Debra Durham, PhD

Associate Director, The Kerulos Center

Co-Founder, International Association for Animal Trauma and Recovery

Curriculum vitae

Debra Durham is associate director and board member. She earned her Ph.D. in Animal Behavior from the University of California Davis. She has been working with animals for more than 12 years in both research and applied work. Her specialties include behavioral plasticity and how individuals respond to change and stress. Durham began studying primates in the wild in 1996 and directed a long-term conservation research program with endangered lemurs from 1999-2001. In addition to her prior research that aimed to protect wild animals in the context of conservation, Dr. Durham also worked on issues of animal welfare. She has been particularly keen to apply this approach to better understand the effects of laboratory experimentation and possibilities for supporting rehabilitation for survivors. Dr. Durham's professional experience includes positions in the public sector as well as the private sector working in profit and not-for-profit organizations. Durham also has experience with outreach, teaching and program evaluation that are valuable in her role as a board member.