Karin Enstam Jaffe

Office

Advising Area

• General

Biography

I have been a faculty member in the Anthropology Department at Sonoma State University since August 2002. A dedicated teacher-scholar, I have won several teaching, scholarship, and mentoring awards during my time at SSU, including the SSU Excellence in Teaching Award (2009), an Educational Experience Enhancement Award (2015), and the President’s Excellence in Scholarship Award (2016). In addition to teaching anthropology courses in primate behavioral ecology, evolution of human behavior, human behavioral ecology, and anthropological theory, I was an adjunct faculty member in the Biology Department from 2003 through 2020. I was the coordinator of the Human Development Program from November 2014-May 2020 and the coordinator of the Liberal Studies-Ukiah Program from January 2018-July 2019. I currently serve as the School of Social Sciences Associate Dean. 

Education

University of California, Davis, Ph.D. Anthropology, 2002

University of California, Davis, M.A. Anthropology, 1997

University of California, San Diego, B.A. Anthropology, 1994

Degrees

Academic Interests

I am a biological anthropologist with research interests in applied animal behavior and primate behavior and ecology. I have over 20 years of experience studying primate behavior, and have conducted research in Kenya, Grenada, at the San Francisco Zoo, Safari West Wildlife Preserve, and at CRES (Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species) at the San Diego Zoo. I was a Research Associate at Oakland Zoo from July 2015 to January 2022. Most recently, I have been involved in behavioral enrichment research involving ring-tailed lemurs, chimpanzees, and sun bears, as well as a study of the social network of hamadryas baboons.

Concentrations

Biological anthropology, primate behavior and ecology, applied animal behavior, evolution of human and primate behavior

Selected Publications & Presentations

To view a complete list of all publications and presentations, or download PDFs, please go to my ResearchGate Profile, Academia Profile, or Fresca Profile.

Ghavamian, Y.*, Minier, D.E., & Jaffe, K.E. (2023) Effects of complex feeding enrichment on the behavior of captive Malayan sun bears (Helarctos malayanus). Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science. 26(4): 670-684. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10888705.2021.2023874

Jaffe, K.E. (2023) Primate Ecology and Behavior. In: Explorations: An Open Invitation to Biological Anthropology, 2nd Edition. (B. Shook, L. Braff, K. Nelson, and K. Aguilera, eds.). American Anthropological Association, Arlington, VA. (ebook ISBN: 978-1-931303-82-8).

Molinaro, H.G.*, Minier, D.E., & Jaffe, K.E. (2022) Using social network analysis to inform the process of one-male-unit formation of hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas) in captivity. Zoo Biology. 41(2): 108-121. DOI: doi.org/10.1002/zoo.21663

Radosevich, L.*, Jaffe, K.E., & Minier, D.E. (2021) The utility of social network analysis for informing zoo management: Changing network dynamics of a group of captive hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas) following an introduction of two young males. Zoo Biology. 40(6): 503-516. DOI: doi.org/10.1002/zoo.21630

Jaffe, K.E. (2016) Malbrouck monkey, Chlorocebus cynosuros. In: All the World’s Primates. (N. Rowe and M. Myers, eds.). Pogonias Press, Charlestown, RI. pp. 472-473.

Jaffe, K.E. & Isbell, L.A. (2010) Changes in ranging and agonistic behavior of vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) after predator-induced group fusion. American Journal of Primatology. 72: 634-644. DOI: doi.org/10.1002/ajp.20821

Isbell, L.A., Young, T.P., Jaffe, K.E., Carlson, A.A., & Chancellor, R.L. (2009) Demography and life histories of sympatric patas monkeys, Erythrocebus patas, and vervets, Cercopithecus aethiops, in Laikipia, Kenya. International Journal of Primatology. 30: 103-124. DOI: 10.1007/s10764-009-9332-7

Jaffe, K.E. & Isbell, L.A. (2009) After the fire: Benefits of reduced ground cover for vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops). American Journal of Primatology. 71: 252-260. DOI: doi.org/10.1002/ajp.20644

Parker, S.T. & Jaffe, K.E. (2008) Darwin’s Legacy: Scenarios in Human Evolution. AltaMira Press, NY. (Named a 2009 CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title)

* graduate student collaborator