Meet Our Faculty

Nandita Bajaj is a Senior Lecturer for the Institute for Humane Education’s graduate programs at Antioch University, where she teaches Environmental Ethics and Pronatalism, Overpopulation, and the Planet. She is also Executive Director of the US nonprofit Population Balance. She produces and hosts two podcasts: "OVERSHOOT" and "Beyond Pronatalism," and has delivered over 100 presentations globally. She has published several journal articles and book chapters, and her work has appeared in major news outlets including "The Guardian," "The Toronto Star," "The Indian Express," and "Ms. Magazine." Previously, she worked as an engineer and a high school teacher. She has Bachelor’s degrees in Aerospace Engineering and Education and a Master’s degree in Humane Education.

Sarah Bexell, has worked in wildlife conservation, humane education and sustainable development for over 25 years. She holds a B.A. in biology and environmental studies from Augustana College, M.A. in biological anthropology from Northern Illinois University, M.Ed. in secondary science education from Georgia State University, and a Ph.D. in early childhood education from Georgia State University. Currently she is Clinical Associate Professor with the Graduate School of Social Work as well as Director of Humane Education for the Institute for Human-Animal Connection, both at the University of Denver. She is also a faculty member with the Institute for Humane Education-Antioch University and Senior Advisor to Conservation Education at China’s Chengdu Giant Panda Research Base.

Mary Pat Champeau is the director of graduate programs at the Institute for Humane Education and faculty at Antioch University. She holds an MA from New York University.
Mary Pat has been in the field of education since 1979 when she began teaching as a Peace Corps volunteer in Niger, West Africa. Before becoming part of the IHE team, she worked in refugee camps in Southeast Asia and supervised American culture and language programs for the World Trade Institute in New York City. Since 2002, she has directed and taught in IHE’s graduate programs first with Cambridge College, then Valparaiso University, and now at Antioch. She has served on numerous school and non-profit boards and is a longstanding member of the humane education anti-racism working group.

Mike Farley is a Senior Lecturer in the Institute for Humane Education's graduate programs with Antioch University, where he teaches the Animal Protection and Capstone courses. He has also been teaching middle and high school Geography and Environmental Studies for more than 20 years in Toronto. In addition, he is also a Sessional Lecturer for the University of Toronto’s Master of Teaching program. Mike completed his M.Ed. degree in Humane Education in 2021 and is a frequent presenter at conferences in Canada and the U.S. on human rights, environmental issues, and animal protection. Mike was awarded the TeachKind Canadian Teacher of the Year in 2022 for his work focusing on animals and education.

Chitra Golestani is on the faculty of IHE and Antioch University, associate director of the Wilmette Institute, and a co-founder of the Paulo Freire Institute (PFI) at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She holds a Ph.D. in Social Science and Comparative Education from UCLA and a Master’s in Education from University of California, Santa Barbara. She is engaged in numerous grass-roots programs aimed at raising human capacity for people of all backgrounds to build a more just, peaceful, and sustainable planet.

Vincie Ho, Ph.D., is faculty at Antioch University and teaches human rights for the graduate programs with the Institute for Humane Education. She is also the founder and executive director of RISE Travel Institute, a 501(c)3 nonprofit with a mission to educate all who travel so that when travel occurs it is responsible, impactful, sustainable, and ethical. Her work at RISE focuses on engaging tourism professionals, university students, and travelers in critical conversations around social justice, animal protection, environmental stewardship, diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility, and systems change in the context of travel and tourism. Vincie holds a Ph.D. in Linguistics (HKU) and taught French at the University of Hong Kong for over a decade. She also holds various graduate and professional certificates in negotiation skills (UPEACE), humane education (IHE), sustainable tourism (GSTC), global social change leadership (NYU), and international peace and human rights (UNU). A native of Hong Kong, Vincie also teaches Cantonese, a politically marginalized language, as a commitment to preserve the cultural identity of her people.

Dana McPhall has over 30 years of experience in the nonprofit, government, and legal sectors, and holds a Master’s Degree in Education through the Institute for Humane Education (IHE), as well as a Juris Doctorate and a Master’s Degree in Public Policy. Since earning her M.Ed. degree, Dana has dedicated herself to exploring the intersection of humane education and racial justice, particularly the link between race and animality, and to teaching educators, advocates, and parents about the intertwined systemic roots of anti-Black racism and animal exploitation. As part of that work, Dana has chaired a working group of IHE staff and alumni dedicated to integrating racial justice issues more deeply into the field of humane education. Five years ago, Dana joined IHE’s faculty at Antioch University to facilitate a self-designed course called Race, Intersectionality and Veganism. Dana is also the author of “What I’ve Learned by Applying an Antiracist Framework to My Animal Advocacy,” which was published in 2020 by Sentient Media and included in the influential book “Antiracism in Animal Advocacy: Igniting Cultural Transformation.” More recently, Dana has led nonprofit educational programs designed to support educators and advocates in promoting interrelated issues of social justice within the U.S. food system. In 2023, Dana started her own educational project called Liberate In Mind, whose purpose is to deepen understanding, shift movement narratives, and direct social action towards justice and liberation for Black people and nonhuman animals as one common undertaking through education.

Cyndi Trapanese is a Senior Lecturer on the IHE faculty at Antioch University, where she teaches the courses Culture and Change, and Creative Activism. Cyndi is also a K-5 Science Specialist in Marin County, California. She teaches science with a humane education lens, in a social justice-infused, student-led classroom environment of curiosity and wonder, where students explore creative solutions to problems. She was an Animalearn Honorable Mention for the 2023 Humane Science Educator of the Year. Cyndi presented Teaching to Be Kind as the 2024 Montgomery Professorship for Humane Education's Invited Speaker at Stephen F. Austin State University. She is a frequent presenter at educator conferences, presenting on humane science curriculum and creative ways to teach about local wildlife. Cynthia has an M.Ed. in Humane Education. She holds a California Elementary Education (TK-6) Teaching Credential. She has published articles in YES! Magazine and the Audubon Activist, and co-authored a chapter in a college-level social studies textbook. 

Kris Tucker is on the faculty of the IHE program at Antioch University and teaches Writing for Social Change, Humane Education Capstone, and Building a Solutionary Practice. She has her Ed.D. in Higher Education and Adult Learning and is a veteran teacher with 20 years of classroom experience. Her interest in humane education, adult learning, literacy, special education, sustainability, outdoor/experiential education, and transformative learning is indicative of her deep commitment to social change. Kris works full-time as an educator at Ridge and Valley Charter School.

Zoe Weil is the co-founder and president of IHE. She is a pioneer in the humane education movement and has been teaching humane education and training humane educators since 1987. In addition to creating IHE's graduate programs, speaking around the world, and leading workshops, Zoe has authored several books, including The Power and Promise of Humane Education, Above All, Be Kind, and Most Good, Least Harm. Zoe received a Master's in Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School and a Master's in English Literature from the University of Pennsylvania.