We are delighted to announce that our founder, bonobo hero Claudine André, was chosen to receive an honorary doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Bern, Switzerland! Claudine was one of seven chosen to receive degrees from the university this year.
The faculty honored her lifetime of achievement and praised her for being:
- a strong woman in Africa
- a heroine of animal welfare
- always thinking positively and never giving up
- dedicated to the preservation and protection of bonobos
- dedicated to the biodiversity of our planet.
Claudine has devoted her life to bonobos – their rescue, care, and release back to the wild where they belong. She pioneered an approach to saving the lives of traumatized bonobo orphans — with mothering and love — that proves successful time after time. She raises awareness of endangered bonobos and the threats to their survival worldwide.
Kudos to a true ecoheroine!
Kendra is a creative problem-solver who provides executive and operational support across the organization. As Executive Assistant to Ariel Rogers, she manages scheduling, communications, and day-to-day priorities while also supporting the development and communications teams with administrative and operational needs.
Kathleen Cook brings more than nine years of experience working across Africa, with a focus on the Democratic Republic of Congo, where she has traveled over twenty times to support projects spanning conservation, clean energy, and community development. Her career has centered around using storytelling, strategic marketing, and relationship-building to create meaningful impact.
