An intimate meditation center
O-An Zendo is an intimate meditation center surrounded by 140 acres of woodland in central Pennsylvania. Everything from the window walls to the live-edge interior wood trim is designed to reflect and harmonize with the surrounding natural landscape.
We offer a quiet, secluded atmosphere for meditation practice, providing a regular Sunday service, a monthly full-day sitting, and other related activities.
Although grounded in Soto Zen Buddhism, O-An welcomes all those interested in meditation, regardless of background and/or style of practice. Newcomers are invited to contact us for a personal introduction to Zen meditation practice.
O-An is a member of the Julian Woods Community, a School of Living Land Trust, located 20 miles north of State College, PA.
We offer a quiet, secluded atmosphere for meditation practice, providing a regular Sunday service, a monthly full-day sitting, and other related activities.
Although grounded in Soto Zen Buddhism, O-An welcomes all those interested in meditation, regardless of background and/or style of practice. Newcomers are invited to contact us for a personal introduction to Zen meditation practice.
O-An is a member of the Julian Woods Community, a School of Living Land Trust, located 20 miles north of State College, PA.
BOARD MEMBERS
As a non-profit entity, O-An is governed by a Board of Directors. Our Board consists of 8 members who hold quarterly meetings to attend to the business of O-An. Brief bios and contact information for each board member is listed below.
Serving on the Board of Directors offers members the opportunity to contribute time and talent to the Zendo. If you are interested in serving in this capacity, please contact us. We encourage all members to share in the opportunity and responsibility of assuring that O-An is able to continue to offer the teachings for generations.
The document below covers the State of the Zendo Board Meeting, 2023
State of the Zendo, 2023
As a non-profit entity, O-An is governed by a Board of Directors. Our Board consists of 8 members who hold quarterly meetings to attend to the business of O-An. Brief bios and contact information for each board member is listed below.
Serving on the Board of Directors offers members the opportunity to contribute time and talent to the Zendo. If you are interested in serving in this capacity, please contact us. We encourage all members to share in the opportunity and responsibility of assuring that O-An is able to continue to offer the teachings for generations.
The document below covers the State of the Zendo Board Meeting, 2023
State of the Zendo, 2023

Andrea Young
Andrea Young has served as O-An Board President since January 2020. She lives in Altoona, Pennsylvania and is mother to three daughters, Alaina, Leah, and Halee. She began practicing meditation in 2010 and is a Registered Yoga Teacher. Andrea works for the Department of Veterans Affairs as a communications specialist. She can be reached by email at andrea.renee.penney@gmail.com
Andrea Young has served as O-An Board President since January 2020. She lives in Altoona, Pennsylvania and is mother to three daughters, Alaina, Leah, and Halee. She began practicing meditation in 2010 and is a Registered Yoga Teacher. Andrea works for the Department of Veterans Affairs as a communications specialist. She can be reached by email at andrea.renee.penney@gmail.com

Bob Morder
Bob Morder has served on the board at O-An Zendo since 2013, making him our longest serving board member. He has enjoyed seeing the Sangha grow and prosper over the years. Bob lives in Huntingdon, PA with his wife, MaryAnne. They have a son, Bradley, a daughter-in-law, Alisyn, a granddaughter, Maggie Jay, and late son, Jason. Bob served in the U.S. Marine Corps, and was a Corrections Officer at the Department of Corrections. Bob loves gardening and often performs Samu practice on the grounds of the Zendo. He can be reached at rmorder@yahoo.com
Bob Morder has served on the board at O-An Zendo since 2013, making him our longest serving board member. He has enjoyed seeing the Sangha grow and prosper over the years. Bob lives in Huntingdon, PA with his wife, MaryAnne. They have a son, Bradley, a daughter-in-law, Alisyn, a granddaughter, Maggie Jay, and late son, Jason. Bob served in the U.S. Marine Corps, and was a Corrections Officer at the Department of Corrections. Bob loves gardening and often performs Samu practice on the grounds of the Zendo. He can be reached at rmorder@yahoo.com

Domenica Genovese
Domenica has served on the board since July 2020. She has a life-long interest in zen study and meditation. O-An has brought a renewed focus to her practice. Domenica recently retired from a marketing design firm that she co-founded in 1989. She continues design work for the Mary Louis Academy in New York and for several non-profits such as The Care Network in Pennsylvania. Her email is domenica@gcfonline.com
Domenica has served on the board since July 2020. She has a life-long interest in zen study and meditation. O-An has brought a renewed focus to her practice. Domenica recently retired from a marketing design firm that she co-founded in 1989. She continues design work for the Mary Louis Academy in New York and for several non-profits such as The Care Network in Pennsylvania. Her email is domenica@gcfonline.com

Hayley Sharpe
Hayley joined the board in February 2023. She began practicing Buddhism in 2016 at the Shambhala Meditation Center in Philadelphia. After falling off the cushion for sometime, she found O-An in 2021 after moving to State College for graduate school. She has since returned to Philadelphia where she works in financial services and lives with her fiance. Hayley enjoys sharing meals with friends, reading autobiographies, and exercise of all kinds. hay.e.sharpe@gmail.com
Hayley joined the board in February 2023. She began practicing Buddhism in 2016 at the Shambhala Meditation Center in Philadelphia. After falling off the cushion for sometime, she found O-An in 2021 after moving to State College for graduate school. She has since returned to Philadelphia where she works in financial services and lives with her fiance. Hayley enjoys sharing meals with friends, reading autobiographies, and exercise of all kinds. hay.e.sharpe@gmail.com

Brenda Foster
Brenda has served the board as a consultant since July 2020. Originally from Baltimore, MD., Brenda was a partner in a marketing communications firm for higher education. She retired from the firm in 2020 and moved to Florida in April, 2021. She has studied and taught Tai Chi for over 30 years, practiced bonsai for as many years, and has just begun studying Kyudo long bow. You can reach Brenda at brenda@gcfonline.com
Brenda has served the board as a consultant since July 2020. Originally from Baltimore, MD., Brenda was a partner in a marketing communications firm for higher education. She retired from the firm in 2020 and moved to Florida in April, 2021. She has studied and taught Tai Chi for over 30 years, practiced bonsai for as many years, and has just begun studying Kyudo long bow. You can reach Brenda at brenda@gcfonline.com

Michele Chernega
Michele appreciates a close involvement with O-An Zendo’s supportive community. After decades of trying, she now maintains a regular meditation practice. Michele enjoys O-An services via Zoom, in-person Sunday service, work days, and retreats. Michele has a son and daughter. She works at WPSU and does volunteer work at Centre Bike and RSVP Pen Pals. Michele’s email is dharmabum1@gmail.com
Michele appreciates a close involvement with O-An Zendo’s supportive community. After decades of trying, she now maintains a regular meditation practice. Michele enjoys O-An services via Zoom, in-person Sunday service, work days, and retreats. Michele has a son and daughter. She works at WPSU and does volunteer work at Centre Bike and RSVP Pen Pals. Michele’s email is dharmabum1@gmail.com

Sherri Hankal
Sherri is retired from an engineering career and now enjoys fishing and golf. She lives in Central PA with her wife and two chihuahuas. She has explored Buddhism for many years and found a home at O-An Zendo. hankaltech@gmail.com
Sherri is retired from an engineering career and now enjoys fishing and golf. She lives in Central PA with her wife and two chihuahuas. She has explored Buddhism for many years and found a home at O-An Zendo. hankaltech@gmail.com

Taishin Michael Augustin
Taishin Michael Augustin joined O-An in 2021. He was selected by the Board of Directors in Fall 2022 to apprentice with Meido Barbara Anderson, Roshi, to become O-An's next Resident Priest and Guiding Teacher. An academic by training, Taishin brings more than ten years of philosophical study and Zen practice to the sangha. He serves as an Honorary Board Member, and is reachable at m.augustin@me.com
Taishin Michael Augustin joined O-An in 2021. He was selected by the Board of Directors in Fall 2022 to apprentice with Meido Barbara Anderson, Roshi, to become O-An's next Resident Priest and Guiding Teacher. An academic by training, Taishin brings more than ten years of philosophical study and Zen practice to the sangha. He serves as an Honorary Board Member, and is reachable at m.augustin@me.com