Rev. Odo Ellen Simpson first came to Zen practice in 2010, and studied as a nonresident at City Center while working as a healthcare provider. She received Buddha’s precepts and lay initiation from Shosan Victoria Austin in 2014. In 2018, she became a full-time resident at City Center and received priest ordination from Tenzen David Zimmerman in 2023. She is currently SFZC's Outreach Coordinator.