Interests & Expertise

Tibetan macaques, tourism, and aging; Gibbon behavior, ecology, and conservation; Primate conservation; Primate social behavior; Biological anthropology

Field Experience

• Tourist-monkey (Macaca thibetana) interactions, Anhui Province, China
• Behavior of Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana), Anhui Province, China
• Behavior and ecology of black gibbons (Nomascus concolor), Yunnan Province, China
• Rehabilitation and reintroduction of white-handed gibbons (Hylobates lar), Thailand
• Gibbon (Hylobatidae) conservation issues in Malaysia, Thailand, China, and the United States (captive populations)

Teaching & Professional Experiences

• 2011-present Professor of Anthropology, CWU
• 2006-2012 Director, Primate Behavior and Ecology MS and BS programs, CWU
• 2005-2011 Associate Professor of Anthropology, CWU (tenured)
• 2003-2005 Assistant Professor of Anthropology, CWU
• 1999-2003 Associate Professor of Anthropology, California State University-Fullerton (tenured)
• 1999 Visiting Assistant Professor of Anthropology, University of Southern California
• 1993-1999 Assistant Professor of Anthropology, California State University-Fullerton
• 1993 Lecturer in Anthropology, Ohio State University

Courses Taught at CWU

• General Anthropology (ANTH 107)
• Introduction to Biological Anthropology (ANTH 110)
• Biological Anthropology Lab (ANTH 110L)
• Principles and Assessment (ANTH 301)
• Primate Social Behavior (ANTH 313)
• Human Variation and Adaptation in Living Populations (ANTH 314)
• Primate Conservation (ANTH 411/PRIM 511)
• Long Term Primate Studies (ANTH 412)
• Primate Evolution (ANTH 418)
• China Field School (ANTH 493)
• Introduction to Primatology (PRIM 501)

Current Research

Conservation and behavior of Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana), Anhui Province, China

Selected Publications

(In Press) Self, S.; Sheeran, L.K.; Matheson, M.D., Li, J.H.; Pelton, O.; Harding, S.; Wagner, R.S. Tourism and infant-directed aggression in Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) at Mt. Huangshan, China. Anthrozoös, forthcoming 6/2013.

(In Press) Sheeran, L.K. Tibetan macaques. In: Handbook of the Mammals of the World, Volume 3 Primates, R.A. Mittermeier and D.E. Wilson (eds.). Lnyx Edicions, Rockville Center, NY, forthcoming 3/2013.

(In Press) Sheeran, L.K. Amazing Species: Tibetan macaques. IUCN Redlist, http://www.iucnredlist.org/amazing-species, forthcoming 1/2013.

(In Press) Sheeran, L.K. Review of The Primate Mind: Built to Connect with Other Minds. Journal of Anthropological Research.

2012 Simons, N.D.; Lorenz, J.G.; Sheeran, L.K.; Li, J.H.; Xia, D.P.; Wagner, R.S. Noninvasive saliva collection for DNA analyses from free-ranging Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana). American Journal of Primatology 74:1064-1070.

2010 Ruesto, L.A.; Sheeran, L.K.; Matheson, M.D.; Li, J.H.; Wagner, R.S. Tourist behavior and decibel levels correlate with threat frequency in Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) at Mt. Huangshan, China. Primate Conservation 2010 (25): 99-104.

2010 Sheeran, L.K. Lack of seasonal influence on duet duration in black gibbons (Nomascus concolor jingdongensis). In: Collected Readings in Biological Anthropology in Honor of Professor LS Penrose and Dr. Sahrah B. Holt, Sudip Datta Banak (ed.). Unas Letras Industria Editorial, Merida, Yucata, Pp. 359-367.

2010 Sheeran, L.K.; Matheson, M.D.; Li, J.H.; Wagner, R.S. A preliminary analysis of aging and potential social partners in Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana). In: Collected Readings in Biological Anthropology in Honor of Professor LS Penrose and Dr. Sahrah B. Holt, Sudip Datta Banak (ed.). Unas Letras Industria Editorial, Merida, Yucata, Pp. 349-358.

2010 Xia, D.P.; Li, J.H.; Zhu, Y.; Sun, B.H.; Sheeran, L.K.; Matheson, M.D. Seasonal variation and synchronization of sexual behaviors in free-ranging male Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) at Huangshan, China. Zoological Research 31(5):509-515.

2009 McCarthy, M.S.; Matheson, M.D.; Lester, J.D.; Sheeran, L.K.; Li, J.H.; Wagner, R.S. Sequences of Tibetan Macaque (Macaca thibetana) Behaviors and Tourist Behaviors at Mt. Huangshan, China. Primate Conservation 24:145-151.

Primatology Links

Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute

China Field School: CWU Study Abroad Program (www.cwu.edu/international-programs/)

CWU Primate Behavior and Ecology Degree Programs (BS and MS) (www.cwu.edu/primate)

Careers in Primatology (www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/careers/index.html)

Primate Bibliographic Services-PrimateLit (primatelit.library.wisc.edu/)

Research and Job Opportunities in Primatology (www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/jobs/index.html)

American Society of Primatologists (http://www.asp.org/)

Ape Action Africa (www.cwaf.org/)

Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest (http://www.chimpsanctuarynw.org/)

Friends of Washoe (www.friendsofwashoe.org/)

Gibbon Conservation Center (www.gibboncenter.org/)

Gibbon Network (http://www.gibbons.de/main2/index.html)

International Primatological Society (http://www.internationalprimatologicalsociety.org/)

IUCN Redlist of Threatened Species (http://www.iucnredlist.org/)

Jane Goodall Institute (www.janegoodall.org/)

Orangutan Foundation International (www.orangutan.org/home/home.php)

Pan Africa Sanctuary Alliance (http://pasaprimates.org/)

South Asian Primate Network (http://www.southasianprimatenetwork.org/)

The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International (www.gorillafund.org/)

The World Conservation Union (www.iucn.org/)