop talents has been so seriously carried on. Having the opportunity to receive education here has been the most precious gift.”

“I’m proud of myself. I didn’t like the person I was when I came here, but I like the person I’ve become. I’m leaving here to enter the world as a genuine human being.”

None of this would have been possible without the generous support of our donors. I am truly grateful for your support over the years. 

I am leaving the university in the very capable hands of Professor Doug Powers, who has agreed to serve as interim president for the next two years.

I have worked closely with Doug for many years and honor him for his deep commitment to DRBU’s mission, his generosity of spirit, and his willingness to shoulder a wide range of administrative responsibilities in addition to his role as an inspiring teacher. 

Doug was an early disciple of Master Hua and has worked in the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association as well as at DRBU for many years. He has the enthusiastic support of the students, faculty, and staff of DRBU, as well as of the Board of Trustees. I know that DRBU has a bright future under Doug’s leadership, and I look forward to celebrating our progress as the journey continues.