Jan Willis

About the Author

Jan Willis is a renowned scholar, author, and professor emerita of religion at Wesleyan University, where she has taught Buddhist philosophy and comparative religion for over three decades. Born in Docena, Alabama, she grew up in a Black Baptist community in the segregated South, experiences that profoundly shaped her spiritual path. As one of the first Black women to receive a PhD in Sanskrit and Indic studies from Columbia University, Willis has bridged Eastern and Western traditions, exploring themes of identity, race, and enlightenment. Her acclaimed memoir, Dreaming Me: Black, Baptist, and Buddhist ― One Woman's Spiritual Journey, chronicles her transformative journey from civil rights activism to Tibetan Buddhism under the guidance of the Dalai Lama. A sought-after speaker and meditation teacher, Willis continues to inspire readers with her insights on mindfulness, social justice, and the quest for inner peace.