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Dr Edel Sanders, PhD

26th June 2023

is Head of Research for the School of Psychology at the University of New York in Prague. For nearly nine years, she was Dean of Psychology at the same university. She has taught a plethora of courses in higher education with a passion to inspire meaningful learning. Her journey to explore the workings of the developing mind began at Columbia University where she earned three degrees (BA, summa cum laude, MA and EdM), followed by a PhD at the University of Cambridge. Though Dr Sanders’ doctoral thesis explored cognitive development in human children, while at Cambridge she also supported research at the Comparative Cognition lab, investigating individual traits and social learning in the natural environment of wild jackdaws as her fascination of the mind extended beyond the human mind to include the minds of other species. One area of focus in her recent publications regards concepts of otherness. She hopes to extend the discourse with the goal to dissolve mental biases and barriers regarding other species as well as human others. Her published works also regard post-traumatic stress and growth. Future projects and research are motivated by the desire to foster compassion towards animals through humane education in urban areas and refugee settlements, which also can encourage healing and growth in those who have experienced trauma. Beyond this, Dr Sanders hopes to spark the idea that animals have intrinsic value and interests like our own through books and motivational talks, such as her recent TedTalk revealing how human hubris can blind us to the wonders of the inner worlds of nonhuman animals’ hearts and minds.