Chimp Haven was formed by a diverse group of individuals who shared a passion to build a model chimpanzee sanctuary. Chimp Haven’s Board of Directors and Advisory Board represent the best available consortium of knowledge for the care and well-being of captive chimpanzees.

Linda Brent, Ph.D., President and Director

Chimp Haven, Inc.
Dr. Brent is a behavioral primatologist specializing in chimpanzees. She initiated and directed the environmental enhancement program to over 6000 primates at the Southwest Foundation for 16 years. Dr. Brent also conducted behavioral research at the Gombe National Park in Tanzania on wild infant chimpanzee development. She is the editor of The Care and Management of Captive Chimpanzees. Dr. Brent was a founder of Chimp Haven and serves as the Director of the sanctuary.
Expertise: captive chimpanzee management, behavioral primatology, nonprofit management.

Stephen R. Ross, Ph.D., Chairperson

Assistant Director, Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes, Lincoln Park Zoo Dr. Ross has worked with captive chimpanzees at the UTMD Anderson Cancer Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center and the Lincoln Park Zoo. He specializes in the behavioral and cognitive study of great apes. Dr. Ross serves as the chair of AZA’s Chimpanzee Species Survival Plan. He has worked extensively with North American ape sanctuaries, and developed both the ChimpCARE website and the ChimpData database. Expertise: chimpanzee behavioral management, chimpanzee cognition, sanctuary management, databases.

Thomas Butler, D.V. M., M.S., DACLAM, Vice Chairperson

Retired Chairman of the Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine and Director of the chimpanzee colony at the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research.
Dr. Butler is a nonhuman primate veterinarian with over 40 years experience with chimpanzees. Until he retired in 2002, he was the Chairman of the Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine which included a large colony of chimpanzees at the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research. He worked with the Air Force chimpanzees at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. and designed numerous chimpanzee enclosures. Dr. Butler is ACLAM Board Certified in Laboratory Animal Medicine, and was selected as a member of the National Research Council’s Committee on the Long-Term Care of Chimpanzees. In addition, he is a former President of the Council on Accreditation, Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care, International. He is a founding board member of Chimp Haven.
Expertise: captive chimpanzee management, laboratory animal medicine, accreditation of animal facilities, biohazard containment.

Matthew Allen, J.D., Treasurer

Attorney, Social Security Administration
Mr. Allen received his law degree from Tulane Law School in New Orleans, Louisiana. Currently an attorney with the Social Security Administration in Shreveport, Matt’s practice areas include: family law, successions and probate, tax law, estate planning, Social Security and public benefits law, housing law, and elder law. He has been honored for his work by the Louisiana Legislature, the Governor of Louisiana and the Center for Civic Education. Matthew helped to administer two 100,000 dollar grants to help Hurricane Katrina evacuees. He is also a pianist and music leader.
Expertise: legal matters, business, community leader, nonprofit management.

Mollie Bloomsmith, Ph.D., Secretary

Director, Environmental Enrichment Program, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University.
Dr. Bloomsmith is an experimental psychologist specializing in chimpanzee behavioral management. With 28 years of experience studying chimpanzees at the U.T.M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (Bastrop, Texas),Yerkes National Primate Research Center (Atlanta, Ga.), and in zoos, Dr. Bloomsmith has published dozens of scientific articles on the topic of improving chimpanzee welfare. She teaches workshops in primate enrichment and training, supervises graduate students, is the Chair of the Primate Care Committee of the American Society of Primatologists, and is a research advisor to the AZA Chimpanzee Species Survival Plan. She is a founding board member of Chimp Haven.
Expertise: captive chimpanzee management, behavioral primatology.

Tamara Bettinger, Ph.D.

Research Biologist, Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Dr. Bettinger specializes in nonhuman primate behavior and endocrinology. Her previously held positions include Associate General Curator of Animal Collections at Zoo Atlanta and Curator of Conservation and Science at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. She is a sanctuary advisor to the Chimpanzee Species Survival Plan Committee of the AZA. Dr. Bettinger has worked extensively in Africa with sanctuaries, conservation programs and education programs.
Expertise: captive chimpanzee management, behavioral primatology, chimpanzee contraception, conservation education.

Frans B. M. de Waal, Ph. D.

Director, Living Links Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, and C. H. Candler Professor of Psychology, Emory University
Dr. de Waal is a distinguished primatologist, with over 30 years experience working with chimpanzees and other nonhuman primates. He has received numerous international awards and organized many scientific conferences. In addition to his extensive scientific publication record, Dr. de Waal is the author of a number of books, including Our Inner Ape, Chimpanzee Politics, and Good Natured.
Expertise: captive chimpanzee management, behavioral primatology.

Robert A. Whitney, D.V.M., M.S., DACLAM

Former Deputy Surgeon General and Director of NIH, NCRR
A career United States Public Health Service officer, he has held positions as Deputy Surgeon General, Acting Surgeon General and Director of NIH National Center for Research Resources. Dr. Whitney is a diplomat of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine and served as chief veterinary officer of the Public Health Service from 1985-1989. He has received a number of awards including the American Veterinary Medical Association Animal Welfare Award. Dr. Whitney served as President of Earthspan, a nonprofit organization.
Expertise: veterinary medicine, business management, laboratory animal medicine.

Candy Peavy, P.T.

Physical Therapist
Ms. Peavy, a community leader, is retired from a career as a physical therapist. She has been instrumental in fundraising, planning special events, networking, and recruiting volunteers for Chimp Haven since its beginnings in the Shreveport area. Ms. Peavy was also instrumental in the establishment of Robinson’s Rescue and other nonprofit organizations benefiting the regional community.
Expertise: business, community leader.

Peter Theran, V.M.D.

Former Vice President of the Health & Hospital Division for the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals/Animal Humane Education Society.
Dr. Theran has an illustrious career in veterinary medicine in both the laboratory and animal welfare fields. He has received a number of awards recognizing his expertise and served on government and private committees. He was selected as a member of the National Research Council’s Committee on the Long-Term Care of Chimpanzees.
Expertise: veterinary medicine, animal protection, business management, laboratory animal medicine.