Deepak Shimkhada

Deepak Shimkhada (Nepali: दीपक सिंखडा) (born September 5, 1945) is a Nepalese-American with a diverse professional background. He currently serves as an adjunct professor at Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga, California, and has previously held visiting and adjunct positions at several U.S. universities, including Scripps College, Claremont Graduate University, California State University, Northridge, University of the West, and Claremont School of Theology. His teaching career began in 1980, and while he has retired from full-time teaching, he continues to teach Asian art part-time at Chaffey College.

He holds the position of founding president in two prominent organizations, namely the Foundation for Indic Philosophy and Culture (Indic Foundation) and the Himalayan Arts Council. In his career, Shimkhada has actively contributed to several institutions, including Asian Studies on the Pacific Coast and the America-Nepal Society of California, where he also held the position of president. His leadership extended to serving as the Chair of the Hindu Council on the Board of Visitors for the School of Religion at Claremont Graduate University from 2006 to 2012. Furthermore, he played a foundational role as a board member in the South Asian Studies Association.

He has an extensive publication record, including journal and newspaper articles, book chapters, and edited books. His artistic endeavors encompass exhibitions of his paintings and graphics, which have been displayed in group and solo shows in various countries, including Nepal, India, Japan, and the United States. Additionally, he has made appearances as a commentator in several episodes of the History Channel series Ancient Aliens.