Brinda Jegatheesan is Associate Professor at the University of Washington, Seattle, USA, in Educational Psychology, Early Childhood & Family Studies, and Learning Sciences and Human Development. She studies the dynamics of culture and childhood experiences in family, community and school settings and the traumatic impact of changes and continuities in family life (e.g., family violence, childhood PTSD due to trauma) with a specific focus on the complexities of these in vulnerable children forming multiple meaning systems with animals. In particular, she examines children’s opportunities to participate and learn across diverse environments to develop altruistic relationships with animals and the natural world, documenting the therapeutic benefits for children in ways that are personally consequential and memorable for them. She conducts and helps develop Animal-Assisted Intervention programs (e.g., schools, children's hospitals) for traditionally underserved children in the USA and Asia. Central to her work are dimensions of social justice and equity in historically underserved and underprivileged non-dominant families and communities.

Brinda is Vice President Development & Outreach of IAHAIO and Co-Chair of IAHAIO's International Task-Force on Animal Welfare in AAI. She is the Editor of the journal 'People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice ' and a Fellow at the Institute for Human-Animal Connection at the University of Denver. She also serves on the board of several international and national human-animal bond organizations.