Stephanie is a behavioral ecologist with over 20 years of primate research across Africa, Costa Rica, and captive institutions in the United States and currently an Associate Instructional Professor at the University of Florida.

From a young age Stephanie knew she wanted to help animals and fell in love with primates in her teens after watching Gorillas in the Mist.

She wanted to help protect primates while also understanding their behaviors, thus a link between how the environment shapes behavior started to take root. Understanding the effects that changes in the environment can have on a primate’s well-being is foundational to her work.

She plans to use this extensive experience to help develop identification of behavioral patterns that will be used to determine whether confiscated lemurs are able to be reintroduced.

Additionally, her captive experience will enable protocols for best living standards for lemurs at the sanctuary.