Charles G. Lief

Charles G. Lief was named the 7th president of Naropa University in 2012 after a deep forty-year affiliation with Naropa—first as a student of Naropa's founder, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, then as a lawyer for the university, and later as chairman of the board. Under President Lief's leadership, Naropa University has developed strategic partnerships to deepen Naropa's impact on its students and on the world. This includes revitalizing Naropa's commitment to the arts, investing in substantial capital improvements to Naropa's facilities, and substantially growing its undergraduate and graduate enrollment.

Prior to assuming his current role, Chuck led some of the country's most innovative and successful organizations providing integrated social enterprises and social services, including the Greyston Foundation and Amida Care, which together provided essential housing, health care, and employment to thousands of low-income people in the Northeast.

Chuck has served in leadership capacities on numerous boards, currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of the Lion’s Roar Foundation, and is a trustee at Bridge House and Veteran’s PATH. Chuck has previously served on the boards of Shambhala International, the Social Enterprise Alliance, the Intervale Center, the Vermont Community Loan Fund, Vermont Works for Women, the Westchester County Housing Commission, the New York State Governor's AIDS housing task force, and many others.

He earned a BA from Brandeis University and a JD from the University of Colorado School of Law.