Danica Shoan Ankele first arrived at the Monastery while still a college junior, beginning a path that led to full-time residential training in 2007. Before embracing monastic life, she taught high school English and coordinated an interdisciplinary arts and education program, bringing together creativity, learning, and service.
Her training deepened over the years, becoming a senior student with Daido Roshi in 2009 and receiving full monastic ordination from Shugen Roshi in 2015. Today, Shoan serves as the Monastery’s Creative Director and Training Coordinator, supporting both the artistic vision and the development of the training community.
She is married to Mn. Gokan Bonebakker.