Rev. Danny Fisher

[This post has been updated as of 5:30 p.m. EST on 4.9.09.]

This just in from ColoradoDaily.com: Dr. Stuart C. Lord, the associate provost of Darmouth College and a Chrisitian minister, will succeed Thomas Coburn as the next president of Buddhist-inspired Naropa University, one of my alma maters. Dr. Lord, who will become the institution’s first black president, begins his new job on July 1st of this year. He was quoted as saying the following at a press conference announcing the hire today:

I’m thrilled and excited and eager to work with a talented, committed faculty who teach from the heart and soul and who embody the vision of transformation through contemplative practice. It’s an exciting time for the history of this place and an exciting time in this transition and the plans set forth will create great opportunities for Naropa and the Boulder community.

Congratulations, Dr. Lord!

[UPDATE: Our friends at Naropa's Allen Ginsberg Library point us to other news stories about the hire, including the reflections of our pal Waylon Lewis at elephantjournal.com.]

[Photo via Naropa University.]