Shafonda Allen, CAWA, has worked in animal welfare for over twenty years. She is the current Executive Director of the Animal Protection Society of Durham in NC. She serves on The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement’s Committee for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Animal Welfare, and is a former board member of the North Carolina Animal Federation. Shafonda, who identifies as a Black American, feels privileged to work in a diverse community in the South with a diverse staff that work together to create a better world for animals through sheltering, outreach and spay neuter assistance. Having started in animal welfare with very few people that resembled herself, Shafonda is hoping to contribute to a future where all of animal welfare is accepting and inclusive. Shafonda became a Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA) in 2020.

Katherine Shenar is the executive vice president for The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement. She has 30 years of experience in animal welfare, including serving as CEO for two animal welfare organizations and holding leadership roles with four others. Katherine became a Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA) in 2020.