Sarah M. Bexell was employed in 2005 as the chief director of the Department of Conservation Education at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.

Sarah M. Bexell was employed in 2005 as the chief director of the Department of Conservation Education at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. She received a PhD in early-childhood education focusing on conservation science from Georgia State University. She also holds a Master of Science in science education from Georgia State and a Master of Arts in physical anthropology from Northern Illinois University.

She is a member of the Commission on Education and Communication of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), a member of the Task Force on Cities and Protected Areas of the IUCN, board member of GLOBIO, the education advisor to the Giant Panda Species Survival Plan, the education advisor to the Chelonian Taxon Advisory Group, the Society for Human Ecology, the Society for Conservation Biology, the International Society for Anthrozoology, the International Zoo Educators Association, the North American Association for Environmental Education, and the Turtle Survival Alliance.

Sarah M. Bexell has been engaged in animal conservation and environmental education for many years, and began to devote herself to these areas in China beginning in 1999.

Thanks to her help and efforts, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and Chengdu Zoo established their own conservation and education departments.

Also, she has participated in many projects related to conservation and education. She trained a number of full-time workers for conservation and education, and edited a 5-day camp book for Chinese students.

With her suggestions, a series of conservation and educational activities are offered at the Base, such as family package tours, 1-day off-campus tour, young zoologist, volunteer service program, and the international internship program.