Meet The Team
Indra Lahiri
Founder
Dr. Indra Lahiri is an organizational psychologist and is currently completing post-doctoral studies in Traumatic Stress with the Trauma Research Foundation. For decades, Indra worked with Fortune 50 companies to help them address challenges related to diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging, providing her with a unique perspective on how humans grow and change.
Since founding Indraloka Animal Sanctuary in 2005, Indra has led as Executive Director, where she has had the opportunity to observe the ways in which the beloved animals at Indraloka helped hurting humans heal, learn, and grow. She realized early on that we humans need the animals even more than they need us– and that if we let them be who they truly are– free from farms and cages and threats of death and living as equal loved ones together with humans– they save us over and over again. Today, Indra will help us understand what trauma is, how it impacts our brains, and how relationships with rescued farm animals have helped her– and countless others– heal and move past their scars to create meaningful and joyous lives.
Her award-winning blog, which chronicles sacred moments with rescued animals, is followed by tens of thousands of readers on every continent.  Indra is grateful to have the opportunity to dedicate her life to helping traumatized animals rediscover joy, love, and trust.
The sanctuary is not named after Indra, but rather she is named after the Hindu God Indra who created Indraloka (Sanskrit name for the heaven for the Gods).
Sam Watts
Office Manager
Photo and bio – coming soon!
Robin Olson
Director of Development
Robin joined Indraloka in July of 2020. She has been raising funds professionally for 16 years. Prior to working at Indraloka, Robin has worked for several children’s charities including Junior Achievement and Make-A-Wish. She holds an Executive MBA from St. Joseph’s University, and two bachelor’s degrees from Saint Louis University as well as a certificate of Fundraising Management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University.
Robin is originally from St. Louis, Missouri where she met her husband of 15 years. They live in Hatfield, PA with their 4 children. Robin is passionate about taking care of the planet and all who dwell on it, finding ways we can thrive together in harmony.
Sarah Thornton
Director of Education
Sarah started volunteering at Indraloka in 2014 with animal care and events and has served as Director of Education since 2018. She taught music in the Sullivan County School District for 20 years and still performs in numerous ensembles playing clarinet. Sarah previously served as a youth sports and yoga instructor, basketball coach, for elementary and junior high school girls, youth and adult running club mentor, chiropractic assistant, and a camp counselor and counselor supervisor at Warminster Parks and Recreation for 7 years. She holds a BM in Music Education from Susquehanna University and an MM in Music Education from Ithaca College.
Sarah can most often be found playing with goats or snuggling pigs, and is a free-spirit dedicated to instilling joy and kindness in those around her through mindful listening, energy healing, music, and the power of unconditional love.
Leslie Interlandi, DVM
Veterinarian
Leslie joins Indraloka in June 2022 to spearhead the sanctuary’s new veterinary clinic. As a Shelter Medicine specialist, Leslie brings the ideal skillset to diagnose, treat and care for problems specific to shelter animals as well as experience in general veterinary medicine. Leslie also holds Fear Free Veterinary Certification, a methodology that enables vets to reduce fear, anxiety and stress in animal patients, making vet care safer and more enjoyable for all involved.
Leslie has performed a wide range of surgeries and procedures, including spays and neutering, hernia repairs, tooth extractions and limb amputations. She has experience in treating diverse pathologies and has worked with numerous species, including equines, cows, goats, sheep, fowl, pigs, dogs and cats. After more than 25 years in her first career as a health analytics and marketing consultant, Leslie is now in a position to pursue her passion. Through practicing Shelter Medicine, Leslie is treating animals who have been abused, abandoned, injured and neglected—the animals who need her most.
Kaitlyn White
Development and Operations Assistant
Kaitlyn joined Indraloka in June of 2021. She is a 2018 Marywood University Alumna and holds a Master’s Degree in Social Media Marketing from Southern New Hampshire University, which helped to lay the groundwork for her many roles at Indraloka. Kaitlyn strives to make a positive impact in everything she does, often making sure everyone around her is happy and offering her help in any way she can. She enjoys observing, asking questions, and learning more about any given topic. Kaitlyn thoroughly enjoys getting to know new people and loves to share all of the fun happenings at Indraloka on our social media platforms.
In addition to her love of all beings at Indraloka, Kaitlyn is also passionate about mental health advocacy and marine life conservation. She particularly loves sea turtles. In her free time, Kaitlyn enjoys reading, journaling, walking, and going to concerts with her friends and family.
Ryan Wenck
Animal Caregiver Manager
Ally Welsh
Animal Caregiver
Tara Mlodzienski
Animal Caregiver
