Caroline Simpson

 Lab Manager  

Hi! My name is Caroline Simpson and I am an Animal Studies and Psychology double major with a double minor in French and Marine Biology. I am from Devon, Pennsylvania and animals have always been an important part of my life, especially my dog, Tucker. In the summer of 2023, I did internships at both The Elmwood Park Zoo and The Philadelphia Zoo and I am currently volunteering with Elmira's Wildlife Sanctuary. In the future I would like to attend graduate school to study animal cognition and behavior as well as conservation efforts for endangered species.

ALEJANDRA LÓPEZ RUEDA

Lead Researcher 

Alejandra is a double major in Biology and Animal Studies, with a minor in chemistry. She grew up in Mexico City watching Tarzan and dreaming of one day traveling to study apes in the wild! In 2023, she completed an internship at the Greater Kruger Park, South Africa where she monitored different wildlife and their ecosystem. At Eckerd, she is the Science Editor for Triton Publications and is involved with the orangutan behavioral research project for the Conservation Behavior Lab. She is excited to explore this further through a comparative psychology lens and hopes to use the knowledge gained in her future career as a field researcher! 

Alison Loubet 

Research Assistant 

Hi! I'm Alison, and I am majoring in Animal Studies, with a minor in both Environmental Studies and Visual Art! I was born and raised in Florida, and have always had a passion for animals and animal care. I have worked with shelters and sanctuaries in releasing rehabbed wildlife back to nature, as well as some physical assessment work with incoming animal inhabitants at each. I am currently interested in animal rescue, as well as animal cruelty investigation and animal welfare assessment. I am also very interested in birds of all species and hope to work in bird behavior and psychology/cognition on the side. I have my pup, Callie, as well as my two cockatiels, Stuart and Marshal, helping me improve my work day after day!

Dai Goebel 

Research Assistant 

Dai is a double major in Marine Biology and Animal Studies, with minors in Ancient Studies and Biology. She is a huge lover of animals and is actively involved in several research projects and sanctuaries. Dai spent the summer as an intern with Seaside Seabird Sanctuary, and she was a Steidinger Scholar with the FWC this past year. She is currently conducting research with Apollo the African Grey Parrot in the Parrot cognition project. After graduation, Dai plans to travel and further her education to pursue her career! 

Rose Irwin  

Lead Researcher 

Rose Irwin was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and is currently double majoring in Animal Studies and Psychology. Her love for animals began as a child during frequent visits to zoos across the United States, where she developed a particular fascination with big cats. Throughout her life, Rose has cared for a wide variety of animals, including ducks, lizards, a hedgehog, and more. This experience sparked a passion for understanding both animal cognition and the health dynamics between animals and humans. In 2023, she interned at the Center for Victims in Pittsburgh, where she trained Advocate Dogs, further deepening her interest in animal behavior. Since attending Eckerd, Rose has continued to pursue her passion for animals and hopes to further develop her skills to work with large cats in the future.

Avery Powell  

Lead Researcher & Social Media Manager

Hey! My name is Avery, and I am an Animal Studies major with minors in Marine Science and Environmental Studies. I am from Michigan, where I grew up surrounded by all kinds of animals. I developed a love for them at an early age and have wanted to learn more about them ever since. I am interested in wildlife education and conservation, specifically regarding big cats. After Eckerd, I hope to travel and attend grad school. I am the lead researcher on the dog symbolism project, and can't wait to see where it goes!

Sarah Litman  

Lead Researcher 

Hello! My name is Sarah Litman, and I’m a senior double majoring in Animal Studies and Psychology. I grew up in Maryland around animals, which solidified my passion for working with and researching their unique cognitive abilities. In the summer of 2024, I was a bird steward at Saint Pete Beach with Florida Audubon. I’ve also been an assistant researcher for the CEVE Project. Currently, I’m the lead researcher for the Parrot Cognition Project. My goal after graduation is to obtain a PhD in Comparative Psychology or Animal Behavior.  

McKenna O’Brien   

Research Assistant 

Hi everyone! My name is McKenna O’Brien and I’m from Dayton, Ohio. I’m a double major in Animal Studies and Psychology with a minor in Biology. My entire life has been completely immersed with animals which has continued through my education. I believe the potential of the animal behavior and cognition discipline is highly underdeveloped, so I hope to assist on expanding the comparative psychology field. I have two amazing companion animals in my life, Penelope (as pictured) and Dobby, my tuxedo kitty. They, along with every animal I’ve encountered have inspired me to study animal behavior as my future professional career. 

Sophie Nocera   

Research Assistant 

Hi! My name is Sophia Nocera and I’m a junior at Eckerd! I am a double major in Psychology and Animal Studies with a minor in biology! I was born and raised in Naples, Florida and have cared for a wide variety of animals! I have always been passionate about animal welfare and would love nothing more than to study animal behavior in the future! I am starting as a project assistant for the CEVE project and I could not be more excited!!  

Brooke Hymiller    

Research Assistant  

Brooke grew up on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where her love for the ocean and animals was nurtured from an early age. Now a sophomore at Eckerd College, she is pursuing a double major in Marine Science and Animal Studies. In 2023, Brooke completed an internship with the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island, gaining valuable hands-on experience with marine wildlife while working alongside the husbandry team. At Eckerd, she continues to fuel her passion for marine life, particularly elasmobranchs and is excited to deepen her expertise throughout her academic journey. 

Mia Slocum   

Research Assistant  

“Hi! My name is Mia Slocum. I am a double major in Animal Studies and Psychology, with a minor in Spanish. I grew up in Central Florida, always visiting Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and I've always known I wanted to pursue a career that involved animals. I used to work at an animal hospital and in the summer of 2025, I completed an animal care internship with ZooTampa’s Africa department. In the future, I would love to work in animal behavior and training!” 

Molly Schrom   

Research Apprentice  

My name is Molly Schrom. I am from Illinois and am currently a freshman. I have always loved animals and have grown up caring for several pets from our grumble of pugs to guinea pigs, turtles, axolotls, and a rabbit. I deeply love my pug Percy who is my ESA at Eckerd. She is participating in the dog symbolism project with me, and I am excited to see the end results. While I have not declared my major yet, I am considering human development with a concentration in animal studies and art therapies and a minor in behavioral neuroscience. My ultimate goal would be to become an occupational therapist who uses animal therapy to help improve people’s quality of life. I would also love to learn how to train therapy dogs and service animals. 

Camille Hairston    

Research Assistant  

Hi! My name is Camille Hairston, and I am from Sandy Spring, Maryland. Here at Eckerd, I am an Animal Studies major with a minor in Marine Science. I've been passionate about animals for as long as I can remember, and have always known I wanted a career that lets me work closely with them and help people understand the deep connections we share. Over the summer, I worked with a non-profit organization and the Maryland SPCA, where I gained experience caring for animals and learning about community outreach. I am so excited to be a research assistant on the dog symbolism project!

Grace Nowak   

Research Assistant  

Hi! My name is Grace Nowak, and I'm a double major in Animal Studies and Biology with a minor in Entrepreneurship. I grew up in Maryland and have always loved caring for animals, from my dog Phineas to the horses and dogs I’ve worked with. Last year, my interest in animals brought me to Eckerd, where I plan to learn more about animals and their behavior. I'm excited to focus on learning about cognition, conservation, and behavior modification during my time at Eckerd and through the ECCPL, where I will be working on the Dog Memory Study. After Eckerd, I hope to continue working in animal-related research and pursue graduate school, work in wildlife conservation, or become a dog trainer.