Ashton Asbury, BS Animal Behavior, Indiana University

Faculty advisor: Dr. Lori Sheeran

Research interests: What makes humans engage in learning about primates when they see them in captivity and human impact on great apes in captivity and in the wild

Other interests: Spending time with my dogs, traveling, watching football, reading and going to concerts

Carson Black, BA Anthropology, Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Faculty advisors: Dr. Jessica Mayhew

Research interests: Primate conservation biology, human-primate interactions in relation to disease transmission, conservation strategies

Other interests: Fossils, reading, kayaking, traveling, soccer, music

J.P. Calcitrai, BS Evolutionary Anthropology, Rutgers University

Faculty advisor: Dr. April Binder

Research interests: Behavioral endocrinology, complex adaptive system evolution, socioecology and social hierarchy dynamics, evolutionary psychology, and sexual selection

Other interests: Hiking/backpacking, kayaking, reading, video games, debating about science and philosophy

Trevon Covington, BS Biology, Tennessee Technological University

Faculty advisor: Dr. Jessica Mayhew

Research interests: Youth-to-youth and youth-to-adult play behavior, and paternal parenting behaviors (Old World and New World species comparison).

Other interests: African American history and culture, listening to old school soul music, watching movies, reading, and serving the community.

Riley Derby, BA Anthropology, The University of Texas at Austin

Faculty advisors: Dr. Jessica Mayhew

Research interests: Great ape social interaction and behavior, gorilla adolescence and life history, gorilla and chimpanzee growth, gorilla group structure, conservation.

Other interests: Lacrosse, all sports in general, exercising, community service/volunteering

Kuenzang Dorji, BS Sustainable Development, Royal University of Bhutan

Faculty advisor: Dr. Lori Sheeran

Research interests: Conservation, genetics, biodiversity, education, large cats, langurs, and macaques

Faculty advisor: Dr. Mary Lee Jensvold

Research interests: Captive welfare and enrichment, ethnoprimatology, conservation

Other interests: Hiking, music, camping, photography, my dog Gator

David Pitchford, BS Psychology, minors in Biology & Neuroscience, Middle Tennessee State University

Faculty advisor: Dr. Sofia Blue

Research interests: Bioacoustics and honest-signaling as they pertain to health, disease ecology, neural and immunological correlates of cognition and social behavior

Other interests: Creative writing, painting, fencing, and rock climbing

Madalyn Rantala, BAS Applied Behavioral Sciences, Seattle Central College

Faculty advisor: Dr. Kara Gabriel

Research interests: Ethnoprimatology, captive primate welfare, the global trade in exotic animals, natural resource conservation, bioethics, and social behavior of primates

Other interests: My dog Boss, painting, reading, specialty coffee, and yoga

Faculty advisor: Dr. Mary Lee Jensvold

Research interests: Habitat conservation, using American Sign Language to improve animal welfare among chimpanzees, captive vs. non captive care, orangutans

Other interests: Traveling, sports, DIY projects, interior design, going to Target

Kyle Taylor, BS Exercise and Sport Sciences, Colby-Sawyer College

Faculty advisor: Dr. Jessica Mayhew

Research interests: Sexual differentiation and social behavior, ecological and physiological mechanisms of female dominance and cohesive alliances, lemurs, bonobos

Other interests: Choral singing, gardening, learning about native plants, foraging for wild foods, backpacking, camping, hanging out with my cats Millicent and Kali

Rose Amrhein, BS Zoology, Juniata College

Faculty advisor: Dr. Lixing Sun

Research interests: Primate social interactions and structures as well as other behavioral areas such as aggression and mating

Other interests: Hiking, horseback riding, and baking

Thesis: The ontogenesis of social behavior in the Tibetan macaque (Macaca thibetana)

Rhiannon Belcher, BS Zoology, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Faculty advisors: Dr. Kara Gabriel, Dr. Jessica Mayhew

Research interests: Factors that affect social behavior of lemurs, lemur conservation, enclosure design for captive lemurs

Other interests: Cats, marine mammals, science fiction, and more cats

Thesis: Examining Environmental Use in Captive Lemur catta and Varecia rubra

Kailyn Campbell, BS Primate Behavior & Ecology, BA Anthropology, Central Washington University

Faculty advisor: Dr. Lori Sheeran

Research interests: Tourism effects, rehabilitation, great apes, lemurs

Other interests: All things sports, softball, crafts, traveling, longboarding, spending time with family and friends

Thesis: Collecting baseline data to assess behavioral responses in captive chimpanzess (Pan troglodytes) to novel environments

Elizabeth Coggeshall, BA Anthropology Honors, The University of Texas at Austin

Faculty advisor: Dr. Jessica Mayhew

Research interests: Social and biological development of non-human primates, mother-infant relationships, disease and social networks, parasitology and gut microbiome, human-wildlife interactions, bioethics and rehabilitation

Other interests: My cat Hammy, favorite movie: Threat Level Midnight, sewing and knitting, hiking, birding

Thesis: The relationship between Macaca fascicularis maternal behavior and variable parasitic loads in offspring

Erin Emerson, BA Psychology emphasis in evolutionary, BA Anthropology emphasis in biological, minor Women's Studies, Fort Lewis College

Faculty advisors: Dr. Kara Gabriel, Dr. Mary Radeke

Research interests: the development of gendered behavior in gorillas, reproduction and rearing of offspring in callitrichids,  the relationship between neurochemicals and diversity of social structures in callitrichids

Other interests: Knitting, reading (everything but romance and westerns), music, brewing beer, collecting action figures, and having a lot of cats and other pets

Rachel Fuller, BS Anthropology, minor in Biology, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Faculty advisor: Dr. Sofia Blue

Research interests: Primate rehabilitation, primate behavior

Other interests: Long-term effects of rehabilitation on primates, primate conservation

Thesis: Guidelines for the rehabilitation, release, and post-release assessment of chacma baboons (Papio ursinus)

Robert Shaun Mayo, BA Anthropology, minor in Biology, East Tennessee State University

Faculty advisor: Dr. Lori Sheeran

Research interests: Habitat conservation, rehabilitation, foraging habits and techniques, large-bodied apes, small-bodied apes, prosimians

Other interests: Brazilian jiu jitsu, judo, traveling, photography, hiking, fossil lab prep

Thesis: Hand preference for food holding, reaching, food-tapping, and digit-feeding in captive adult aye-ayes (Daubentonia madagascariensis)

Emily Patton, BA Anthropology, secondary major in Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences, minor in Biology, Kansas State University

Faculty advisor: Dr. Mary Lee Jensvold

Research interests: Captive welfare, chimpanzee social behavior, personality, play behavior, human-wildlife conflict, ethnoprimatology, rehabilitation

Other interests: Hiking, running, yoga, bones, my dog Mud

Thesis: Chimpanzee early life histories and responses to caregiver use of species-specific behavior

Madeleine Spencer, BA Psychology, concentration in Biology, Rowan University

Faculty advisor: Dr. Sofia Blue

Research interests: Rehabilitation, conservation, mother/infant bonds in Chacma baboons

Other interests: Rock climbing, playing guitar, photography, hiking

Thesis: The relationship between differential rearing histories and rank in captive chacma baboons (Papio ursinus)

Alan Bergman, BS Zoology, Miami University

Faculty advisor: Dr. Kara Gabriel

Research interests: Visitor effects on the quality of life of great apes

Other interests: Sports, dogs, travel

Thesis: Gorilla-Visitor Interface at a Zoo Exhibit: Positioning Effects on Western Lowland Gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) and Zoo Visitors / 2019

Alan has accepted a caregiver position at Project Chimps.

Sofia Castro-Loza, BS Animal Science, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez

Faculty advisor: Dr. Jessica Mayhew

Research interests: Ethnoprimatology, the human-primate interface

Other interests: Swimming, snorkeling, backpacking, travel

Thesis: Ethnoprimatology of Urban Cebus yuracus: An evaluation of human-nonhuman interactions and local perceptions in Misahuallí, Ecuador / 2019

Grace Coffman, BS Anthropology, minor in Fisheries, Forestry & Wildlife, The Ohio State University 

Faculty advisor: Dr. Mary Lee Jensvold

Research interests: Visitor effects and stress levels in captive chimpanzees

Other interests: Reading, hiking, dogs

Thesis: The Effect of Sound on Captive Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) / 2019

Grace is continuing her studies at York University in Toronto in their Philosophy M.A. program unter the advisement of Dr. Kristin Andrews. 

Chad DeBree, BA Anthropology, BA Political Science with International Studies Certificate, Arizona State University

Faculty advisor: Dr. Mary Lee Jensvold

Research interests: Gestural communication and cooperation

Other interests: Traveling, learning new languages, cooking

Thesis: Comparison of Gesture Articulation Across Wild Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) Communities

Jake Funkhouser, BS Primate Behavior & Ecology, BA Psychology, Central Washington University

Faculty advisor: Dr. Jessica Mayhew

Research interests: Social Network Analysis, group composition, captive primate-caregiver relationships, welfare, personality

Other interests: Traveling with my fiance, fur children (dog/cat/rabbit), criminology and psychology TV series

Thesis: Re-evaluating Captive Chimpanzee "Dominance": Dominance Hierarchy and Chimpanzee-Caregiver Relationships at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest / 2018

Jake has been accepted into Washington University in St. Louis' Ph.D. program in Biological Anthropology under the advisement of Dr. Crickette Sanz, a CWU alumna. Together, Jake and Dr. Sanz will tackle large questions of behavioral adaptations, comparative social behavior, and individual well-being across sanctuary, zoo and wild chimpanzee populations.

Funkhouser J, Mayhew JA, & Mulcahy JB. 2018. Social network and dominance hierarchy analyses at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest. PLOS ONE, 13(2): e0191898

Mireille Gonzalez, BA Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley

Faculty advisor: Dr. Kara Gabriel

Research interests: Primate rescue, rehabilitation & release, habitat conservation, unique sexual selection & social hierarchies

Other interests: Permaculture and sustainable agriculture herbalism, growing/making my own medicine, event planning & catering

Thesis: Effects of a Voluntourism Experience on Perceptions and Attitudes Toward Environmental Sustainability and Science / 2019

Mireille is continuing her studies at Colorado State University in their Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Ph.D. Program under the advisement of Dr. Rebecca Niemiec. 

Victoria Green, BS Evolutionary Anthropology & Philosophy, Rutgers University

Faculty advisor: Dr. Matthew Altman

Research interests: The ethics of studying wild primates and the perception humans have toward non-human primates

Other interests: PC gaming, belly dancing, traveling

Thesis: How Researchers Address Ethical Concerns Regarding Habituating Nonhuman Primates: Results of a Survey and Suggestions for Future Practice /  2019 

Victoria is continuing her studies as a Philosophy Ph.D. student at Texas A&M University.

Kalli Kohen, BA Anthropology, California State University Fullerton

Faculty advisor: Dr. Lori Sheeran

Research interests: Paternal behavior in monogamous primates, the effects of stress on parental investment, social dynamics of Hylobates

Other interests: Ceramics, sewing, coffee

Thesis: Activity Budgets of Captive Javan Gibbons (Hylobates moloch) and Their Response to Visitor Presence or Absence / 2019

Caroline Rowley, BA Cultural Anthropology, Tulane University

Faculty advisors: Dr. Sofia Blue & Dr. Jessica Mayhew

Research interests: Bioacoustics, Hylobatidae, soundscape ecology

Other interests: Rock climbing, Canis familiaris, wearing denim

Thesis: Acoustic Analysis of Nomascus Songs as a Potential Measure of Current Health Status

Fred Rubio, BS Biology emphasis in Zoology, California Polytechnic University, Pomona

Faculty advisor: Dr. Jessica Mayhew

Research interests: Chimpanzee cognition and cooperation

Other interests: Cafe racer motorcycles, sci-fi, camping

Thesis: AA Cognitive Task via Interactive Technology as Enrichment for Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in Sanctuary / 2019

Fred has accepted a caregiver position at Project Chimps.

Alex Sacco, BA Biology, Boston University

Faculty advisor: Dr. Jessica Mayhew

Research interests: Assessing individual health status in Neotropical primates

Other interests: Travel, hockey, food

Thesis: Evaluations of Health in Free-Ranging Sympatric Saguinus imperator and Leontocebus weddelli Using Neopterin, Urinalysis, and Blood Chemistry Analysis / 2019

Alex is continuing her studies as a Biological Anthropology Ph.D. student  at Washington University in St. Louis under the advisement of Dr. Krista Milich. 

Lisa Tweed, BA Anthropology, minor in Biology, University of North Texas

Faculty advisor: Dr. Hope Amason

Research interests: Conservation education, human/primate interaction

Other interests: Horseback riding, hiking, traveling (especially to islands)

Thesis: Challenges for a Closed-to-the-Public Animal Sanctuary: Prioritizing Animal Welfare While Engaging in Educational Community Outreach / 2019

Carly Batist, BS Animal Sciences, minor in Anthropology, Cornell University

Faculty advisor: Dr. Jessica Mayhew

Carly interned at a Belizean primate rehabilitation center, Wildtracks, where she cared for white-faced capuchins, black-handed spider monkeys, and Yucatan black howler monkeys. Her thesis investigated social learning in multiple lemur species.

Thesis: Use of a Two-Action Paradigm Apparatus with Captive Lemurs: Insights into Social Learning / 2018

Kailie Dombrausky, BA Anthropology & Linguistics, minors in Biology, Psychology & French, New Mexico State University

Faculty advisor: Dr. Mary Lee Jensvold

Kailie's previous research includes a study of the activity budget of a juvenile siamang at the El Paso Zoo, which she presented at the 2014 Southwestern Association of Biological Anthropologists convention and was awarded Best Student Poster. Other interests include cats, art, and the great outdoors. Her thesis work investigated the formation of questions in signing chimpanzees.

Thesis: Sign Modulation by Chimpanzees to Produce Interrogatives / 2018

Josefine Holm

Faculty advisor: Dr. Lori Sheeran

Thesis: Single- and Pair-Housed Baboons' (Papio ursinus) Response to Caregivers' Use of Species-Specific Behavior / 2018

Samantha Jones, BA Psychology, The Ohio State University

Faculty advisor: Dr. Lori Sheeran

Her interest in primates was sparked with a class titled "The Psychology of Monkeys and Apes". She has field exprience as a volunteer with chimpanzees at Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage in Zambia, Africa and as a research assistant in the Peruvian Amazon studying tamarins. Samantha has spent the last 5 years volunteering with white-handed gibbons and capuchins at The American Primate Education Sanctuary in Ohio. She is interested in research focused on social interactions in gibbons.

Thesis: Comparisons of Gibbons' (Hylobatidae) Intrapair Behaviors Indicative of the Pair Bond / 2018

Amanda Osborne

Faculty advisor: Dr. Lori Sheeran

Thesis: Enrichment Assessment for Geriatric African Old World Monkeys Under Human Care" / 2018

Blanca Ponce-Valdez

Faculty advisor: Dr. Jessica Mayhew

Thesis: Preparing the Yucatan Black Howler Monkey for its Return to the Wild: An Assessment of Wildtracks' Approach to Rehabilitation and Reintroduction / 2018

Kyle Runzel, BA Anthropology, minor in Environmental Studies & Planning, Sonoma State University

Faculty advisor: Dr. Jessica Mayhew

As an undergraduate, Kyle interned as a research assistant with the Sonoma State University Primate Ethology Research Lab where he collected behavioral/spatial data on a group of four mandrills at the San Francisco Zoo. In 2015 he participated in the DANTA Field School, Piro Research Station, Costa Rica where he collected data on the ontogeny of black-handed spider monkey prehensile tail use. Kyle's thesis research was funded through a National Science Foundation East Asia Pacific Summer Institute grant for U.S. graduate students.

Thesis: Camera Trap Deployment at Mt. Huangshan, China and Video Data Management: The Potential for Localized Data Sharing / 2018

Kyle is currently an animal keeper at the San Francisco Zoo. 

KiriLi Stauch, BA Pyschology & Anthropology, Illinois Wesleyan University

Faculty advisor: Dr. Lori Sheeran

Kiri's thesis work centered around Tibetan macaques and tourist interactions in Anhui, China. Her research was funded through a National Science Foundation East Asia Pacific Summer Instititute grant for U.S. graduate students.

Thesis: The Impact of Web-Based Visitor Education on Human-Tibetan Macaque (Macaca thibetana) Interactions at Mt. Huangshan, China / 2018

Erin Connelly, Anthropology, University of Washington

Faculty advisor: Dr. Jessica Mayhew

Erin worked at a chocolate factory before starting at Central. Her research interests included: howler monkeys, seed disperal, and howler monkey seed dispersal.

Thesis: Seed Dispersal Quality of Mantled Howler Monkeys (Alouatta palliata) / 2017

Anthony Denice, BS Biology, minor in History, Northeastern University

Faculty advisor: Dr. Jessica Mayhew

As an undergraduate, Anthony developed an interest in primatology and volunteered on a reintroduction project of Peruvian spider monkeys (Ateles chamek). In 2014, he collected behavioral data on a community of wild black-handed spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) in southern Mexico. He completed an apprenticeship at Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary where he cared for New World monkeys that had been retired from laboratory research and the pet trade.

Thesis: The Social Behavior of Rehabilitated Spider Monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) / 2017

Anthony currently works as a caregiver aide for Project Chimps in northern Georgia.

Busia, L., Denice, A.R., Aureli, F., Schaffner, C.M. (2018). Homosexual Behavior Between Male Spider Monkeys (Ateles geofroyi). Archives of Sexual Behavior, 47(4): 857-861.

Emily Dura, BS Biology, minor in Education, Cornell University

Faculty advisor: Dr. Lori Sheeran

Emily volunteered as a research assistant in peninsular Malaysia, where she gained a love of fieldwork and pigtail macaques (Macaca nemestrina).

Thesis: Mother-Infant Interactions in a Free-Ranging Population of Pigtail Macaques (Macaca nemestrina) / 2017

Brenda S. Gilpin, AA American Sign Language Interpreting, Los Angeles Pierce College; AS Animal Behavior, America's Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College; BA Psychology, BS Primate Behavior & Ecology, Central Washington University

Faculty advisor: Dr. Lori Sheeran

Brenda was a volunteer at the Los Angeles Zoo and the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute. She is interested in innovative enrichment that will effectively increase the activity budgets of captive primates.

Hilary Hemmes-Kavanaugh, BS Biology & Physical Anthropology, Central Michigan University

Faculty advisor: Dr. Lori Sheeran

In 2012 Hilary was a behavioral research intern at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park where she worked with a troop of six western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) and six orangutans (Pongo spp.) in a diet study that has been used to reduce regurgitation and re-ingestion in captive apes. Hilary also has experience as a canine care specialist at the Humane Animal Treatment Society, a primate husbandry intern at the Primate Rescue Center and a wildlife biology intern at the Association to Rescue Critters.

Thesis: Comparison of Semi-Captive and Wild Gray-Shanked Douc Langurs' (Pygathrix cinerea) Activity Budgets / 2017

Kaylen Kilfeather, BA Anthropology, minor in German, James Madison University

Faculty advisor: Dr. Jessica Mayhew

Kaylen has patched together an eclectic background: working at a nature perserve in Texas, as part of a microbiology research team, as a macro-invertebrate stream monitor, and for a company that works with dolphins. She is currently researching the gestural communication and perspective-taking abilities of northern white-cheeked gibbons (Nomascus leucogenys) at the Gibbon Conservation Center in California.

Thesis: Gestural Communication in Northern White-Cheeked Gibbons (Nomascus leucogenys) 

Courtney Martinez, BS Psychology, minor in Zoology, Washington State University

Faculty advisor: Dr. Lori Sheeran

Courtney volunteered at the Centre for Animal Rehabilitation and Education (C.A.R.E.) in South Africa and was entrusted with the daily supervision of 11 ex-laboratory chacma baboons (Papio ursinus) and overall care of various local wildlife. Her primary interests are communication and cognition. She studied mother-infant interactions in Tibetan macaques in China.

Thesis: Mother-Immature Relationships in Tibetan Macaques (Macaca thibetana) at Mt. Huangshan, China / 2017

Kristín Ocasio-Rodriguez, BS General Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Bayamon

Faculty advisor: Dr. Jessica Mayhew

Kristín previously worked at the Caribbean Primate Research Center, Puerto Rico where she worked with the rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta). She participated in a field course in Ometepe, Nicaragua, where she studied mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata).

Thesis: Adult Male Immature Relationships and Stress in Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta)

Amanda Rowe, BS Environmental & Organismal Biology, Fort Lewis College

Faculty advisor: Dr. Lixing Sun

Amanda is a former employee of the Colorado Plateau Museum of Arthropod Diversity and intern of Out of Africa Wildlife Park where she worked closely with marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) and ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta). Her thesis research focused on collective decision-making behavior in Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana). Amanda's field research was funded by the National Science Foundation East Asia Pacific Summer Institute for U.S. graduate students.

Thesis: Collective Decision-Making in Tibetan Macaques: How Followers Affect the Rules and Efficiency of Group Movement / 2017

Alexandra Sheldon, BA Anthropology with Honors, University of Central Florida; BA Interdisciplinary Perspectves on the Environment, University of Oklahoma

Faculty advisor: Dr. Lori Sheeran

Allie lived in Nanjing, China working as an English teacher, studied behavior in mantled howler monkeys in Nicaragua and saddle-back tamarins in Peru, and lived in The Gambia at the Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Project where she was in charge of the environmental education programs.

Thesis: Family Dynamics in Four Species of Captive Gibbons at the Gibbon Conservation Center / 2017

Lily Stolar, BA Anthropology, minors in French and Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona

Faculty advisor: Dr. Mary Lee Jensvold

Lily was an intern at the Reid Park Zoo in Tucson, AZ where she worked with gibbons (Hylobates lar) and black-and-white ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata). She also participated in a primate field studies program in Rwanda, where she studied 10 local species of primates in the wild, including mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) and chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes).

Thesis: Response of Three Monkeys to Caregiver Use of Species-Specific Behavior / 2018

Gregory Fratellone, BS Biology, minor in Psychology, Northeastern University

Faculty advisor: Dr. Lixing Sun

Greg previously conducted research on western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) at the Franklin Park Zoo, focusing on infant development and personality, and has volunteered in Belize at the Belize Zoo and Wildtracks rehabilitation center with Geoffroy's spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) and Yucatan black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra). His thesis research was conducted at the Valley of the wild Monkeys in Mt. Huangshan, China, examining the collective movements of Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) and analyzing collective decision-making, leader/follower dynamics and social networks.

Thesis: Female Social Connectivity Through the Leadership and Movement Progression of Tibetan Macaques at Mt. Huangshan, China / 2015

Melanie Bell, BA Anthropology, BS Primate Behavior & Ecology, Central Washington University

Faculty advisor: Dr. Lori Sheeran

Melanie is a former intern at the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute (CHCI). Her thesis research was performed at the Gibbon Conservation Center in southern California looking at the non-vocal communication of Javan Gibbons (Hylobates moloch).

Thesis: Javan Gibbon (Hylobates moloch) Non-Vocal Social Communication and Gesture Use with Conspecifics / 2015

Whitney Emge, BA Psychology, University of Puget Sound

Faculty advisor: Dr. Mary Lee Jensvold

Whitney was an apprentice at the Chimpanzee and Human Communication institute (CHCI) and intern at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest. Her thesis research was conducted at Fauna Foundation in Carignan, Quebec, looking at the effects of operant training sessions and unstructured interactions between chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and their caregivers.

Thesis: A Comparison of Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) Responses to Caregiver Use of Positive Reinforcement Training (PRT) and Species-Specific Behaviors (SSB) / 2015

Katherine McDonald, BA Psychology & Biological Sciences, Wellesley College

Faculty advisor: Dr. Mary Lee Jensvold

Katie previously worked with tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) at Yale University, examining helping behavior between conspecifics. She was an apprentice at the Chimpanzeee and Human Communication Institute (CHCI) and intern at Chimpanzeee Sanctuary Northwest. Katie is interested in primate cognition, primate prosocial behavior, and captive primate welfare.

Thesis: Captive Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) Nighttime Enrichment Use and Preferences / 2016

Alexandra Casti, BFA Painting, minor in Art History, Pratt Institute

Faculty advisor: Dr. Mary Lee Jensvold

Sandra was an apprentice at the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute (CHCI) and intern/volunteer caregiver at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest. She is passionate about personhood rights for nonhuman animals and interested in cognitive development, creative expression, and language evolution. She analyzed a series of chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) drawings from the CHCI archive for her thesis.

Thesis: Reaction to Stimulus Figures in Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) Drawings / 2016

Benjamin Gombash, BS Wildlife Sciences & Anthropology, The Ohio State University

Faculty advisor: Dr. Joseph Lorenz

Ben is interested in primate conservation and vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops). His research concerned Hepatocystis and how genes might confer resistance to it.

Thesis: Analysis of FY Promoter and Hepatocystis Load in South African Vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops) / 2016Ben is currently 

Anne Salow

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Steve Wagner

Thesis: Sexual Behavior of Immature Tibetan Macaques (Macaca thibetana) / 2015

Amanda Carner

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Mary Lee Jensvold

Tony Carr

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Marte Fallshore

Ricardo Fernandes, BS Animal & Veterinary Science, minor in Biology & Theatre Arts, University of Rhode Island

Faculty advisor: Dr. Joseph Lorenz

Ricardo is a licensed veterinary technician and specializes in emergency and critical care medicine. His areas of interest include primate communication, primate physiology of locomotion, infant/mother interactions and parental care. In addition, Ricardo is interested in the welfare of captive primates. He analzyed fecal samples to look at population genetis of white faced saki monkeys (Pithecia pithecia) in South America.

Thesis: Sex differences in glycosylated hemoglobin in Mauritian origin long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) / 2019

Erika Jackson Price,  BA Neuroscience, minor in Jazz Music, University of Southern California

Faculty advisor: Dr. Lori Sheeran

Erika's primary interests are the behaviors of free-ranging primates, psychology, and music. She recorded, cataloged, and analyzed the vocalizations of Tibetan macaques at Mt. Huangshan, China.

Thesis: Vocalizations of Tibetan Macaques (Macaca thibetana) at Mt. Huangshan, China / 2014

Savannah Schulze

Faculty advisor: Dr. Mary Lee Jensvold

Thesis: The Directed Scratch Gesture: A Referential Gesture in Chimpanzees / 2014

Jensvold ML; Wilding L; Schulze SM. 2014. Signs of communication in chimpanzees. G. Witzany (Ed.) Biocommunication of Animals (pp. 7-19). Dordrecht: Springer.

RyAnn Stafford

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Mary Lee Jensvold

Asa Staven, BS Fish & Wildlife Management, minor in Entomology, Montana State University

Thesis advisor: Dr. Steven Wagner

Asa had a Teaching Assistanship from the Biology Department and studied the behaviors of juvenile Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana).

Thesis: Interactions Between Tourists and Juvenile Tibetan Macaques (Macaca thibetana) at Mt. Huangshan, China / 2014

Kaeley Sullins

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Mary Lee Jensvold

Thesis: Effect of Group Size on the Activity Budget of Two Captive Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) / 2019

Kaeley is currently an animal caregiver at Fauna Foundation in Quebec, Canada. 

Natasha Zientek, BA Anthropology, The Ohio State University

Faculty advisor: Dr. Lori Sheeran

Natasha studied community-based primate conservation focused on Tibetan macaques at Mt. Huangshan, China.

Thesis: Impacts of Behavioral Education on Actions and Conservation Attitudes of Tourists at the Valley of the Wild Monkeys, Mt. Huangshan, China / 2014

Alexander DuVall-Lash, BS Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Michigan

Faculty advisor: Dr. Lori Sheeran

Alexander studied the impact of tourism on stress-indicating behaviors in Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) at Mt. Huangshan, China.

Thesis: Effect on human noise on stress-indicating behaviors of Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) at Mt. Huangshan, China / 2013

Jennifer Humphreys, BA Anthropology emphasis on Biological Anthropology, Humboldt State University

Faculty advisor: Dr. Joseph Lorenz

Jennifer studied conservation population genetics, comparative skeletal anatomy, behavioral ecology, and ethnoprimatology.

Thesis: DNA from Chewed Seeds: A Non-Invasive Collection Strategy for Saguinus midas / 2014

Susie Keenan, BS Psychology, Rochester Institute of Technology

Faculty advisor: Dr. Mary Lee Jensvold

Susie worked at the Chimpanzee Human Communication Institute and is interested in gestural communication and American Sign Language.

Meg Mas, BS in Primate Behavior, BA Psychology, Central Washington University

Faculty advisor: Dr. Mary Lee Jensvold

Meg worked at the Chimpanzee Human Communication Institute and is interested in imaginary play in nonhuman primates.

Alex Pritchard, BS Biology, University of New South Wales

Faculty advisor: Dr. Lori Sheeran

Alex is primarily interested in the social behaviors and social interactions of all primates, but also in bolstering their protection, preservation, and recognition.

Thesis: Discriminating Behaviors to Measure Personality Traits in Free-Ranging Tibetan Macaques (Macaca thibetana) / 2013

Pritchard A; Sheeran LK; Gabriel K; Li JH; Wagner RS. 2014. Behaviors that predict personality components in adult free-ranging Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana). Current Zoology 60(3):362-372.

Leah Usui, BS Evolution & Ecology and Anthropology, The Ohio State University

Faculty advisor: Dr. Lori Sheeran

Leah is interested in the effect of site management styles and ecotourism impact on Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) at Mt. Huangshan, China.

Thesis: Behaviors of park rangers and their effects on Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) at Mt. Huangshan, China / 2013

Usui R, Sheeran Lk, Li JH, Sun L, Wang X, Pritchard AJ, DuVall-Lash AS, Wagner RS. 2014. Park rangers' behaviors and their effects on tourists and Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) at Mt. Huangshan, China. Animals 4:546-561, doi: 10.3390/ani4030546.

Lisa Wilding, BA Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado at Boulder

Faculty advisor: Dr. Lori Sheeran

Lisa worked at the Chimpanzee Human Communciation Institute and is interested in gorilla communication.

Thesis: Gorilla Life-Stage Comparison of Head Orientation / 2017

Jensvold Ml; Wilding L; Schulze SM. 2014. Signs of communication in chimpanzees. G. Witzany (Ed.), Biocommunication of Animals (pp. 7-19). Dordrecht: Springer.

Briana Bauer, BA Spanish, University of Notre Dame

Faculty advisor: Dr. Lori Sheeran

Briana studied bridging behaviors and adult male-adult female affiliative relationships in Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) at the Valley of the Wild Monkeys in Mt. Huanshan, China. During her time at CWU, she finished internships at the Woodland Park, Toledo, and Roger Willams Park zoos.

Thesis: Male Tibetan Macaque (Macaca thibetana) Choice of Infant Bridging and Female Affiliation Partners / 2012

Bauer B; Sheeran LK; Matheson MD; Li JH; Wagner RS. 2014. Choice of infant bridging and female affiliation partners by male Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana). Zoological Research 35(3):222-230.

Sofia Bernstein, BA Psychology emphasis in Applied Behavioral Analysis, University of North Texas.

Faculty advisors: Dr. Lori Sheeran & Dr. Steve Wagner

Sofi studied sexual coercion and mate choice in Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) at the Valley of the Wild Monkeys in Mt. Huangshan, China.

Thesis: Sexual Coercion and Mate Choice Tactics in Tibetan Macaques (Macaca thibetana) at Mt. Huangshan, China / 2012

Laura Burwell, BS Wildlife and Wildlands Conservation, Brigham Young University

Faculty advisor: Dr. Lori Sheeran

Laura studied competition for provisioned foods in a group of Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) at Mt. Huangshan, China.

Thesis: The Effectiveness of Scattering Corn as a Management Technique for Macaca thibetana at Mt. Huangshan, China / 2013

Amanda Davis, BS Anthropology & Liberal Studies, Portland State University

Faculty advisor: Dr. Mary Lee Jensvold

Amanda studied the effects of conversational partner familiarity in deaf humans.

Thesis: Effects of Conversational Partner Familiarity in Deaf Humans (Homo sapiens) / 2012

Erica Dunayer, BS Animal Behavior, Bucknell University

Faculty advisor: Dr. Megan Matheson

Erica studied how tourism affects the grooming for tolerance trade in Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) from a biological markets perspective at Mt. Huangshan, China. 

Thesis: Tourism as a Market Force for Grooming Interchange and Reciprocity in Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) at Mt. Huangshan, China / 2012

Laura Heggs, BA Psychology, minor in Anthropology/Sociology, Knox College

Faculty advisor: Dr. Megan Matheson

Laura studied the effect a novel outdoor environment had on captive chimpanzees at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest in Cle Elum, Washington. 

Thesis: The Effect of a Novel Outdoor Environment on the Behavior of Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in a Sanctuary Setting / 2012

Allie Kibler-Campbell, BA Psychology, minor in English, College of Wooster

Faculty advisor: Dr. Lori Sheeran

Allie studied the ability to infer causality through various tool-use tasks (including stick tools and rock tools) in a colony of captive capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) in Wooster, Ohio.

Thesis: Causal Inference Examined in Cebus apella through a Hammer-and-Anvil Task / 2012

Austin Leeds, BS Biology, BS Primate Behavior & Ecology, Central Washington University

Faculty advisor: Dr. Mary Lee Jensvold

Austin studied language use of the cross-fostered chimpanzees at the Chimpanzee Human Communication Institute.

Thesis: The Communicative Functions of Five Signing Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) / 2012

Leeds CA; Jensvold ML. 2013. The communicative functions of five signing chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Pragmatics & Cognition, 21(1):224-247

Julie Reveles, BS Anthropology and Primate Behavior & Ecology, Central Washington University

Faculty advisor: Dr. Mary Lee Jensvold

Julie studied visitor effects on captive chimpanzees at the Chimpanzee Human Communication Institute.

Thesis: Assessing the Reliability of a Written Data Collection Method: Sign Logs / 2014

Noah Simons, BA Biological Anthropology, University of Iowa

Faculty advisors: Dr. Steve Wagner & Dr. Joseph Lorenz

Noah studied levels of genetic diversity between captive and wild populations of western lowland gorillas.

Thesis: Genetic diversity in captive-born gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) / 2012

Simons ND; Wagner RS; Lorenz JG. 2013. Genetic diversity of North American captive-born gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla). Ecology and Evolution, 3(1):80-88.

Simons ND; Lorenz JG; Sheeran LK; Li JH; Xia DP; Wagner RS. 2012. Non-invasive saliva collection for DNA analyses from free-ranging Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana). American Journal of Primatology, 74:1064-1070.

Hilaree Sorenson, BA International Studies, Pepperdine University

Faculty advisor: Dr. Mary Lee Jensvold

Hilaree designed and implemented an environmental enrichment protocol for captive baboons at the Centre for Animal Rehabilitation & Education (C.A.R.E.) in Phalaborwa, South Africa.

Daniella Bismanovsky, BS Experimental Psychology, Saint Mary's College of California

Faculty advisor: Dr. Mary Lee Jensvold

Daniella's thesis examined the effect of visitors' behaviors on the chimpanzees' behaviors at the Oakland Zoo in California.

Thesis: Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) Responses to Visitors Using Chimpanzee-Friendly Behaviors / 2012

Jensvold ML; Zager L; Bismanovsky D. 2013. Promoting nonhuman animal welfare: interactions with caregivers and zoo visitors. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 16: 384-385

Tracy Campion, BA Social Sciences, minor in Anthropology, University of Washington

Faculty advisor: Dr. Mary Lee Jensvold

Tracy examined gesture modality in relation to the attentional state in chimpanzees at Gombe in Tanzania, Africa. 

Thesis: Use of Gesture Sequences in Free-Living Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) Play in Gombe National Park, Tanzania / 2012

Grace Enlow, BA Anthropology & Study of Religion, University of California, San Diego

Faculty advisor: Dr. Lori Sheeran

Grace studied vocalizations and pair-bond strength in wild, white-bearded gibbons (Hylobates agilis albiarbis) in Central Kalimantan, Borneo.

Thesis: Singing, Behavioral Synchrony, and Proximity in Bornean Agile Gibbons (Hylobates albibarbis) / 2011

Rebecca Hendershott, BS Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz

Faculty advisor: Dr. Megan Matheson

Rebecca studied the sociosexual behaviors of Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) at the Valley of the Wild Monkeys in Mt. Huangshan, China.

Thesis: Socio-sexual Behavior in Tibetan Macaques (Macaca thibetana) / 2011

Julie Wescliff, BA Psychology, University of Louisville

Faculty advisor: Dr. Megan Matheson

Julie studied the impact of proximity on behavior in Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) at Mt. Huangshan, China.

Thesis: How Close is too Close? Spatial Proximity Dynamics of Macaca thibetana / 2012

Sandra Winters, BS Psychology & Anthropology, University of Maryland at College Park

Faculty advisor: Dr. Megan Matheson

Sandra studied recruitment behavior in Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) at Mt. Huangshan, China, for evidence of triadic awareness.

Thesis: Social Recruitment in Tibetan Macaques (Macaca thibetana) at Mt. Huangshan, China / 2011

John Rinear, BA Anthropology, BS Primate Behavior & Ecology, Central Washington University.

Faculty advisor: Dr. Lori Sheeran

John studied the sleeping site preferences of wild white-bearded gibbons (Hylobates agilis albiarbis).

Thesis: Sleeping Tree Preference in Bornean Agile Gibbons (Hylobates albibarbis) / 2014

Cheyne SM, Hoing A, Rinear J, Sheeran LK. 2012. Sleeping site selection by agile gibbons: The influence of tree stability, fruit availability and predation risk. Folia Primatologica, 83:299-311, DOI: 10.1159/000342145.

Sydney Self, BS Anthropology, BS Primate Behavior & Ecology, Central Washington University.

Faculty advisor: Dr. Lori Sheeran

Sydney studied infant-directed aggression in Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) at Valley of the Wild Monkeys in Mt. Huangshan, China.

Thesis: Tourist Density and Infant-Directed Aggression in Macaca thibetana at Mt. Huangshan, China / 2010

Self S; Sheeran LK; Matheson MD; Li JH; Pelton O; Harding S; Wagner RS. 2013. Tourism and infant-directed aggression in Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) at Mt. Huangshan, China. Anthrozoös, 26(3):435-444.

Lindsay Zager 

Faculty advisor: Dr. Mary Lee Jensvold

Lindsay studied visitor effects in zoo-living chimpanzees.

Thesis: An Experiment in Zoo Visitor Education: Encouraging Friendly Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) Behaviors / 2011

Jensvold ML; Zager L; Bismanovsky D. 2013. Promoting nonhuman animal welfare: interactions with caregivers and zoo visitors. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 16: 384-385.