About: Education Team
THE EDUCATION TEAM
Debra is the founder of New England Primate Conservancy and leads the organization’s education programs and outreach initiatives.
For more than 35 years, Debra developed and delivered presentations, workshops, and training seminars for professionals across multiple industries. Her background in adult education and training informs NEPC’s approach to learning—one that emphasizes clarity, curiosity, and meaningful engagement over instruction alone.
Well-versed in the plight of nonhuman primates in captivity and in the wild, and deeply aware of the global habitat loss crisis, Debra launched New England Primate Conservancy’s outreach programs in 2004 and developed the Conservancy’s original Education Center curriculum. She has spoken on behalf of NEPC’s mission at a wide range of venues, reaching audiences from elementary students to university and post-graduate programs.
At NEPC, Debra develops web-based education programs, produces educational videos, designs learning activities, and leads the organization’s talented and diverse Education Team. Together, they work to make knowledge a pathway to compassion and conservation—because education is the heart of conservation.
Sylvie worked for 20 years in broadcasting and entertainment in Southern California. She is now focusing on writing, wildlife education, and art. She has been volunteering for wildlife conservation non-profits (including New England Primate Conservancy from 2017 through 2022, returning to us in 2025) for over 20 years and has been docenting for her local zoo for the last 3 years. Her specialties are hoofstock, elephants, primates, and carnivores.
Brenda Awuor is a Kenyan-based environmental researcher, writer & journalist who focuses on sustainability, nature/biodiversity, pollution and climate change topics to educate the public and mobilize action. Her journey began with a deep love for books, stealing every moment she could for a book, whether walking home through quiet thickets, running errands for her mother, or unwrapping items just to read the newspaper they were wrapped in. This lifelong passion for stories led her to freelance writing as she pursued her Bachelor’s degree in finance. Over time, she felt especially drawn to environmental topics and the quest for a more sustainable world upon which all life depends. She pursued training in environmental journalism and developed a strong commitment to leverage Solutions Journalism knowledge to highlight not only environmental problems but also the responses and efforts being made to address them.
Laura Lee Bahr is an author, filmmaker, and performer. She recently relocated from the City of Angels to the City of Champions (Brockton, MA). In addition to the eclectic “you name it, I’ve done it” artistic endeavors, she has spent years in education, teaching everything from mathematics to vocal performance. Her debut feature film as writer/director, BONED, is about a dogwalker/detective who ultimately discovers that the only “true love is a dog’s love.” But in real life, Laura’s obsession has always been with her cats.
Her mantra is “may all beings be happy and free, and may my actions contribute to the happiness and freedom of others.” You can learn more about her personal work at lauraleebahr.co. Laura is the author of NEPC’s The Case of the Disappearing Habitat: The Candy Culprit lessons and stars in the series’ videos.
Beatrice is a journalist and documentary filmmaker with a focus on wildlife conservation and animal rights. With a B.A. in Journalism and a background working alongside domestic and exotic species, she continues to pursue her love for animals through multimedia storytelling. Her main goal as a journalist is to advocate for the welfare, rights, and personhood of all animal species.
Beatrice’s aim to bridge gaps between humans, animals, and the environment is rooted in her experiences in over 15 countries, where she felt inspired to connect broad audiences with ideas and places that may seem distant and inaccessible. When she isn’t working on a new project, she enjoys rock climbing, running, painting, and studying new languages.
Chloe is a writer with a background in conservation education and a passion for making science accessible, engaging, and meaningful for all audiences. She holds a B.A. in Professional Writing and an M.A. in Science and Mathematics Education from Michigan State University. Through her work at multiple zoos across Michigan and conservation field projects throughout the United States and South Africa, Chloe has developed a deep commitment to fostering empathy for the natural world and the species that inhabit it. She brings this perspective to her writing, blending clarity, curiosity, and care to help readers connect with science on a human level. When she isn’t writing, Chloe is a devoted cat mom, avid reader, and enthusiastic horror movie fan.
Hannah is a writer from California with a passion for nature conservation and elementary education. She is the founder of multiple Surf, Skate, and Yoga camps for San Diego youth, a project that started as a way of ensuring safe socialization and physical activity for children during the COVID-19 era. Her background in outdoor sports, including a successful career as a coxswain for The U.S. National Rowing team, fuels her drive to ensure that we protect our natural environments so we may enjoy them harmoniously through physical activity and recreation.
Acima was born in Dubai, studied in India, worked in South Africa, and is getting her Ph.D. on African civets at the University of Connecticut. After a B.Sc. in Zoology and M.Sc. in Environmental Science, Acima worked as a field guide in South Africa for multiple years where she lived on a reserve surrounded by antelopes, lions, rhinos, and elephants. Acima credits her ability to think laterally and solve problems to the many mishaps she has had during her adventures in strange places.
Acima is a lifelong learner, and her writing reflects her love and curiosity about natural history and ecology . Easily distracted by fascinating animals and their behavior, she loves traveling down rabbit holes of research. Breaking down complex ecological relations into simplified analogies is Acima’s favorite part of writing for NEPC. When she is not writing about primates, she is birding, trying to photograph birds, and working on wildlife research projects.
Kathy is a lifelong animal protection advocate. At age 11, she successfully appealed to her town’s legislators for the preservation of a pet cemetery that was to be razed. As an adult, she’s participated in and helped organize several animal protection campaigns in Massachusetts, including the successful 1996 Ban the Steel-Jaw Leghold Trap; Grey2K campaigns, which succeeded in banning the abusive practice of greyhound racing in 2008; and a 2016 Massachusetts initiative, working with Citizens for Farm Animal Protection, to ban the cruelest of farm animal confinements.
As a journalist, Kathleen has worked as a correspondent for regional publications, profiling people in the community and writing feature articles—highlighting animal protection and environmental causes whenever the opportunity arose. For seven years, she wrote the newsletter and fundraising appeals for the Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society (mrfrs.org), along with appeals for other animal rescue organizations. She also wrote a regional book, Legendary Locals of Newburyport, published in 2014, for Arcadia Publishing.
Kathleen has been writing NEPC primate profiles, editing our book and other educational content, and contributing her input to NEPC initiatives since early 2016.
Jennifer Farris worked as a veterinary technician for 25 years. During the course of that career, she had the opportunity to work with amazing wildlife that reaffirmed her lifelong love of nature. When she retired from veterinary medicine, she pursued a degree in English and creative writing. She now works for a nonprofit that specializes in restoring the local watershed. She is also a photographer and writer. She loves to travel and particularly enjoys wildlife-focused trips. She has traveled to South Africa and India and brought back many stories, lifelong friendships, and photos that she proudly displays in her home. Her writing has been featured on websites and magazines. She now hopes to help preserve the natural beauty of the world through art and writing.
Shraddha is an evolutionary biologist, educator, and science writer dedicated to bridging the gap between researchers and the public. She earned her doctorate at Harvard University, where her research explored the evolution of animal personality and how organisms behaviorally navigate fluctuating environments. Through her extensive teaching experience at Harvard, ranging from advanced biology to interdisciplinary courses on science and society, she has developed a passion for advocating for the environment and evoking curiosity for the natural world.
As a former AAAS Mass Media Fellow, Shraddha collaborated with academics to translate complex research into engaging stories as a Science & Technology editor at The Conversation U.S. Her fascination with primates is rooted in an admiration for their social and emotional complexity, a passion she carries into her writing. Previously, as a Science Education Partner with the Harvard Museums of Science and Culture, she learned to adapt complex ideas into exciting explanations for learners of all ages. At NEPC, Shraddha contributes to the Primate Species Profiles, aiming to celebrate biodiversity and make conservation accessible, informative, and inspiring.
In her free time, Shraddha is an avid wildlife photographer who finds inspiration in capturing the beauty and wonder of the natural world. She also enjoys hiking, baking, and playing nature-inspired board games.
Jiayu is a science writer in the Greater Boston area. She loves learning new things and sharing that knowledge with others. After earning a B.A. in science communications from Vanderbilt University, she spent several years working in nonprofit communications. Later, she earned an M.S. in journalism from Columbia University, where she specialized in audio and investigative reporting. Since then, Jiayu has been writing for university and nonprofit clients covering a range of topics, including natural history, public health, and climate science.
As an avid outdoors enthusiast, she hopes that helping people understand the natural world will inspire them to protect it. When she isn’t writing, Jiayu loves walking through the woods, biking through the city, and playing French horn in her community bands.
Brooklynne was born and raised in central Massachusetts in communities surrounded by forest and farmland. Inspired by her surroundings, from a very young age, she knew she wanted to pursue a career researching animals and the environment. In 2023, she graduated college with a bachelor’s degree in animal science and a bachelor’s degree in conservation journalism from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Since then, she has spent most of her time advocating for wildlife conservation and environmental awareness, most notably in Costa Rica working with sloths at a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center. When she is not writing, you can find her practicing yoga, reading, or spending time with friends at vintage stores.
As a graphic designer, Kelly has a passion for creating innovative designs that communicate important information. After completing her degree in Illustration in 2018, she started using her artistic skills to help enhance the Healthcare industry’s communication and awareness in her area. Kelly is also committed to delivering effective messages that inspire, educate, and inform the public about promoting and protecting animal welfare to help species now and in the years to come. She has previously created artwork for conservation purposes and is enthusiastic to jump on board and help to create additional visual content for NEPC. When she’s not designing, she likes to explore the outdoors with her rescue dog, soaking up the beauty in the Southwest of England, where she lives.
Lina’s love of animal behavior began by watching backyard wildlife in her native southern Mississippi, and continued into her undergraduate education at The University of Southern Mississippi where she majored in biology. While the ecology of Mississippi will always hold a special place in her heart, since graduating with her bachelor’s degree Lina has lived out her lifelong dream of traveling the world to study animals. Her travels began close to home with an internship at Dallas Zoo where she worked with a variety of animals, and continued with her master’s program at York University in Toronto, Canada. For her master’s thesis on female reproductive strategies in vervet monkeys, Lina also had the opportunity to travel to Uganda to study vervets in the wild. After completing her master’s, Lina hopes to apply the knowledge she’s gained working with animals to conservation efforts, including through contributing to accessible education on primates and conservation by writing for NEPC.
Sienna Weinstein is a wildlife photographer, zoologist, and lifelong advocate for the conservation of wildlife across the globe. She earned her B.S. in Zoology from the University of Vermont, followed by a M.S. degree in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Conservation Biology from Antioch University New England. While earning her Bachelor’s degree, Sienna participated in a study abroad program in South Africa and Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), taking part in fieldwork involving species abundance and diversity in the southern African ecosystem. She is also an official member of the Upsilon Tau chapter of the Beta Beta Beta National Biological Honor Society.
Deciding at the end of her college career that she wanted to grow her hobby of photography into something more, Sienna dedicated herself to the field of wildlife photography as a means to promote the conservation of wildlife. Her photography has been credited by organizations including The Nature Conservancy, Zoo New England, and the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. She was also an invited reviewer of an elephant ethology lesson plan for Picture Perfect STEM Lessons (May 2017) by NSTA Press. In her free time, she enjoys playing video games, watching nature and animal documentaries, and photographing nature and wildlife, and posting her work on her LinkedIn profile. She hopes to create a more professional profile in the near future.
Stephanie is a London born, Oxford bred, country girl who’s always had an affinity for nature. Her love for animals led her to study Animal Management and Care at college to better understand their behaviour. A few years later, she decided to go back to school and study Ecology and Wildlife Conservation at Bournemouth University. Says Stephanie, “It changed my life, how I viewed the world, appreciating how extraordinary and complex our planet is.”
After university she traveled in Asia to experience what the rest of the world had to offer and it wasn’t long before she found her calling. On a small island in Cambodia, she founded, funded, and coordinated her own wildlife project, The Wonderful Wildlife of Samloem, documenting over 400 terrestrial and marine species. The project created PADI Open Water Diver course material, local school lessons, and advised businesses and tourists. She stood as ambassador for diving schools during the establishment of Cambodia’s largest MPA (Marine Protected Area) and used her research to assist Flora and Fauna International with zoning for the MPA and deploy trawler net defenses. Since the project, she has never looked back and finds herself drawn to environmental education. “By understanding the forces of mother-nature, we can live sustainably with her. I believe we all have a duty to leave the world in a better state than we found it. Working with NEPC is a great place to start.” Stephanie is the author of the New England Primate Conservancy’s What is Nature? lesson series.
Jacob is a field primatologist who has seen free-ranging non-human primates in Florida, Gibraltar, Costa Rica, Uganda, and Madagascar. After completing his B.S. in Zoology and Anthropology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2022, he served as the on-site resident intern at Primates Incorporated, where he conducted behavioral observations and learned proper husbandry techniques for former laboratory macaques and other monkeys kept as pets. Then, he completed his M.A. in Anthropology at Stony Brook University under the direction of Dr. Patricia Wright. There, he completed a master’s thesis investigating the effects of habitat disturbance on the diet and behavior of Milne-Edwards’ sifaka in Ranomafana National Park. After the completion of his M.A. in 2025, he returned to Madagascar to mount an expedition to the Ivohiboro NAP to study the only known population of rainforest-dwelling ring-tailed lemurs. He plans to enroll in a PhD program in the fall of 2026 to continue investigating this unique population. He is also an avid birder and mammal-watcher who hopes to travel the world to photograph as many species as possible.