Our Board
Amanda Lollar
Founder and President
Amanda is an author of both scientific and popular literature about bats, including her most recent work, The Rehabilitation and Captive Care of Insectivorous Bats. Amanda is a licensed bat care specialist in the State of Texas, permitted to work with threatened and endangered species. Growing up she had the unique existence of bouncing between the life of an army brat and a farm girl, and -starting with a crippled chicken- began rescuing animals at around age twelve.
In 1988, she found an injured bat on a hot Texas sidewalk. She nursed it back to health, and in the process this small helpless creature taught Amanda the enchanting language of bats, sparking her indelible love for this remarkable species. In 1994, Amanda liquidated her furniture business to found Bat World Sanctuary. She credits her military upbringing with giving her the discipline it took to keep the organization going despite tremendous odds, and credits her farm life for enabling her to love all creatures great and small. Since founding the organization in 1994, Amanda has volunteered her time to Bat World Sanctuary 7 days a week, 365 days per year, 12 to 16 hours per day as the Executive Director and Lead Animal Caretaker. In 1995 Amanda discovered the song of the Brazilian free-tailed bat and later discovered that these bats have over 25 different vocalizations they use to communicate. In August of 2016 Amanda received The Carol Noon Award for Sanctuary Excellence and has twice been nominated for the Indianapolis Prize, the world’s leading prize for conservation. Click here to read her CV.
Natalie Perez
Vice President
Natalie is a graphic artist, a certified yoga instructor and a volunteer with the The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She was born and raised in Texas, but never stayed in one place for too long. She has traveled the world, including Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany and France. She had her first real experience with bats in Europe, when a colony of bats flew around her as she enjoyed an evening picnic. Natalie has been an animal lover since childhood, but her favorite animal has always been bats. Her role model growing up was Jane Goodall, and when she had an opportunity to work alongside the “Jane Goodall of bats”, she accepted it in a heartbeat. Natalie has now settled down in Texas with her loving husband and two cats, and has decided to dedicate her life to caring for bats.
TONDA BONE
Secretary
Tonda shares her home with several rescued dogs and cats. She holds a PhD in Information Science with an emphasis in storytelling for information transfer and is a NAI Certified Interpretive Guide. She previously taught at, and developed online courses for, the University of North Texas, where she continues to teach as an adjunct professor. Tonda tries to help any creature in need – whether wild or domestic – and she has previously worked as a veterinary technician, volunteered 6 years at her local animal shelter, and remains active providing social media and networking assistance for several local dog rescues.
Dottie Hyatt
Director of Planning
Dottie Hyatt functions as Director of Planning of Bat World Sanctuary, with a BS in Business Management. She is a retired International Project Manager (PMP) and an active licensed bat specialist and lecturer. Dottie was formerly associated with the USDA and has worked with everything from bunnies to manatees in her native south Florida. She has focused her rescue, rehabilitation and conservation efforts exclusively on bats since 2000. Dottie is authorized to teach 16 hours of continuing bat education to ACO’s (Animal Control Officers) and has had articles in the press from the Washington Post to the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram to the Miami Herald. Dottie has also been featured on television and the radio.
Kate Rugroden
Director of Special Projects
Kate is a Business Systems Analyst/Project Manager, with both undergraduate and graduate degrees in IT Management, and she is a licensed wildlife rehabilitator specializing in bats, raccoons, and opossums. She is also the Director of the Bat World MidCities rescue center in Arlington, TX. In addition, she is chair of the Stakeholders’ Committee for the National White Nose Syndrome Response Team, and is the community representative for the University of Texas – Arlington’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Kate is approved for continuing professional education credits by the Texas Department of State Health Services, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, and the American Association of Veterinary State Boards. She is a passionate teacher and mentor, sharing her love of all animals and especially bats, with everyone she meets. Her first book, The Essential Bat, was published by Bat World Sanctuary in August, 2012. It is currently in its fifth printing. Kate also acts as instructor for Bat World Sanctuary’s rehabilitation workshops as well as Animal control workshops held throughout the US. Kate has volunteered her services with Bat World since 2004.
