Faculty – Community Education Division
Shri. Michael Sternfeld, MA, is an independent scholar and producer/director with over 400 productions in theater, music, dance, audio and video to his credit, including a stint as a producer for the David Lynch Foundation producing major events such as the 2008 reunion of the remaining Beatles at Radio City Music Hall.
He earned his MA in Vedic Science from Maharishi International University, where he became fascinated with the Ramayana. He has spent the last 35 years creating numerous productions of the great epic, including theatrical productions, a theme park, and the first complete audio production of the unabridged Ramayana of Valmiki. At 75 hours long, this production is the world’s longest audio book and was awarded the 2004 Outstanding Project of the Year by the NEH and Humanities Iowa.
Professor Sternfeld has also published scholarly papers in academic journals and regularly speaks on the Ramayana at universities and in executive leadership trainings across the country. His most recent productions include Hanuman’s Leap of Faith with renowned kirtan singer Krishna Das and Sita’s Gems, a reframing of the Ramayana from the perspective of Sita and featuring a dozen women wisdom leaders. He has also worked with the Sagar family of Ramayana fame as an advisor on film versions of the Ramayana for Western audiences.
Over the years, he has also taught numerous courses on the Ramayana for Maharishi International University and his popular course for the NKB Ashram in Taos, New Mexico for over 1000 participants.