As Assistant Professor of Asian American Studies at California State University, Northridge, Simmy loves to witness her students' interest not just in learning, but their interest in how they learn, as this creates a hospitable environment for her to co-learn with them, which she holds dear as an honor and a privilege.

Simmy met Rinpoche in 2005 at a neighbor-friend’s home over caipirinhas and electro-house music.

In 2020, Simmy took on the communications role with Siddhartha’s Intent Western Door after having volunteered with Khyentse Foundation for several years. She organizes and sends out communications regarding teaching events and practices, crafting announcements around special projects, and fields queries of all kinds from people around the world. She also routinely activates a communications network (Bay Area, Halifax, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, Toronto, Vancouver) to keep regional North American sangha groups in the loop and happily moonlights for SI Canada whenever helpful.

Simmy is especially interested in the infinite ways ceremonial aspects of the Vajrayana reveal the natural spaciousness within, and, in her spare time, her melodious voice (she wishes!) graces numerous group practices as chant leader (umdze).