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Georgetown University appoints Shweta Chaitanya as director for Dharmic Life
She was previously appointed the Hindu chaplain at Emory University
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Shweta Chaitanya appointed director of Dharmic Life, Georgetown University / Image - Georgetown
Georgetown University, a private university in Washington D.C., has appointed Shweta Chaitanya as the new director for Dharmic life, effective August 1.
She will join Georgetown’s Campus Ministry team, which includes Rabbi Ilana Zietman, the new director for Jewish Life, and Rev. Ebony Grisom, the director of Protestant Life.
A Brahmacharini (spiritual leader), Chaitanya has over three years of experience as the Hindu chaplain at Emory University, where she worked with an interfaith chaplaincy team to support the Hindu community through weekly gatherings, educational opportunities, and pastoral care.
“I am excited to welcome Rabbi Ilana and Brahmacharini Shweta to the Georgetown community and look forward to supporting their ministry to our Jewish and Dharmic communities,” said Mark Bosco, vice president for Mission & Ministry. “To have three women lead our chaplaincies is a significant milestone and a testament to all that women contribute to our spiritual life at Georgetown.”
Chaitanya’s early exposure to Dharmic life came from her mother, who practiced the Varkari tradition of Hinduism in Houston, Texas. Her upbringing inspired her to explore a formalized spiritual life, leading her to pursue a career in chaplaincy. After being ordained as a brahmacharini in 2017, she served as a spiritual teacher at the Chinmaya Center in Houston before joining Emory.
Chaitanya emphasized the importance of interreligious understanding in helping students explore deeper questions and understand diverse perspectives. “An interfaith setting helps us do the work of parsing out how we connect with our spiritual or religious traditions,” she said.
“College is a roller coaster. There are a lot of ups and downs and times of stress. I want students to know they can reach out to me anytime,” Chaitanya, who aims to be a resource and a conversation partner added.
Georgetown university established a Dharmālaya on campus in 2021. The center provides a space for members of Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Hindu, and other Dharmic traditions to gather and practice their faith.
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