Katherine Leighty, Ph.D., Board Chair
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Dr. Leighty has worked with chimpanzees and a variety of other primates for over 20 years. She has a Ph.D. in comparative psychology from the University of Georgia and is the Animal Care Director at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Orlando, FL. Dr. Leighty has published a number of papers and presented at scientific meetings on primate cognition, behavior and welfare, in addition to related work in other animals including elephants, tigers, and turtles. Dr. Leighty chairs the Research and Technology committee of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and served on the Executive Council of the International Primatological Society for over 10 years.