Barbara Sleeper's career as a science writer has spanned nearly four decades, during which she's traveled to 80-plus countries to observe non-human primates, explore wildlife preserves, and learn first-hand about global conservation issues. She has participated in field research projects in the rainforests of Malaysia, Peru, and Brazil studying monogamous primates.

Her more than 300 wildlife and travel articles have appeared in numerous national and international publications, including Audubon, Australian Natural History, Pacific Discovery, Anima, Das Tier, Life, Wildlife Art News, Travel & Leisure, Travel Holiday, Ranger Rick, Sport Diver and Ocean Geographic. For fifteen years, Ms. Sleeper submitted articles as a contributing editor to Animals magazine, a role she also served at AirCal magazine.

Barbara co-founded Adventure Travel magazine and the American Adventures Association with Bob Citron in Seattle, Washington. She also served as president and vice-president of the Seattle Zoological Society at the Woodland Park Zoo.

Ms. Sleeper holds degrees in zoology and psychology from the University of Washington where she earned her Master's degree studying mother-infant attachment, maternal behavior, and the effects of early infant daycare. She is currently a Ph.C. at the University of Washington pursuing a dissertation topic on "The Economics of Female Choice." Barbara is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) in good standing with the Project Management Institute.

In 2004, Barbara moved her elderly parents from Boston to Seattle to supervise their daily care. "The demands of eldercare definitely impacted my career goals," says Barbara, "but I have no regrets. I cherish the time I was able to spend with my mother before she died in 2011, and my father in 2014. I was able to take my spunky Dad, Bill Sleeper, to Maui three times and on four amazing trips, driving him more than 8,000 miles through 21 states so he could see his friends and relatives -- and to places he had never been before. My father made it to 99 1/3 years old, just short of his goal to reach 100.

With Barbara's help, science guru Bill Sleeper was turned into a senior celebrity nicknamed "The Merrill Gardens Tech Whiz." He appeared on King 5 TV's Evening Magazine, Q13 Fox News, KOMO News, KIRO Radio and in numerous print articles, including GeekWire's featured "Geek of the Week," The Journal, The Everett Herald, and Northwest Prime Time. With iPhone in hand, this self-described "talking fossil" encouraged both young and old to embrace technology and continue learning. As a result of his tireless efforts to help fellow seniors, Senior Services of Seattle/King County surprised him with the 2012 Inspire Positive Aging Award and Alaska Airlines gave him two free roundtrip tickets to Maui. Bill made his international TV debut in a Christmas commercial for Best Buy with enthusiastic support from Merrill Gardens, and from GeekWire who interviewed him again on KIRO Radio. In 2014, Bill was interviewed by Caring.com, the Mill Creek Beacon, and The Bulletin (spring edition published by the Williston Northampton School). His biography, Get With It, Kiddo: How to Say YES to Life at Any Age, will be published in 2022.

Barbara is the mother of three happy kids, Kelly, Dave, and Josh -- and the proud grandmother of eleven. She resides in Bothell, Washington.