Dr. Tenzin Dhardon Sharling was appointed by Governor Maura Healey as a member of the Commission on the Status of Women in September 2026. She is a lecturer in the Department of Communication at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a feminist scholar, educator, and advocate with more than two decades of experience advancing women’s leadership, human
rights, democratic participation, and social justice. Dr. Sharling began her professional journey at age 24 with the Tibetan Women’s Association. She later served as an elected member of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile and as Secretary of the Central Tibetan Administration’s Department of Information and International Relations. Her experience as a Tibetan woman living in exile continues to shape her commitment to inclusive representation and to elevating the perspectives of immigrant, refugee, and historically underrepresented women. She earned a Ph.D. in Communication and an Advanced Graduate Certificate in Feminist Studies from UMass Amherst. Her publications include the co-authored book Power of the Feminine: Facing Shadows, Evoking Light and the article “Theorizing a Female Dalai Lama: An Intersectional Tool for Feminisms.” As a commissioner, she is committed to advancing the dignity, rights, opportunities, representation, and well-being of women across the Commonwealth.