Past Students

Sarah Nadler

It was under her guidance that the Eckerd College Comparative Psychology was created!  During Sarah's four years at Eckerd, she volunteered at several animal care facilities including the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary and Southeast Guide Dogs Inc. She was also a manatee specialist at the South Florida Museum's Parker Aquarium where she cared for and trained Snooty the manatee. Sarah assisted Professor Highfill on cognitive studies with a variety of animals including: dogs, sea lions, and lemurs. After Eckerd she received her M.Ed. and Ed.S. degrees in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Florida. She is now back in St. Petersburg working as an adventure therapist and often brings her registered therapy dog to sessions!  She is also an Instructor and Mentor for Animal Studies at Eckerd!  

Cassi Lyon

Cassi graduated from Eckerd with a double major in Psychology and International Relations and a Chinese minor. As part of ECCPL, she served as a student observer for the gorillas at Busch Gardens, Tampa. Through this experience she learned how to create and fill out behavioral ethograms concerning the eating behaviors of two of the park’s gorillas. She also volunteered at the Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy (SMART) for the three years, where she was able to work with horses and amazing children and adults with physical or mental disabilities. She then worked at Disney's Animal Kingdom as a behavioral researcher. She completed her PhD at Arizona State University in their Biology and Society program. She plans to pursue a career that furthers the rights of animals globally and makes their welfare and conservation a more oft-discussed issue.

Christine Dumbleton

During her time at Eckerd, Christine was a student observer of the elephants at Busch Gardens Tampa and an intern at the Big Cat Rescue.  Christine was also the lead researcher on a study investigating whether dogs can count.  She presented her research at the International Conference on Comparative Cognition. After graduation, Christine moved back to her home state of Massachusetts.  She is currently a full-time zookeeper at the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston.  There she trains giraffes and zebras!

Patrick Reed

During his time at Eckerd, Patrick was a student observer of elephants at Busch Gardens Tampa and a marine mammal intern at Gulf World Marine Park, Panama City Beach, FL. In his final year of college, Patrick interned at Discovery Cove in Orlando. He would commute between St. Petersburg and Orlando every week! His dedication paid off and he was ultimately hired as a marine mammal trainer at Discovery Cove.  He then switched careers and earned his Master's in Counseling and Sports Psychology. 

Hunter Ballak 

While at Eckerd, Hunter majored in psychology and minored in biology. Since he was 3 years old, it has been his dream to be a dolphin trainer at SeaWorld. Prior to Eckerd, he was a camper with SeaWorld’s resident camps for 8 consecutive years learning everything he could about the marine mammal training industry. During his time at Eckerd, he interned at the South Florida Museum with Snooty the manatee. Hunter also served as the assistant director of Eckerd College Pet Life.  After years of working as a trainer at Discovery Cove Orlando, Hunter is now a Senior Wildlife Care Specialist at San Diego Zoo Safari Park!

Tia Hildebrandt

While at Eckerd, Tia double majored in Psychology and Anthropology and minored in Biology. Her senior thesis examined maternal behavior in orangutans. During her time at Eckerd, Tia interned with many primate facilities including: the Center for Great Apes in Wauchula, Florida, the Primate Rescue Center in Wilmore, Kentucky, and the Omaha Zoo. She also spent time volunteering at the Vervet Monkey Foundation in Tzaneen, South Africa. She currently works at Fort Wayne Children's Zoo with various primate species. She aspires to one day become a primatologist and travel to Africa to rescue chimpanzees from unfortunate circumstances.

Joy Vincent

During her time at Eckerd, Joy majored in Psychology and minored in both Biology and Environmental Studies. She also kept busy as a Ford Scholar and a member of the Eckerd College Search and Rescue team. As ECCPL lab manager, Joy worked on several research projects at ZooTampa, and presented her research on Red River Hogs at the International Conference on Comparative Psychology. Joy also completed a senior thesis examining zoo education. Joy completed her PhD in Psychology at Oakland University and currently teaches at Keiser University. 

Hannah McCollam

Hannah, a psychology major, completed an impressive list of internships during her time at Eckerd. She volunteered with sea turtles at Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Californian sea lions at Mystic Aquarium, and bottlenose dolphins at Dolphins Plus. She also served as the lead researcher on a conservation project at Florida Aquarium. All of her hard work paid off and she secured a job at SeaWorld San Antonio for after graduation! After a stint at Gulf World Marine Park, Hannah earned her Master's in Anthrozoology.  She is now a professor at Beacon College teaching future generations about comparative psychology!

Katie Keck

Katie, a Psychology and Animal Studies major found her passion for animal behavior by visiting facilities like Animal Kingdom and the Seas at Walt Disney World, the Atlantis resort, and local zoos and aquariums throughout her childhood. Among other things, Katie helped to lead up a research project at ZooTampa studying the efficacy of the facility's encounter programs and conservation pledges in producing conservation-based behaviors in guests. Katie completed her Master's in Animal Behavior and Welfare from St. Andrew's University in Scotland! She is now an Ectotherm Keeper at Naples Zoo!

Katie Willgohs 

Katie, a Psychology and Animal Studies major, served on the Eckerd College Comparative Psychology Lab as a lab manager and lead researcher. Katie became involved in the lab her freshman year as a First Year Research Associate. While at Eckerd, Katie was a part of Dr. Highfill's dog cognition lab and assisted with the Elephant Cooperation Strategy project in collaboration with Zoo Tampa at Lowry Park. Upon graduation, Katie accepted a position at Eckerd College as a stewardship coordinator. 

Jenna Williams

Jenna Williams served as lab manager of the ECCPL and a lead researcher. While in the lab, Jenna was the lead researcher of various projects: Doggie Diplomas, Creative Canine, and the Dog Training Project. She also served as an assistant researcher for the Orangutan Behavior Project. Upon graduation, Jenna will be attending graduate school at the University of Manitoba working on her Masters in Biological Sciences. Her thesis will be centered on Cape ground squirrels in South Africa. She will also be aiding her advisor on her work with polar bears in Churchill, Canada. 

Kayla Fulkerson

Kayla Fulkerson served as a lead researcher within the ECCPL. She led the elephant cooperation project as well as help started the Florida Aquarium Enrichment Project. Kayla is currently pursuing her Master's degree at North Carolina State University.  As part of her program, she collaborates with the North Carolina Zoo. 

Sarah Rhodes

Sarah Rhodes served as a research assistant in the ECCPL. She assisted the dog training project working alongside Jenna Williams. After graduation, Sarah moved to San Antonio, Texas to work at SeaWorld Orlando as a husbandry assistant in the Discovery Point Area. She is now back in Florida working as an Associate Trainer at Discovery Cove. 

Sonny Schoenhoft

While a member of the Eckerd College Comparative Psychology Lab, Sonny served as a research assistant helping start up the Florida Aquarium Enrichment Project. While at Eckerd, Sonny participated in the primate internship at Zoo Tampa. Sonny is now pursuing her graduate degree studying belugas under the mentorship of Dr. Jason Bruck at Stephen F. Austin State University!

Kasey Carr

Kasey Carr held the position of lead researcher as well as research assistant. She was the lead researcher of the Orangutan Behavior project as well as the Animal Retention project. Kasey assisted on the Animals in Psychology project. While at Eckerd, Kasey participated in the primate internship at Zoo Tampa and remained involved in the zoo's animal behavior program. Following graduation, Kasey spent the Summer in San Diego, California working as a camp counselor at SeaWorld Orlando. Kasey is now an Associate Aviculturist at Seaworld Orlando.

Olivia Minney

While in the ECCPL, Olivia was the leader researcher of the Animal Retention Project. She assisted on the Elephant Cooperation project, Orangutan Behavior project, and Animals in Psychology Project. Olivia is heavily involved with Zoo Tampa and has participated in their animal behavior internship. 

Hailey McGovern

Hailey was a valuable member of the ECCPL for many years and she served at the Lab Manager for the Frick Animal Behavior Lab her senior year!  After graduation, Hailey secured a job as a sea lion trainer at Theater of the Sea in the Florida Keys.

Madeline Ketner 

While in the ECCPL, Maddie served as an amazing lab manger and lead researcher for the squirrel cognition and orangutan ZooTampa projects. She recently graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a Masters of Science in Applied Animal Behavior and Welfare!  Next up, she will be pursuing her PhD in Animal Welfare Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison under the mentorship of Dr. Sarah Adcock. 

Sean Jacobson

As a member of the ECCPL Sean was a valuable research assistant for the dog training project and he is now pursing his D.V.M at the Midwestern University College of Veterinary Science! 

Lily Collins 

As a member of the ECCPL Lily was a valuable researcher on the orangutan play project and after Eckerd has accepted a job as an Animal Trainer at the Downtown Houston Aquarium! 

Nancy Strever

Nancy graduated in 2024 with a double major in Animal Studies and Biology with a minor in Marine Science and was the Lab Manager of the ECCPL. While at Eckerd, Nancy has completed a Zoo Research Fellowship and a Behavioral Research Internship at ZooTampa where she studied primate behavior. Nancy also studied lemur foraging cognition, served as the Director of Pet Life at Eckerd, worked as an emergency veterinary technician for 3 years, and completed an undergraduate thesis in dog cognition and personality. Nancy now works as a Behavior Technician at Chimp Haven, the worlds largest chimpanzee sanctuary, providing enrichment and behavioral wellness to over 300 chimpanzees.


Chloe Shuskey 

Chloe graduated in 2024 with a double major in Animal Studies and Theatre with minors in Chemistry and Marine Science. Chloe has always had a passion for animals and wants to continue researching their behavior, abilities, and voicing for their welfare and conservation. Chloe has a dream of studying marine mammal communication and more specifically humpback whales and their songs. As a lab member, Chloe worked as a research assistant training Apollo, an African Grey Parrot. 

Allison Kenawall

Allison was a double major in animal studies and biology at Eckerd. During her time at Eckerd she interned with Dr. Kelley Winship at the US Navy Marine Mammal Program in San Diego.  She served as the lead researcher for the Canine EVE Project.  Allison is now pursuing her DVM at the University of Florida.