Education Team

Veronica Ramos, Education Program Director, is an artist and an educator, with experience teaching visual arts to students at every grade level from K-12. She earned a Master of Science in Art Education from Massachusetts College of Art and Design and currently teaches high school art. Veronica is the primary author and designer of New England Primate Sanctuary's curriculum, which includes lesson plans for grades K-12.  She and her team have developed the Education Center's unique curriculum for use by educators both here in New England and across the nation.  

Outside of the classroom, Veronica has manifested her passion for health, environmental and animal advocacy in her participation in a variety of organizations. She was co-founder of a statewide animal advocacy group involved in animal protection and legislation, and was also a co-founder of CPU, a central Massachusetts watchdog group focused on air and water quality in central Massachusetts, where she and her husband live with their canine and feline family members Atticus Finch and Aries.

Erin Cooney-Lefort is a Behavior Analyst, Certified Dog Trainer, and owner of an animal behavior training and consulting business, Community Canines. Her compassion for both human and nonhuman animals guides her in the individualized works she does to help learners adapt and thrive in their daily environments. Confident that every individual brings their unique life experiences to the learning context, Erin is continuously fascinated and inspired by the behavioral puzzles she faces on a case-by-case basis, be they with companion animals, pet owners, children affected with Autism Spectrum Disorder, or adults with developmental disabilities. Erin earned her M.S. in Behavioral Analysis from Simmons College in Boston, MA and plans to sit for the board exam for behavior analysts in 2011, making her the first of only three Board Certified Behavior Analysts with an animal specialty in her field. Familiar with the effects had on people and animals that have survived under socialized, institutional environments by necessity, Erin came to NEPS ready to employ the science of behavior change for the primate veterans of biomedical research as they learn to adapt to their peaceful and enriching retirement experiences.

Debra Curtin is New England Primate Sanctuary's founder. For 25-years, Debra developed and delivered presentations, workshops and training seminars for professionals in multiple industries. Well-versed in the plight of captive nonhuman primates and their need for sanctuary, Debra launched New England Primate Sanctuary's outreach programs in 2004, speaking at a variety of venues on behalf of the Sanctuary's mission and addressing students from elementary to university and graduate school programs. She developed the Sanctuary's Education Center curriculum, produced the accompanying educational videos, and organized the education team. Canines Scrappy, Sassy and JellyBean, and feline Cleo share office space with Debra and impart their wisdom and advice about animal protection.

Elana Kirshenbaum has over 7 years experience as an educator and program developer. She founded the non-profit organization, Healing Earth, which ignited reverence and compassionate choices for all life on Earth through innovative educational programs. As a humane educator, Elana assisted in the development of New England Primate Sanctuary's curriculum, and has developed innovative curriculae for leading state and national organizations and presented humane education workshops to various audiences from children to adults.

Elana is also the co-founder and President of RIVA (Rhode Island Vegan Awareness), an all volunteer run vegan advocacy organization. Through her leadership, RIVA has educated thousands of people with critical information and brought a growing community of concerned individuals together through film screenings, annual events, a powerful media campaign, educational workshops at universities and other venues, outreach activities, and a comprehensive website. Elana shares her home with four rescued felines and maintains a small, private animal sanctuary for rabbits. She strongly believes that humane education is one of the most powerful and effective means to help move our society from one dominated by violence and oppression to one embraced by honor and respect for other species and the planet.

Cynthia Taylor is a Biological Anthropologist. After completing her M.A. degree at the University of Arizona, Cynthia traveled to La Suerte Biological Field Station in Costa Rica to help teach an undergraduate field course on primate behavior, ecology, and conservation. When she wasn't in the classroom, she was out in the rainforest with students, tracking and observing wild capuchin, howler, and spider monkeys. Currently, she is an adjunct instructor of Anthropology at the University of Rhode Island where she teaches courses on Human Origins and Human Biological Diversity. Cynthia has also worked on a variety of research and outreach projects for the University of Rhode Island's Feinstein Center for a Hunger Free America, the University of Arizona's Gwembe Tonga Research Project, Santa Clara University's Anthropology Department, and the University of Rhode Island's Cancer Prevention Research Center.