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Gay Bradshaw, PhD, PhD

Executive Director

Gay holds doctorate degrees in ecology and psychology, and has published, taught, and lectured widely in these fields both in the U.S. and internationally. She is the author of Pulitzer Prize-nominated Elephants on the Edge: What Animals Teach Us about Humanity, and Carnivore Minds: Who These Fearsome Beings Really Are, both published by Yale University Press. Most recently she authored Talking with Bears: Conversations with Charlie Russell (Rocky Mountain Books).  Dr. Bradshaw’s work focuses on trans-species psychology, the theory and methods for the study and care of Animal psychological well-being and multi-species cultures. Her research expertise includes the effects of violence on and trauma recovery for Elephants, Grizzly Bears, Chimpanzees, Parrots, and other species both free-living and in captivity.

Learn more about Gay’s research and publications at gabradshaw.com and in her C.V.

Jenny Wiegand

President

Jenny Wiegand holds a BA in Criminal Justice, a Psychology minor and Masters Credits in Substance Abuse Counseling. She has over 30 years of experience of working within the field of trauma and healing and has utilized the Sanctuary Model of Trauma Informed Care to help better understand the effects of trauma in order to support an individual’s unique path to healing and wellness. Trauma is universal; it doesn’t discriminate among species and as a result her mission is to create awareness regarding Animal trauma through the use trauma informed care and S.E.L.F. to bridge the gap of healing and wellness in work with Animals. She has utilized and taught the S.E.L.F. framework, a foundational component of the Sanctuary Model and understands the importance of incorporating this framework into work with Animals at all levels.

Jenny has also witnessed and experienced firsthand the transformational power of Nature and believes our (re)connection to the natural world is critical in order for the deeper level of healing that our world needs at this time to take place. Growing up in the woods that surrounded her home, Jenny learned early in her life, about the importance of our relationship to the natural world and how the personal connection to place, the Trees, Plants, Animals and all of life in that environment, laid a critical foundation and created a spiritual connection to the natural world that is vital to her today.

She also experienced this connection while leading 30 day wilderness hiking trips in the back country of Montana and watched as the adolescent youth in her care, all from urban areas, transformed under natures power and listened as the youth went from seeing no value in time spent with Nature to voicing their understanding in the wonder and awe that is available to all of us every day when we spend time in and take care of, Nature. A very powerful form of healing takes place in this environment.

Jenny believes this understanding of a relational spirituality that exists in the interconnection and intraconnection we have with Nature and all of life, is critical to our collective healing and it is this belief along with her work in the field of trauma responsive care that has provided her with illumination and hope in bridging the gap of where we are and what is possible when we realize the path to our true self is through Nature. It is here where the real work and healing gets done.

Jenny is deeply committed to discovering the answer to what does right look like through the triangulation of Nature mindfulness, a trans-species way of life and trauma responsive care.

Lauren Bailey

Secretary

Lauren Bailey completed her bachelors degree in Animal Behavior at the University of Exeter, United Kingdom in 2018. Here, she describes her philosophy and path. “I was drawn to the Kerulos internship after becoming by disheartened by the academic scientific world that objectifies Animals and sees them purely from a behavioral viewpoint. During the internship, I learned to take the time to see beyond outer form and behavior and understand that all other Animals think and feel like us and are their own individual person.”

Lauren is now volunteering with our partner Boon Lott Elephant Sanctuary ( BLES) in Thailand learning about male Elephant healing and trauma recovery. She has also completed her Reiki Practitioner course and will be continuing to obtain Reiki Master certification while she will begin my Animal medical (veterinary) nurse. Her goal is to work in Sanctuary where she will teach and work with Animals in need by combining holistic and medical practices to healing.

Olivia Crossman

Treasurer

When I was a child, I learned that Worms often die a painful death after coming up from the flooded soil. Those who cannot escape drown, others are scorched by the sun or stepped on. The Worms cemented my lifelong love and commitment to Earth.

Twenty years later, after graduating with a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Loyola University Chicago’s School of Environmental Sustainability and Interdisciplinary Honors Program. I am now putting this love into professional and full-time practice. I first came to Kerulos in high school when Gay served as my mentor for a senior project on the effects of trauma on Elephant reproduction.

Five years later, I am so grateful to pursue my deep passion for helping humans explore and revitalize their relationship with the Earth from the perspective of trans-species psychology and Nature consciousness to revitalize a vibrant Earth.

 

 

Deeksha Agrawal

A couple years ago, I made the decision to work in Animal Conservation. I didn’t have much background but thought I’d just take it one step at a time. I always had loved psychology and mental well-being, but also felt intensely drawn to the Animal care field, especially Elephants, and wanted to spend my time primarily of help to them. When I read Gay’s research regarding PTSD in Elephants, as well as the discovery of practicing trauma informed care for Animals, I became ecstatic. It made me realize not only the possibility of combining the fields I was dearly in love with, but how it was necessary in order to truly see how everything is interconnected and is essential to understanding the whole. However, it was when I reached out to Gay that I felt my journey had truly started. I decided to take part in the Kerulos Animal Being Internship. It was very different from anything I had experienced before. The more I became involved, the more I got this immense connection and alignment in values I never felt before. What drew me especially wasn’t just the work, but the kindness, understanding, and wisdom I received from Gay and the entire sangha. They provided knowledge that explained my experiences with non-human Animals and the natural world in a way I couldn’t before. I hope to spread this feeling of belonging, compassion, and connections for all living beings – where everything fits very naturally and there’s always room to grow and explore. I am very grateful for this perspective, home, and sangha.

Robin Bjork, PhD

Robin Bjork is a conservation biologist with over thirty years experience in North and Latin America in avian ecology and conservation. She holds a doctorate in wildlife science and a master’s degree in coastal ecology. Robin began working with wild psittacines in 1994 when she directed development of the first radio tracking device to withstand the force of Macaw bills and used the device to track the movements of Great Green Macaws in Costa Rica. Her dissertation research identified the migration of Mealy Parrots across Guatemalan lowlands, the first detailed documentation of such a pattern in psittacines.

She continues conservation research with wild Parrots and Macaws and is currently directing a program to reintroduce Scarlet Macaws to El Salvador and protect endangered Yellow-naped Amazon Parrots. In addition to her work with Parrots she has documented spatial patterns of regional migrant tropical Birds with a goal of providing guidance to regional conservation planning.

Jeff Borchers, MS, PhD, LPC

Jeff is a licensed professional counselor with a background in research, teaching, training, policy analysis, and organizational development. Over the past 35 years, he has worked in academia, government, and the private sector on issues of social, ecological, and psychological significance. His interests include the use of ecotherapy to improve psychological well-being and to foster a mindfulness approach to caring for Animals and the land.

As an employee assistance professional, Jeff provided consultations, group trainings, and coaching, and is certified in mediation and conflict management. In all his work, Jeff draws from his background in research, teaching, training, policy analysis, and organizational development to facilitate lasting change.

Jeff’s education includes a PhD in ecology from Oregon State University, a master’s degree in counseling from Capella University, and a master’s degree from Yale University. He also has taught traditional martial arts for most of his life, holding the rank of nidan in Shotokan karate-dō. Jeff has a private practice where he works with individuals, couples, families, and groups, and provides training and interventions for organizations.

Lee Ann McIndoo

Lee Ann has spent all her life surrounded by nature, trees, lakes, rocks and other-beings. She has been involved in campaigning for Animal Rights, including Elephant liberation and self-determination, and the end of factory farms, circuses, zoos, and trophy hunting.

Being a voice for those in need has been Lee Ann’s central goal. “The dignity of non-humans is as important as our own.” Having spent 37 years supporting humans with intellectual and physical challenges, Lee Ann is now focusing on nonhuman rights and wellness.

 

 

Joseph Daniel Mitchell, MS

Joseph is a full-blood citizen of the Creek Nation and a member of the Muskogee Indian Community. For the past 26 years, he has worked in environmental sciences and conservation on tribal and federal lands with the tribes, the USDA Forest Service, Washington, DC, and Bureau of Indian Affairs. He was Senior Executive Fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, and has worked with more than 200 tribes across the nation.

Joe consults with tribal governments and communities on Indian law and treaties and advocates for tribes to exercise treaty rights on federal lands, and implement traditional practices. He has also been involved in the evolution of several of the 26 tribal colleges throughout the country and has assisted many with establishing traditional ecological knowledge programs.

Erika Abrams, Animal Aid Unlimited

Sandra Bloom, Drexel University, Dorsife Center for Nonviolence and Social Justice

Supraja Dharini, TREE Foundation, India

Suparna Ganguly, WRRC and CUPA, India

Carl Safina, The Safina Center

B. Robert Serrano

Kim Sturla, Animal Place

Ed Tick, Soldier’s Heart

Trisha Totke Thompstone

Tortoise & Rabbit Sanctuary Volunteer

Michael Thompstone

Sanctuary Resident Chauffeur

Jessica Bell Rizzolo

Director of Asian Elephant Program

Lokesh Coomar, BS

Research Associate