Our Staff

Myinlek was born a state-less refugee and moved to the US at the age of six. Growing up, she made sure to honor her Tibetan identity by organizing events at her high school on Tibet, leading local protests each March 10th, Tibetan Uprising Day, and by performing traditional dances and playing the dramyen. At university, Myinlek founded the Tibetan Interest Association at the University of Connecticut, a group on campus that engaged in cultural and political advocacy for Tibet.

Myinlek first joined the SFT staff team as the Grassroots Coordinator, where she played a central role in organizing critical programs such as the Annual Youth for Tibet in Europe, SFT’s North America Longsho Tour, as well as the Tibet Climate Crisis regional talk tour, and SFT’s flagship International Cross Movement Action Camp, as well as Free Tibet! Action Camp in Dharamsala, India. All of which has led to the establishment of over 60 SFT chapters since the start of her time at SFT. As Grassroots Director, she expanded her effective grassroots leadership on a global scale. Myinlek currently serves as the Interim Executive Director at SFT. In her free time, Myinlek finds peace and restoration in playing the trumpet and listening to Taylor Swift on repeat.

Nyima is a Nepali-Tibetan community organizer from Greensboro, North Carolina. Her journey with the Tibetan advocacy movement began in 2019 when she first joined SFT as a summer Campaigns Intern - a role that sparked a deep and lasting commitment to the Tibetan cause. Since then, she has grown into her position of Operations Director, where she oversees all the systems and infrastructure that keep SFT’s programs running smoothly. What she loves most about her work is the opportunity to engage with several exciting projects unfolding across the larger movement space.

Outside of work, she has long enjoyed experimenting behind the bar and crafting up drinks for the people she loves. She has also recently invested in an expensive yoga mat and is fully committed to making it worth every penny.

Tsela Zoksang is a Tibetan student-activist from New York. Growing up, Tsela’s childhood was shaped by the roar of the protest, instilling in her the importance of collective action from a young age. But her official SFT journey began as a high-schooler, when she served as Grassroots Intern in 2019. It was at SFT Action Camp – surrounded by individuals of all walks of life equally committed to the cause – that she crystallized her belief in the power of grassroots organizing, the power that is born in the collective will of those who yearn for change.

Before stepping into her current role on staff, Tsela served as both North America Grassroots Coordinator and Campaigns Coordinator. Now as Campaigns Director, she works with Tibetan communities in exile and global stakeholders to advance strategic campaigns for Tibetan rights and freedom. She recently graduated from New York University with a Bachelor’s degree in Politics. In her free time, Tsela enjoys hiking, learning new languages, and is currently on a lifelong hunt for the best Pad Thai in NY!

Tseyang is a student-activist raised with immense pride in her Tibetan identity and an intimate understanding of the cultural and political significance of showing up for her community. Some of her earliest memories are of being wrapped in the Tibetan flag, chanting at the top of her lungs during March 10 protests. Her official SFT journey began in 2021, when she joined as a Grassroots Intern on the NoBeijing 2022 campaign. It was then through cross-movement organizing in Boston — from leading SFT Boston as its President, to interning with the Campaigns Team on the ThermoFisher campaign, to founding the Coalition of Resisting the CCP, to protesting Ambassador Xie Feng’s visit to Harvard — that her belief in the power of collective organizing crystallized. Before stepping into her current role on staff, Tseyang served as SFT’s North America Grassroots Coordinator, where she had the privilege of working with Tibetan youth whose fire gives her tremendous hope that Tibet will inevitably be free. Now as Communications Coordinator, she works to sharpen and amplify the movement’s voice and shape the narrative around Tibet for a global audience.

Tseyang is a senior at Harvard College studying Anthropology with a secondary in Global Health and Health Policy. Beyond SFT, she is committed to alleviating health disparities within the exile community. Ask her about her current read, her thesis on Tibetan medicine, or her recent long run!

Chevonne Wang is a human rights advocate whose political consciousness was shaped by growing up in China under state propaganda and political control. Moving to the United Kingdom marked a political awakening, where open debate and civic participation reshaped how she understood democracy and human rights. Through learning about Tibet and standing in solidarity with Tibetans in exile, Chevonne developed a deep commitment to the Tibetan freedom movement. This work also led her to support the struggles of Hong Kong, East Turkistan, and Taiwan. Her professional background reflects a strong commitment to social justice and frontline support. She has worked with advocacy organizations alongside caseworkers supporting individuals affected by human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and homelessness, with experience in service development, data analysis, and improving access to essential resources.

Since joining the Students for a Free Tibet headquarters team in August 2024, Chevonne has served as Development Coordinator. She leads donor engagement and major fundraising initiatives, including SFT’s 30-Year Donation Campaign and 108 for Tibet. She also manages the Rangzen Circle sustaining members program, helping strengthen long-term financial stability for the Tibetan freedom movement. Chevonne holds a BA in Sociology from Durham University and is fluent in Mandarin and English, bringing a transnational and cross-cultural perspective to her work.

Kunsel Rinchen Dorjee is a dedicated Tibetan youth activist based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. At the age of 14, she traveled to Northern India to study the Tibetan language at the Tibetan Children’s Village in upper Dharamsala. Here, she deepened her understanding of the realities of displacement faced by Tibetans. This experience started her activist journey, leading her to join a local political youth party. Hereafter, she joined International Campaign for Tibet, where she focused on organising political campaigns aimed at engaging youth organisations. During her undergraduate studies in Public Administration, she founded a local SFT chapter, which quickly grew into a national network with a strong student support base in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Her leadership and organisational skills have made her experienced in building youth solidarity for Tibet. She believes strongly in the importance of intersectionality in today’s activism. She recognises that struggles for freedom and justice are interconnected and that it requires an intersectional approach. By acknowledging how various forms of oppression intersect, she advocates for a movement that uplifts all marginalised communities. She is passionate about empowering the next generation of young Tibetan activists, hoping to equip them with the tools to counter China’s narratives on university campuses and beyond.

Next to her activism, Kunsel has worked in policy research, where she prioritises participatory approaches to ensure the visibility of marginalised groups. Currently, she is pursuing a master’s degree in International Law, specialising in Human Rights Law. In her free time, she plays on her university’s basketball team.

Tenzin Namgyal is a Tibetan-Japanese student activist born and raised in Queens, NY. When Namgyal’s father was 14 years old, he escaped from Tibet. His father’s stories of hardship and resilience played a pivotal role in inspiring him to become an activist. At the same age his father trekked the snowy mountains of Tibet, Namgyal first joined SFT as a Grassroots intern in 2022. He went on to support SFT’s many successful campaigns, including the ‘Hands Off Tibetan DNA!’ and ‘Rise Up Against Xi’ campaigns.

Now a student at Hunter College, Namgyal continues to work within SFT’s grassroots network in the NY/NJ area, where he organizes local protests and sports fundraisers. Outside of SFT, Namgyal enjoys playing basketball, watching movies, and learning songs on the guitar!

Tenzin Kunsel is a Tibetan-Nepali student raised in Kathmandu, Nepal. She grew up in the Tibetan community, where she faced the hardships of being Tibetan with limited opportunities to advocate for her people. Moving to the U.S. gave her the chance to engage in activism, and she was thrilled to get involved with Students for a Free Tibet during her undergraduate years at Yale. She is dedicated to making Tibetan voices heard and ensuring the world recognizes their right to freedom. Kunsel is currently pursuing her master’s in Biomedical Engineering at The City College of New York.

Tenzing Lhamo Dorjee is a cartoonist, illustrator and designer. Born in Washington, Tenzing uses her skills in storytelling and humor to connect with other Tibetans around the world. In May 2019, she graduated with a BFA in Design at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, Washington. In the summer of 2021, Lhamo joined SFT as their Graphic Designer. She’s most well known online for her comic series My Tibetan Tendencies, her informational gif set Taboo Tibet, and her comic on her childhood bully with the online publication The Lily. She’s also a proud member of the Yakpo Collective and has her work featured in galleries in Seattle, New York, Canada, and Lhasa, Tibet.

Kunga Sherab is a Tibetan student activist born and raised in Minnesota. Although he grew up around protests and advocacy, Kunga’s SFT career began when he attended SFT’s Action Camp in San Francisco, re-founded his local Minnesota SFT chapter, and established a university SFT chapter at the University of Minnesota. As the President of his chapters, Kunga both participated and assisted in leading many trainings and workshops around the world, including Taiwan, Mexico City, New York, Washington D.C., and Portland!

Through creative initiatives such as sports tournaments, movie screenings, and committee programs, Kunga has worked to spark interest in Tibetan activism among youth in Minnesota. He has also contributed to several major SFT campaigns, including the ‘Hands Off Tibetan DNA!’ and ‘Rise Up Against Xi!’ In the summer of 2024, Kunga continued his work as a Grassroots intern, collaborating closely with members of the SFT network across North America to strengthen connections and realign goals.

Currently, Kunga serves as the Midwest Coordinator for the North America Region. In this role, he oversees the Midwest-based chapters, ensuring alignment in strategy, communication, and organizing efforts. He works to strengthen collaborations across communities, supports chapter leaders in organizing impactful campaigns, and helps cultivate the next generation of Tibetan activists in the Midwest. Outside of SFT, Kunga is a student at the University of Minnesota and enjoys playing soccer.

Ashley (Ash) Blake is a London-based human rights advocate, specialising in the preservation of Tibetan cultural heritage. His interest began through reading and practicing Tibetan Buddhism, resulting in taking refuge with Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche. He then combined this interest with his academic work during his undergraduate degree in Art History, writing his dissertation on contemporary Tibetan portrait photography and its curation in the UK.

Now pursuing a master’s degree in Art History and Conservation of Buddhist Heritage at the Courtauld Institute, Ash’s research has explored many subjects, including the ethical stewardship and repatriation of Tibetan artifacts, the curation of lineage sculptures at the British Museum, and wall painting techniques in Ladakh. He is now writing his dissertation which aims to “queer” Buddhist art through the Two Truths Doctrine.

Since joining SFT as a summer intern in 2025, Ash was elected as the Programmes Director for the London chapter. Among the initiatives that he is most proud of are organising a vigil for a political prisoner, lobbying a local politician regarding a collaboration with Chinese boarding schools in Tibet, and developing a toolkit for campaigns targeting museums. In May 2026, he became Communications Fellow and remains deeply committed to sustained advocacy for Tibet and the protection of Tibetan culture. In his spare time he loves to read fiction, and go on long walks in the countryside with one of his many film cameras!

Tenzin Passang was born as a stateless refugee in India, with a Master’s in Sociology from Jawaharlal Nehru University and a Bachelor’s in Political Science from Gargi College, Delhi University. She has been passionately advocating for Tibet’s freedom and environmental rights since college. She first joined SFT in the Delhi chapter in 2016 as a program coordinator, and takes pride in being a Tibetan human rights advocate and community organizer whose work centers on nonviolent resistance, youth empowerment, and the preservation of Tibetan identity.

Joining SFT India Staff team in 2020, Passang has led impactful programs, including Free Tibet Action Camp, Little Lhasa program, the Tibet’s Rivers, Asia’s Lifeline campaign and grassroots events to strengthen SFT India’s network and engage on key issues of Tibet. After overcoming a tremendous battle with cancer, Passang joined SFT-India as a National Director in 2023, continuing to strengthen grassroots networks and champion the cause of Tibet’s environmental and political freedom.