Chase LaDue, PhD
Executive Director
Chase is a Conservation Scientist at the Oklahoma City Zoo, where his research focuses on the behavior, physiology, and conservation of elephants and other large mammals. While earning his PhD in Environmental Science and Policy at George Mason University, he completed a Fulbright Fellowship in Sri Lanka in 2018-19 through Rajarata University of Sri Lanka.
Chase is also Special Projects Manager at the International Elephant Foundation, editor of the Journal of the Elephant Managers Association, and a National Geographic Explorer. He serves as Research Advisor to the Elephant Taxon Advisory Group of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
As Executive Director at SLEP, Chase leads scientific research and the evaluation of community-oriented activities. He is responsible for guiding the long-term goals of SLEP, working towards a secure future for elephants and human communities in Sri Lanka.