Ram Dass (born Richard Alpert, April 6, 1931) is an American spiritual teacher, psychologist, and author. He is known for his personal and professional associations with Timothy Leary at Harvard University in the early 1960s, for his travels to India and his relationship with Hindu guru Neem Karoli Baba, and for founding the charitable organizations Seva Foundation and Hanuman Foundation. He continues to lecture and write about spiritual topics.