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The American violinist, psychologist and researcher Joanne Elizabeth Tanner, obtained her Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin College (1961-1965). She became interested in some of the “big questions” about the evolution of language when she began to work as a volunteer companion to the sign-language using gorilla Koko in 1980. She returned to school in 1989 as a post-graduate student and teaching assistant in anthropology at University of Calfornia Santa Cruz (UCSC) with Dr. Adrienne Zihlman (1989-1991); and then went on to earn a Ph.D. in Evolutionary Psychology, awarded in 1998 from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland with Dr. Richard Byrne as advisor (1992-1995).
Joanne Tanner was Research assistant, Gorilla Foundation, Woodside, California (1981-1992); postgraduate teaching assistant in anthropology, University of California, Santa Cruz (1989-1992); Lecturer Gorilla Foundation (1984-1992). Her research is on the untaught gestural communication of the gorillas at the San Francisco Zoo. She has taught Primate Behavior as a temporary lecturer at UCSC, and continued to research and write, publishing journal articles and a book chapter. Her research at the San Francisco Zoo has been featured as a part of two National Geographic specials in a series called "Who's Aping Who?" and has also been noted in a Discovery Channel show, "Conversations with Koko." She has been listed as a noteworthy Psychologist, researcher by Marquis Who's Who.
As a musician, Joanne Tanner was Symphony violinst in various cities (1965-1989); Private violin teacher in Cupertino, California (1980-1992); Instructor violin Metropolitan State College, Denver (1967-1972). Currently she is a Music Ministry member of Boulder Creek United Methodist Church in California. Together with Robert Jackdon, Roy Stegman, Christine Bakalis, and Michael Fisher, they share their talents on piano, harpsichord, guitar, violin and flute. The church also sponsors a wonderful group of local, volunteer musicians who perform several times a year as the Concertino Strings, providing free concerts of classical music.
Joanne Tanner married Clarence Cooper on June 14, 1965 (divorced 1976). The have one child, Duncan; she married Charles L. Ernest on April 24, 1987. As well as being appreciative of the input of many mentors over the years, she is extremely grateful for the continuing collaboration of husband Charles Ernest, who has been cameraman, video editor, and computer troubleshooter for nearly 20 years. |
