The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement Learning Center
10/21/25 Justice in Action: Moving Beyond DEI in Animal Welfare
Recorded On: 10/21/2025
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- Animal Welfare Professional Member - Free!
- Student Member - Free!
- Industry Partner Member - Free!
- Learning Member - Free!
- Industry Partner - Non-Member - Free!
The animal welfare profession has made meaningful strides toward diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). However, many are realizing that DEI alone is not enough to address the deeper systemic barriers that shape who has access to animal care, animal welfare services, and leadership opportunities in the profession.
This session will explore what it means to shift from DEI in theory to justice in action. Participants will learn how to envision strategies that center accountability, community partnerships, and systemic change. We will also discuss common pitfalls that keep organizations stuck and provide actionable steps towards justice. Whether you lead a shelter, work with diverse teams, or engage in community-based animal care, this session will equip you with ideas and tools to take the next step toward making meaningful, long-term change.
Objectives:
- Examine traditional ways of defining DEI in animal welfare
- Define justice in action and how it strengthens efforts to foster inclusion and belonging
- Identify strategies to leverage DEI and justice in action at your organization
Presented by:
- Maria Morukian, President, MSM Global Consulting
- Jasmin Robinson, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives, The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement
This session, both live and the recording, has been approved for:
- 1 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credit
- 1 NACA CE
This is the first of two events on Justice in Action, leading up to a November 12 roundtable featuring real-world examples that show how our profession is putting justice and belonging at the center of animal welfare. Join us for both sessions.
Maria Morukian
President and Founder
MSM Global Consulting
Maria Morukian is a globally recognized organizational development practitioner specializing in culture change for diversity, equity, and inclusion. As CEO of MSM Global Consulting and a faculty member at American University's School of International Service, she has spent more than 24 years helping leaders and organizations around the world build competent and respectful workplaces where everyone thrives. Her new book, The Belonging Blueprint: How to Design a Workplace Culture That Fuels Performance, offers a practical framework and assessment tools for building a culture of belonging. She is also the author of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Trainers and co-author of ATD's Handbook for Training and Talent Development.
Dr. Jasmin Robinson
Director of DEI Initiatives
The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement
Jasmin M. Robinson, Ph.D., is The Association’s Director of DEI Initiatives. She is also a consultant with MSM Global Consulting and the CEO and Founder of I.D.E.A.L. Education, LLC. She has over 15 years of experience and has contributed her thought leadership across industries, including higher education, p-12 education, nonprofit organizations, government, and corporations. Jasmin is committed to empowering professionals who recognize societal inequities and strive to be better leaders in their communities and organizations.
Jasmin completed a Ph.D. in Educational Administration, Higher Education Leadership. Her research interests include Black women's experiences in historically white spaces, anti-Blackness, and cultural competence. In her spare time, Jasmin enjoys cooking, walking, thrifting, and reading.
