Press Release
February 8, 2007

Swami Yogatmanada being installed as the University's Hindu Chaplain

Dr. Susan Costa, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, has recently appointed Swami Yogatmananda of Providence Vedanta Society as the Hindu Chaplain for UMass Dartmouth.

The initiative to appoint a Hindu Chaplain was taken following a suicide by an Indian student two years ago, so that Indian students can get some counseling and spiritual support.

Office of the Student Affairs in collaboration with the Center for Indic Studies and Campus Services is organizing installation of the Chaplain on Wednesday, February 14 at 3 PM in the Library Browsing Area.

According to the Student Affairs Office, appointment of a Chaplain at UMass Dartmouth has not taken place in decades, so this event provides a rare opportunity for the university to show its commitment to the spiritual well being of its students.

Swami Yogatmananda is the Minister at the Providence Vedanta Society, holds Master's degree in mathematics, and has been ordained the title of a Swami under the Ramakrishna Mission order. He is also a currently a University Chaplain at Brown University

Born in 1953 in Karnataka, India, Swami Yogatmananda joined Ramakrishna Order in 1976. He received his monastic vows in 1986. After being at Ramakrishna Math Center at Nagpur, India for 20 years, he was posted as the Head of Ramakrishna Mission, Shillong, Meghalaya, India.

Swami Yogatmananda has participated in numerous activities at UMass Dartmouth in the past, sponsored by the Center for Indic Studies, including special services for students in 2005, a conference on Science and Spirituality in June 2004, and on Karma Yoga in July 2004. He also presented a seminar on March 17, 2006 on Unique Gift of India: Unity within Diversity.

The installation ceremony will be attended by Dr. Anthony Garro, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Dr. David Milstone, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Chaplains from Catholic and Protestant & Episcopal Campus Ministries, and Hillel Staff.

A few other spiritual leaders, including those from Fairhaven Unitarian Church and Fall River Temple have been invited, as are the faculty and students.

 Last Updated On: 2/12/07