KELSI BREEN, OUTREACH COORDINATOR
Kelsi has been working with chimpanzees since 2010. Starting as a chimpanzee caregiver intern at the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute at Central Washington University, she graduated in 2014 with a BS double-major in Psychology and Primate Behavior & Ecology, with a minor in Anthropology. After graduation, Kelsi volunteered for Americorp for a year before moving to Canada to begin working at the Fauna Foundation in Quebec. Kelsi spent two years at the Fauna Foundation working with 14 chimpanzees, 4 monkeys, and numerous farm animals before moving back to Washington. She is now good friends with the chimpanzees and cattle at CSNW and is a valuable part of the caregiving team.
SOFÍA CASTRO LOZA, VETERINARY ASSISTANT
Sofía interned at CSNW and earned a Certificate in Captive Primate Care while completing her MS degree in Primate Behavior and Ecology from CWU back in 2019. While Hurricane María intervened with the possibility of studying the human-nonhuman interface between free-range monkeys and local people in her home Country, Puerto Rico, she spent a summer collecting data on human-nonhuman interactions and local perception in a small town in the Ecuadorian Amazonia. During high school, and while completing a BS in Animal Science from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, she acquired veterinary experience working with small animals and cattle. Sofía then worked at a veterinary hospital in California for almost two years after graduating from CWU and before moving back to Washington to work as Veterinary Assistant and Caregiver at CSNW. She is very happy to be working with her favorite primates, and yes, that includes all the amazing humans!
KATELYN DAUGHERTY, OFFICE MANAGER
Katelyn began as a volunteer in 2010 and immediately showed her dedication by her frequent commutes from Seattle. Katelyn has a BA focusing in Anthropology and Art History and has a diverse range of experience with non-profit and government agencies. After 11 years as a counselor and law enforcement program specialist in criminal justice, Katelyn moved to Ellensburg to pursue her dream of working in the field of Primatology. She completed an apprenticeship with the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute at Central Washington University in 2012 before transitioning to a staff position at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest in 2013. As Office Manager, Katelyn is in charge of administrative tasks that keep the sanctuary running, including many aspects of donor management. Katelyn finds providing direct care for the chimpanzees and connecting with supporters to be the most rewarding aspects of her job.
CHAD DE BREE, ENRICHMENT COORDINATOR
Chad has been an intern and volunteer at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest since 2017. He has a lifelong passion for wildlife. After spending 10 years as a photojournalist for the United States Marine Corps, he returned to school to pursue his research passions. He received bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Anthropology from Arizona State University. He worked in the Gombe Chimpanzee Lab while at ASU, where he helped analyze photographs of wild chimpanzees from Gombe National Park in Tanzania using photogrammetry techniques. Upon graduating, he was accepted into the Primate Behavior Masters Program at Central Washington University. He currently studies chimpanzee gestural communication.
ANTHONY DENICE, HEALTH AND BEHAVIOR COORDINATOR
Anthony Denice has supported the welfare of nonhuman primates since 2011 and has worked with chimpanzees since 2015. He earned a MS degree in Primate Behavior and a Certificate in Captive Primate Care from Central Washington University and also holds a BS in Biology from Northeastern University with a minor in History. Before coming to Washington, Anthony volunteered at several wildlife rehabilitation centers, spent a year collecting behavioral data on wild spider monkeys in Mexico, and apprenticed at a primate sanctuary in Florida. During graduate school, he served as a teaching assistant in biology and anthropology, conducted further research on spider monkey behavior, and volunteered at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest. After completing his degree in 2017, Anthony spent two years caregiving for retired chimpanzees at Project Chimps, a sanctuary in Georgia. In 2019, he returned to join the staff at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest as a caregiver. Anthony enjoys serving the sanctuary’s residents and is excited to help create a home for additional chimpanzees.
DIANA GOODRICH, CO-DIRECTOR
Diana Goodrich has worked for nonprofit organizations since 1996 and has MS degrees in psychology and animals & public policy. Her initial career in the nonprofit world included a diverse range of experiences, including working with children with special needs, managing volunteers, and coordinating outreach efforts for a nonprofit film production company. She also spent three years as a caregiver and executive assistant for the Fauna Foundation, a sanctuary in Canada for chimpanzees and other animals. Diana began working for Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest as the Director of Outreach before the Cle Elum Seven chimpanzees arrived. In her positions she has produced increasingly successful fundraising events, overseen a growing social media presence, and brought national and local media attention to the sanctuary. In her role as Co-Director, she oversees fundraising and marketing and communications. Diana loves directly caring for the chimpanzees and connecting with individual supporters!
SAM JONES, CAREGIVER
Sam Jones has been working with nonhuman primates since 2011. Her journey into this world began as a volunteer at The American Primate Educational Sanctuary in Ohio where she volunteered with gibbons and capuchins while also obtaining her BA in Psychology from Ohio State University. After graduation she completed an internship at a chimpanzee orphanage in Africa, Chimfunshi. Before pursuing graduate education, she spent five weeks in the Peruvian Amazon Jungle as a research assistant collecting data for a tamarin monkey project. While Sam was attending Central Washington University pursuing her Masters in Primate Behavior, she collected data for her thesis at the Gibbon Conservation Center in California. As part of her graduate education, she also interned at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest where she awoke to a passion of working with chimpanzees as a career goal. After graduation she moved to Georgia to become a caregiver at Project Chimps. She spent 2 ½ years there working with a large number of lab-retired chimpanzees. Sam has now returned to Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest as an employee and is enjoying landing where her passions have led her.
J.B. MULCAHY, CO-DIRECTOR
J.B. Mulcahy began working with chimpanzees in 1998. His initial fascination with ape language studies led him to the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute at Central Washington University, where he would later earn his MS in Primate Behavior. Upon learning about the plight of chimpanzees in laboratories, J.B.’s focus quickly turned from research to advocacy. He went on to work for the Fauna Foundation, the first sanctuary to rescue HIV-infected chimpanzees. In addition to his experience with chimpanzees, J.B. has worked in the fields of construction and farm animal welfare. In his initial role as Director of Operations, J.B. was responsible for overseeing the care of the chimpanzees at CSNW and also designed and built many improvements to the facility, including Young’s Hill, the chimps’ 2-acre habitat. In his current role as Co-Director, he also oversees finances and human resources. J.B. serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Primate Behavior & Ecology Program at Central Washington University and as Chair of the North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance.
ANNA WALLACE, CHIMP HOUSE MANAGER
Anna Wallace has been working with chimpanzees since 2007. She was a chimpanzee caregiver intern for four years at the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute on the campus of Central Washington University. She graduated in 2011 with two Bachelors degrees, one in Psychology and one in Primate Behavior and Ecology, with a minor in Political Science. Shortly after graduating, she completed an internship with the Oregon Zoo Primate Department and was then hired on at the Fauna Foundation in Quebec. She spent three years at the Canadian sanctuary as chimpanzee, monkey, and farm animal caregiver. At Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest Anna coordinates the volunteer and intern programs.
ERIN ZAMZOW, DVM, VETERINARIAN
Dr. Erin went to Central Washington University as an undergrad, never knowing that the famous chimpanzee Washoe and her family were on campus at that time. She graduated from Washington State University Veterinary School in 1990 after working to create an alternative surgery track that didn’t require the killing of healthy animals.
“I never imagined I would work with chimpanzees! I’m in love with them all now, they are all so unique and the social dynamics much more complex than I ever imagined. The work can be challenging since I am not able to do the type of hands on examinations or diagnostic work that is possible with my usual patients.” Erin has been a staff member on a part-time and as-needed basis since 2017 and networks with other chimpanzee veterinarians (and now cattle vets!) as well as human medical and dental professionals to help provide the best care possible for the residents at CSNW.
Erin enjoys the outdoor beauty of the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons whenever possible and shares her home with 3 rescued pot bellied pigs, 2 kitties, 2 horses and a tiny dog.
