A diverse group of people attending an indoor event in a library with bookshelves in the background, many wearing face masks, some seated and some standing.

High Asia is an independent, non-profit center dedicated to researching and advancing the history, culture, literature and struggle for freedom and dignity of Tibetans and the peoples on the roof of the world. High Asia is a registered organization based in New York City. 

High Asia’s goal is to disseminate information, analysis and creative expression through print, the Internet, film, music, art and other forums to give expression to the views and aspirations of the peoples of High Asia. The center hopes to encourage critical thinking and constructive action on issues relating to this important but generally overlooked area of the world. 

Meet the Team

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Jamyang Norbu

Executive Director

Jamyang Norbu is a prominent Tibetan writer, historian, and political activist born in Darjeeling, India in 1949. He served as director of the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts and has written extensively on Tibetan history and politics, including Warriors of Tibet and The Mandala of Sherlock Holmes. A vocal advocate for Tibetan independence, he is known for his critical stance on Chinese policies in Tibet and his essays on Tibetan political and cultural issues. He currently resides in the United States.

A woman smiling in front of the Golden Gate Bridge at sunset, wearing a black hoodie with white text, black pants, glasses, and a beige crossbody bag.

Tenzin Tselha

Program Director

Tenzin Tselha is a Tibetan advocacy strategist and program leader. She currently serves as Program Director at the High Asia Research Center, where she produces the High Asia Podcast and has initiated various initiatives to increase critical discussion on Tibet. Previously, she was Program Officer for the Tibet Portfolio at the National Democratic Institute. As National Director of Students for a Free Tibet's India Chapter, she built a national activist network and orchestrated large-scale direct action campaigns for Tibetan freedom. She currently resides in the United States

Board Of Directors

  • An older man with a white beard and glasses wearing a colorful cap, smiling at the camera.

    Peter Brown

  • A man with dark, spiky hair and a goatee smiling outdoors in front of a stone wall.

    Tenzin Dorjee

  • Black and white photo of an elderly man with glasses, a beard, and a mustache, in front of a bookshelf filled with books.

    Sonam Wangdue

  • Portrait of a man with short black hair wearing a red traditional Chinese shirt and a black jacket over his shoulder.

    Ngawang Tharpa

  • A close-up photo of a middle-aged man with glasses, a mustache, and a beard, smiling in an indoor space with books and papers in the background.

    Wangchuk Shakapa