Our Team
Jose (Shinzan) Palma
Sensei Shinzan was born in Veracruz, Mexico, He is an ordained Zen priest and Dharma successor of Joan Jiko Halifax, roshi.
Shinzan arrived at Upaya Zen Center in 2006 where he lived and trained for over 8 years as a resident and student of Joan Halifax, roshi. He received Dharma transmission from Joan Halifax, roshi in Jan 2015 before relocating to San Diego, CA..
He is the founder of the Open Gate Zen Collective in San Diego ,CA. co-teaches teen retreats in the US for IBME , and is a guest teacher at Upaya Zen Center and New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care. Guiding Teacher for Sanghas in México City and Bogotá, Colombia.
His vision is to continue to mentor and teach young men and women and to create a Zen Hispanic community in the USA and Mexico.
Joana (Joren) Arcos- Gamboa
Born and raised in Cali Colombia, moved to The United States to pursue a college education. Joana received multiple degrees from Rutgers University, University of New Mexico, South West Acupuncture Collage and Heilongjiang University in Harbin China. Working and studying full time took a toll on her, which lead her to finding Zen Buddhism. Joana has practiced Buddhism for 13 years with multiple Sanghas and in 2015 She took Jukai with Shinzan. In 2018 she moved to San Diego and became a part of Open Gate Zen Collective. Joana was able to practice for 4 years with the OG Sangha., forming bonds that will last a lifetime. In 2022 Joana married a wonderful human being, TJ and moved to Tokyo, Japan with their dog Shak. In Japan she teaches English and has an arts and crafts home business. She continues her Zen practice with two temples in Japan, Tosho-Ji and Sozen-Ji.
Nancy Natilson
Nancy moved to San Diego in January 2026 with her husband to be closer to family, including their two granddaughters. They immediately felt at home at Open Gate Zen Collective and are grateful to be members of such a welcoming sangha with such a wise and dedicated teacher!
Nancy has practiced Buddhism in the Plum Village tradition since 2004 with the Florida Community of Mindfulness (FCM). In 2011, she was ordained in Thich Nhat Hanh’s Order of interbeing and was given the name Truly Living Together. Nancy had many leadership roles at FCM, including Board member.
Nancy is retired from a career in international development. She specialized in supporting civil society organizations and microenterprises in the Global South to become financially sustainable. Nancy traveled extensively all around the world and still enjoys traveling and collecting indigenous crafts. She has an MBA in International Finance from New York University and a BA in Urban Studies from the University of Pennsylvania. Nancy currently volunteers to support people and bear witness during their immigration appointments.
Peg (Kendo) Murray
Peggy is a Zen Peacemaker, a priest and a Dharma Holder (hoshi) in the White Plum Lineage who lives and serves at Bread Loaf Mountain Zen Community in Cornwall VT alongside Joshin Byrnes, sensei. Kendo has been a close spiritual friend of Shinzan sensei since living and practicing beside him as a fellow resident at Upaya Zen Center from 2007-2013. During her years of residency at Upaya, Kendo served as personal and administrative assistant to the Abbott, Roshi Joan Halifax and also coordinated both the Prajna Mountain Refuge site and the Being With Dying Training for palliative care clinicians.
Kendo left Upaya in 2013 to formally study Early Buddhist teachings/ Pali Canon through Bodhi College and completed the Committed Dharma Practitioner Program in 2015. In addition, she spent many weeks between Dec 2016-May 2018 in service and training in the Tibetan Vajrayana tradition at Dharma Ocean in Crestone Colorado.
Peg holds a M.Ed. in Counselor Education, is a mom and a grandmother, and enjoys sharing the various perspectives from her eclectic Buddhist studies while infusing the skillfull means of humor and joy into her life, practice and teaching responsibilities.
Chris (Kenshin) Ariante
Chris grew up in a small coastal town in New Jersey and moved to California in 2017, first to San Francisco and eventually south to San Diego. He practiced with several Insight Meditation groups in San Francisco before finding Zen roughly five years ago. He has been sitting with the Open Gate Zen Collective for the past several years and received Jukai from Sensei Shinzan in 2026.
In his lay life, Chris is the founder and CEO of Nira Energy, a software company focused on helping more renewable energy connect to the electric grid. He has dedicated his career to making the energy system more sustainable and efficient. Chris was named an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2025 and is an alumnus of Y Combinator. He holds a degree in mechanical engineering.
Gregg (Dojin) Henning
Gregg (Dojin) Henning
Gregg Dojin Henning (b. August 13, 1959) was born and raised in the Santa Ynez Valley of California. He served in the United States Navy as a medic and later worked for over thirty years as a licensed vocational nurse. Alongside his healthcare career, Gregg has been a professional drummer for more than forty years.
Dojin began Zen practice in 1993 at the Zen Center San Diego, where he practiced for seven years with Charlotte Joko Beck, Elizabeth Hamilton, and Ezra Bayda. He has also practiced for over thirty years with Insight Meditation teacher Gita Morena.
His Zen training has included practice at Sweetwater Zen Center under the guidance of Roshi Ann Seisen Sanders. For the past ten years, Dojin has practiced at Open Gate Zen Collective with Jose Shinzan Palma, Sensei.
Gregg was recently recognized as a Hoshi (Assistant teacher) and continues to share the Dharma grounded in ordinary life, long-term practice, and compassionate presence.