The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement Learning Center
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Training Opportunities
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Register
- Animal Welfare Professional Member - Free!
- Student Member - Free!
- Industry Partner Member - Free!
- Learning Member - Free!
- Industry Partner - Non-Member - Free!
View our DEI Resource Library found on our main site.
Discover all of our DEI learning opportunities.
The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement is committed to action on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in animal welfare and we want you with us on this journey. As part of our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Commitment to Action, The Association will continue offering resources and learning opportunities designed to further the eradication of systemic discrimination and racism in animal welfare.
We thank The Life of Riley at Spring Point for their support of The Association's DEI initiatives.
Gain skills for navigating challenging conversations around DEI and get practice presenting to colleagues. This program includes a 3-day in-person training and online coaching.
All participants will enjoy full scholarships, including travel and accommodations.
2024 training cohorts:
- April 9-11 (Atlanta, GA) FULL
- June 5-7 (Denver, CO) FULL
- September 4-6 (Phoenix, AZ) FULL
Check back for 2025 Ambassador cohort opportunities.
Participants in this four-part workshop series, designed for individuals in leadership roles, will explore why and how to advance DEI at their organization.
Session Dates: March 24, April 21, May 19 & June 16 - Mondays, 3-5 pm ET
Low-cost registration fees have been made possible thanks to the generosity of our sponsors.
Check back in 2026 for another Leadership Accelerator course.
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Our partner, MindEdge, offers this 12-hour certificate, made of 3 courses. These courses have been pre-approved for CAWA CEs and HRCIs.
Our partner, MindEdge, offers this 12-hour certificate, made of 3 courses. These courses have been pre-approved for CAWA CEs and HRCIs.
Developed in accordance with the International Organization for Standardization's guidance on diversity and inclusion for organizations (ISO 30415:2021), the Certificate in Diversity and Inclusion in HR Management provides a foundation for creating a workplace where all employees are respected and appreciated as valuable members of the organization, are able to participate in work-related opportunities, can follow career paths that use their skills and knowledge to the fullest, and receive fair compensation. The courses explain how diverse and inclusive workplaces are more productive, innovative, creative, and profitable, and that fostering an inclusive culture produces higher employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention rates. The certificate explores the responsibilities of leaders, the workforce, and other stakeholders in recognizing diversity, working and communicating inclusively, reducing unconscious biases, acting accountably, and assessing diversity and inclusion initiatives using qualitative and quantitative methods.
*** For full details and to register, see The Association's MindEdge Catalog here. MindEdge courses are available to all of your staff and volunteers, so share this link to all!
The three courses in this certificate:
Fostering an Inclusive Culture
To achieve diversity and inclusion, organizations need to create an inclusive culture where all employees are respected and appreciated, have equal access to workplace opportunities, and are fairly compensated. In this course, you will learn about how to create, encourage, and develop an inclusive culture. You will explore the 7 Pillars of Inclusion, traits of an inclusive leader, strategies to assess employee buy-in, professional development opportunities, and workplace accessibility. You will examine how to uproot workplace toxicity and address and prevent harassment and discrimination. The course illustrates the many benefits of an inclusive culture, including higher levels of employee engagement, productivity, employee satisfaction, and retention rates.Assessing Diversity and Inclusion
Organizations are accountable for their diversity and inclusion goals. In this course, you will learn about HR metrics, predictive analytics, diversity training, diversity scorecards, and other tools that organizations use to identify biases, track the progress of initiatives, and gauge the effectiveness of policies. This course will explain how to use both soft and hard metrics to formulate, update, and implement diversity and inclusion goals. You will also learn about the importance of employee buy-in, diversity leaders, and C-suite support in achieving a diverse and inclusive workplace.Hiring and Retaining Diverse Talent
Increasing workplace diversity necessitates strategies that foster more inclusive and equitable workplace practices. In this course, you will learn how leaders who want tangible, measurable results from diversity and inclusion initiatives must take an active role in supporting and implementing these strategies. You will explore how to use talent management systems and performance metrics to create a diverse workplace. This course illustrates that providing equal opportunities for continued engagement, including flexible work arrangements, mentorship programs, and employee benefits, is paramount for an organization's diversity and inclusion efforts to succeed. -
Includes Credits Includes a Live Web Event on 06/17/2025 at 12:00 PM (EDT)
Join a guided virtual space to share thoughts, emotions, and resources as we navigate growing anti-DEI challenges.
In today’s increasingly challenging social and political landscape, animal welfare professionals committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) face growing resistance and systemic pushback. Join us in a guided virtual space to share thoughts, emotions, and resources as we navigate growing anti-DEI challenges. This session is for leaders seeking community and solidarity during this time.
This will not be recorded, and registration is limited to 25 people. There will be a waitlist.
Faciliator: Jasmin Robinson, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives, The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement
Choose one of two sessions:
- Tuesday June 17, 12pm-1pm ET
- Wednesday July 9, 3pm-4pm ET
Jasmin Robinson
Director of DEI Initiatives
The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement
Jasmin M. Robinson is The Association's Director of DEI Initiatives. She is also the CEO and Founder of I.D.E.A.L. Education, LLC., and a consultant with MSM Global Consulting. She has over 10 years of experience leading efforts to foster and maintain inclusive work environments that welcome, embrace, empower, and celebrate people. She is actively pursuing a doctorate in Higher Education Leadership at Indiana State University.
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Includes Credits
This interactive session will highlight how attempts to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion, including the recent executive orders, can affect animal welfare professionals.
As animal welfare leaders, you are no strangers to advocating for the rights of the vulnerable and may often find yourselves at odds with the powers that be. To build an inclusive, just animal welfare profession, we must regroup and identify actionable steps to keep the momentum going.
This interactive session will highlight how attempts to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion, including the recent executive orders, can affect animal welfare professionals. You will leave with concrete strategies to continue fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion during uncertain times. This session is designed for leaders who remain committed to creating an inclusive animal welfare profession.
In this webinar, we will:
- Review the current state of diversity, equity, and inclusion in animal welfare
- Highlight strategies to respond to resistance and backlash
- Share resources to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion during uncertain times
Presenters:
- 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
Maria Morukian
President and Founder
MSM Global Consulting
Maria Morukian, the president of MSM Global Consulting, has twenty years of experience as a facilitator, coach and consultant on leadership, diversity, equity, inclusion, and intercultural competence. Maria hosts a podcast on critical DEI issues called Culture Stew. She is author of the book, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Trainers: Fostering DEI in the Workplace and co-author of ATD’s Handbook for Training and Talent Development.
Jasmin Robinson
Director of DEI Initiatives
The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement
Jasmin M. Robinson is The Association's Director of DEI Initiatives. She is also the CEO and Founder of I.D.E.A.L. Education, LLC., and a consultant with MSM Global Consulting. She has over 10 years of experience leading efforts to foster and maintain inclusive work environments that welcome, embrace, empower, and celebrate people. She is actively pursuing a doctorate in Higher Education Leadership at Indiana State University.
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Includes Credits Recorded On: 01/29/2025
Leaders from the DEI Committee of The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement will share results from the second animal welfare sector survey conducted regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion in our profession.
Leaders from the DEI Council of The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement will share results from the 2024 animal welfare survey on diversity, equity, and inclusion in our profession. The survey data provides insights into where the animal welfare industry has made progress since the original 2021 DEI survey and offers recommendations to further address systemic discrimination and racism in animal welfare. The panel will focus on what’s next in this important work and identify paths for animal welfare professionals to strengthen their DEI journey.
Panelists:
- Maria Morukian, MSM Global Consulting
- Jasmin Robinson, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives, The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement
- Zimife Umeh, MSM Global Consulting
We thank Adopt a Pet for generously sponsoring the DEI survey.
This session, both live and the recording, has been approved for:
- 1 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credit
- 1 NACA CE
- 1 CE towards ACO CE requirements per Ch. 829 of the Texas Health and Safety Code by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)
Maria Morukian
President and Founder
MSM Global Consulting
Maria Morukian, the president of MSM Global Consulting, has twenty years of experience as a facilitator, coach and consultant on leadership, diversity, equity, inclusion, and intercultural competence. Maria hosts a podcast on critical DEI issues called Culture Stew. She is author of the book, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Trainers: Fostering DEI in the Workplace and co-author of ATD’s Handbook for Training and Talent Development.
Jasmin Robinson
Director of DEI Initiatives
The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement
Jasmin M. Robinson is The Association's Director of DEI Initiatives. She is also the CEO and Founder of I.D.E.A.L. Education, LLC., and a consultant with MSM Global Consulting. She has over 10 years of experience leading efforts to foster and maintain inclusive work environments that welcome, embrace, empower, and celebrate people. She is actively pursuing a doctorate in Higher Education Leadership at Indiana State University.
Zimife Umeh
Senior Consultant, MSM Global Consulting
Zimife Umeh is a Senior Consultant at MSM Global Consulting where she focuses on DEI survey design, data collection, and data analysis. Her interest in DEI issues stems from her commitment to producing research and strategies that eliminate barriers to racial equity and inclusion within the workplace. Zimife was born in Nigeria and lived there until she was eight when she moved to the U.S.
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Hear different perspectives on what to consider to keep professionals from diverse backgrounds engaged and committed to their teams and organizations.
What keeps employees around?
In this roundtable, panelists will discuss the realities of sustaining a workforce with employees from various backgrounds, needs, and experiences. Hear how they keep their staff engaged and committed to their teams and organizations. We'll talk about providing professional development opportunities for employees, whether they are in their dream job or aspire to grown into another role.
This discussion is especially for hiring managers, leaders, and committees who are interested in learning about resources that can help empower, support, and maintain a diverse workforce.
The Roundtable Panel:
- Rachel Levine, Director of People Development, Dumb Friends League
- Jessica Lopez, Executive Director, The PAW Mission
- Jessica Umunnabuike, Senior Talent & Diversity Specialist, San Diego Humane Society
Moderated by:
- Jasmin Robinson, Director of DEI Initiatives, The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement
This roundtable has been approved for 1 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credit.
Rachel Levine
Director of People Development, Dumb Friends League
Rachel Levine is the Director of People Development for the Dumb Friends League and oversees Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Inclusion Strategy (DEAI) as well as Succession Planning, Career Pathing, and Leadership Development. Rachel has worked extensively in Human Resources and Corporate Training in both for profit and
non-profit companies. Rachel has a B.A. and M.A. from the University of Colorado at Boulder and an M.Phil. from the University of Cambridge. Rachel serves on the Board of Directors for the Denver Language School, the DEI Council of The Association, and is an advisor for the Customer Experience Program at the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado.
Jessica Lopez
Executive Director, The PAW Mission
Jessica Lopez has dedicated 21 years to the veterinary field, with 14 focused on advancing animal welfare. Seven years ago, driven by her commitment, she founded The PAW Mission, which now includes a 5-acre sanctuary, two mobile RVs, and plans for a permanent facility. Her leadership emphasizes professional growth and team empowerment while expanding her impact through innovative animal care solutions.
Jessica Umunnabuike
Senior Talent & Diversity Specialist
San Diego Humane Society
Jessica Umunnabuike (she/her) is a first-generation Nigerian American from Ohio. As the Sr. Talent & Diversity Specialist at San Diego Humane Society, Jessica performs an array of employee engagement functions, with a focus on staffing and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Jessica holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Professional in Human Resources® (PHR®) certification.
Jasmin Robinson
Director of DEI Initiatives
The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement
Jasmin M. Robinson is The Association's Director of DEI Initiatives. She is also the CEO and Founder of I.D.E.A.L. Education, LLC., and a consultant with MSM Global Consulting. She has over 10 years of experience leading efforts to foster and maintain inclusive work environments that welcome, embrace, empower, and celebrate people. She is actively pursuing a doctorate in Higher Education Leadership at Indiana State University.
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Learn how panelists across different animal welfare sectors manage wellness and boundaries when staff and morale are constantly shifting. This roundtable is ideal for staff interested in adding coping strategies to their wellness toolkit.
Caring for animals and helping the people who support them can feel daunting. Add in a staffing shortage and you’re officially overwhelmed. How do you prioritize when you don't have enough help or time? When should you take a break or push forward? How do you say 'no' to the next task so you can say 'yes' to your well-being?
Learn how panelists across different animal welfare sectors manage wellness and boundaries when staff and morale are constantly shifting. This roundtable is ideal for staff interested in adding coping strategies to their wellness toolkit.
The Roundtable Panel:
- Allison Cardona, California State Director, Koret Shelter Medicine Program
- Jessica Umunnabuike, Senior Talent & Diversity Specialist, San Diego Humane Society
- Kristen Williams, Community Events & Outreach Manager, Forsyth Humane Society
Moderated by:
- Jasmin Robinson, Director of DEI Initiatives, The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement
This roundtable has been approved for 1 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credit.
Jasmin Robinson
Director of DEI Initiatives
The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement
Jasmin M. Robinson is The Association's Director of DEI Initiatives. She is also the CEO and Founder of I.D.E.A.L. Education, LLC., and a consultant with MSM Global Consulting. She has over 10 years of experience leading efforts to foster and maintain inclusive work environments that welcome, embrace, empower, and celebrate people. She is actively pursuing a doctorate in Higher Education Leadership at Indiana State University.
Allison Cardona
California State Director
Koret Shelter Medicine Program
Allison Cardona manages a $37.5 million grant fund for UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine that partners with animal shelters in California to increase access to care and increase foster, adoptions, and return to home. She has also worked as a Deputy Director for the Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control, and as a senior program director for the ASPCA. Allison is on the Leadership Council for the Downtown’s Women’s Center, an organization dedicated to providing services and housing to women in Los Angeles. The proud daughter of Colombian immigrants, Allison is deeply committed to racial justice and equity work.
Jessica Umunnabuike
Senior Talent & Diversity Specialist
San Diego Humane Society
Jessica Umunnabuike (she/her) is a first-generation Nigerian American from Ohio. As the Sr. Talent & Diversity Specialist at San Diego Humane Society, Jessica performs an array of employee engagement functions, with a focus on staffing and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Jessica holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Professional in Human Resources® (PHR®) certification.
Kristen Williams
Community Engagement and Event Manager
Forsyth Humane Society
Kristen Williams (she/her) is on year three as the Community Engagement and Event Manager at Forsyth Humane Society. She has 15+ years of experience teaching mindful movement while spearheading programs sitting at the intersection of wellness and social justice through the lens of radical self-care. She has harnessed those skills in the world of animal welfare to build sustainable event and development programs that keep the focus not just on the wellness of animals, but on the people who care for them. Kristen understands the connection between adverse childhood experiences and trauma, and couples that with a toolkit of mindfulness to create pathways to build and nourish authentic relationships through the community that work together as an eco-system of support and care.
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Includes Credits
Explore strategies for building an endurance mindset to DEI and try out tools to develop the stamina to continue progressing—even when you feel like you’ve hit the wall.
Is your DEI work burning you out? Do you feel like your organization has hit a DEI wall?
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is crucial for our organizations to thrive and achieve their missions. Although we have seen a lot of positive momentum in animal welfare around DEI, many leaders feel exhausted by what seem like insurmountable odds after repeated attempts to make progress are met with resistance, inaction, and even hostility. How can you move your efforts forward in these moments without causing damage to yourself and others?
Explore strategies for building an endurance mindset to DEI and try out tools to develop the stamina to continue progressing—even when you feel like you’ve hit the wall.
Objectives:
- Identify common causes for hitting the DEI Wall
- Explore tools to avoid burnout and build individual physical, mental, and emotional stamina
- Determine organizational strategies and practices to maintain steady and sustainable progress toward DEI goals in the face of fatigue or blowback
Presenter: Jasmin M. Robinson, Director of DEI Initiatives, The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement
This webinar has been pre-approved for:
- 1 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credit
- 1 NACA CE
Jasmin Robinson
Director of DEI Initiatives
The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement
Jasmin M. Robinson is The Association's Director of DEI Initiatives. She is also the CEO and Founder of I.D.E.A.L. Education, LLC., and a consultant with MSM Global Consulting. She has over 10 years of experience leading efforts to foster and maintain inclusive work environments that welcome, embrace, empower, and celebrate people. She is actively pursuing a doctorate in Higher Education Leadership at Indiana State University.
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Join us for a discussion with industry leaders about recruiting and onboarding talent through a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Join us for a discussion with industry leaders about building a fair and just workforce. Learn how they’re recruiting and onboarding talent through a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Panelists will share highlights and challenges they experienced along the way, while attendees will walk away with next steps for updating their recruitment and onboarding initiatives.
Panelists will share ways they have:
- Widened their talent pool to make opportunities accessible to a broader range of candidates
- Minimized unconscious bias in the interviewing process, ensuring all applicants are evaluated based on consistent criteria
This session will benefit hiring teams and hiring managers who are preparing to recruit new talent at their shelters and organizations.
The Roundtable Panel:
- Meshia Burrell, Vice President of People and Culture, The Anti-Cruelty Society
- Aubrey Daniels, HR Manager, Pasado's Safe Haven
- Mark Neff, Executive Director, Forsyth Humane Society
Moderated by:
- Jasmin Robinson, Director of DEI Initiatives, The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement
This roundtable has been approved for 1 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credit.
Meshia Burrell
Vice President of People and Culture
Anti-Cruelty
Meshia Burrell has more than 25 years of human resources experience with non-profits in health care and broadcasting with 15 of those years being in animal welfare at Anti-Cruelty. Meshia holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Management with a concentration in Human Resources, PHR (Professional Human Resources) certification, SHRM – CP (Society of Human Resources Certified Professional) certification and is a certified Caliper Expert. She continues to work hard to strengthening connectivity and engagement at all levels and develop successful leaders through various HR initiatives.
Aubrey Daniels
Senior Human Resources Manager
Pasado’s Safe Haven
Aubrey Daniels is the Senior Human Resources Manager for Pasado’s Safe Haven. She has over ten years of experience in Human Resources in the nonprofit, manufacturing, and retail sectors. She brings her personal passion for equity work to her professional endeavors and strives to continuously find ways to improve the employee experience and create a more diverse and inclusive work environment.
Mark Neff
President & CEO
Forsyth Humane Society
Mark Neff is the President and CEO of Forsyth Humane Society, bringing over a decade of experience within the organization to his leadership role. Starting as the Director of Operations and Human Resources, he has consistently focused on recruitment, onboarding, and exploring ways to integrate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) into their operations. His tenure at Forsyth Humane Society showcases a commitment to animal welfare and organizational growth, reflecting his dedication to both the mission of the humane society and the well-being of its team members.
Jasmin Robinson
Director of DEI Initiatives
The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement
Jasmin M. Robinson is The Association's Director of DEI Initiatives. She is also the CEO and Founder of I.D.E.A.L. Education, LLC., and a consultant with MSM Global Consulting. She has over 10 years of experience leading efforts to foster and maintain inclusive work environments that welcome, embrace, empower, and celebrate people. She is actively pursuing a doctorate in Higher Education Leadership at Indiana State University.
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Includes Credits
Learn how Marin Humane partnered with a consultant to align their DEI programming with their strategic plan and priorities.
Toward a Culture of Belonging and Inclusion in Animal Welfare
Would your leadership like to start or expand your DEI initiatives? Having trouble getting buy in from your staff, board, or community? Learn how Marin Humane partnered with a consultant to align their DEI programming with their strategic plan and priorities. Marin Humane found by connecting the dots, they began thinking more creatively about addressing critical needs in their community.
The presenters will share examples of projects and programming implemented during a nine-month capacity-building engagement. You will walk away with a menu of projects and programs plus sample project charters, including a job description review with revision and plans for board diversification.
Session Objectives:
- Understand the key factors that drive organizational effectiveness through DEI goals and objectives
- Develop DEI plans that integrate with organizational strategies and priorities
- Deploy viable short, mid, and long-term DEI projects and programming to address improvements to talent acquisition, engagement, and retention; organizational morale; mission-driven programming; and board development
This webinar has been pre-approved for:
- 1 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credit
- 1 NACA CE
- 1 CE towards ACO CE requirements per Ch. 829 of the Texas Health and Safety Code by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)
Tom Hayashi, MS Ed, PhD
Chief Capacity Building Officer, Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership
Tom Hayashi brings over 25 years of professional expertise in the nonprofit and government sector as a former CEO, Executive Director, and Chief Development Officer. In his role at the Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership (CVNL), he heads the consulting, membership services, executive search, and learning & leadership portfolio. Tom also contributes as an Adjunct Associate Professor and researcher in Human Resource Management for the University of Southern California and the OD Network. Tom earned his MS in Education from the California State University East Bay, and PhD in Human and Organizational Systems from Fielding Graduate University.
Nancy McKenney, MNPL, CAWA
CEO/President, Marin Humane
Nancy McKenney has been working as the CEO/President of Marin Humane since March of 2011. Her career in animal welfare and nonprofit management began in 1983 and includes working for the Humane Society for Seattle/King County (22 years), the Petfinder.com Foundation, King County Animal Care and Control (WA), and consulting. She has a Masters in Nonprofit Leadership, is a Certified Animal Welfare Administrator, and a fan of the core values at Marin Humane, especially the pursuit of learning, courage with compassion, and celebrating differences.
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Includes Credits
Discover tangible ideas that your organization can implement to create more trans-inclusivity, equity, and belonging.
Toward a Culture of Belonging and Inclusion in Animal Welfare
How can we ensure inclusion, safety, and belonging for transgender* people in our organizations?
Webinar attendees will unpack the importance of DEI work concerning transgender, non-binary, and gender-fluid people in the animal sheltering and well-being movement, and how this work is inherently anti-racist and anti-oppressive. This webinar will cover a brief history of gender, the intersectional, Black Feminist roots of queer theory, and unpack some of the most asked questions about transgender and non-binary identities.
Attendees will walk away with tangible ideas that your organization can implement to create more trans-inclusivity, equity, and belonging, and will understand how these actions can contribute to your overall DEI efforts.
Presenter: Rory Adams, Senior Manager of Adoption Initiatives. PetSmart Charities
This webinar has been pre-approved for:
- 1 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credit
- 1 NACA CE
- 1 CE towards ACO CE requirements per Ch. 829 of the Texas Health and Safety Code by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)
Rory Adams
Senior Manager, Adoption Initiatives
PetSmart Charities, Inc.
Rory Adams utilizes feminist frameworks to honor the connection between people and animals. As a transgender person with an education in feminism, gender, and literature, Rory is most comfortable leading from the margins; working at the intersections of social justice and animal welfare to create equitable and inclusive change for people, animals, and the planet.
Before joining PetSmart Charities, Rory worked for over 16 years in animal well-being at the local and national levels, including American Pets Alive and Maddie's Fund, where he created, developed, and implemented Maddie’s Apprenticeship and Fellowship programs. Rory is passionate about ensuring all shelter animals are valued and given a chance at life. Rory’s areas of expertise include connecting people and pets, creating learning opportunities for the field, increasing community engagement, removing barriers to foster care and adoption, and teaching shelter directors and advocates how to access, understand, and utilize shelter data.
Rory believes that people are the solution to creating a world where animals and people thrive. Rory is committed to expanding programs that grow future leaders, heal injustices, facilitate the inclusion of historically marginalized people, and celebrate the love between people, animals, and our habitats.
Check out The Association’s DEI Pride Store, where your purchase of tees and hoodies helps to support our Conference Scholarship Fund.
Review the 2024 animal welfare survey on diversity, equity, and inclusion in our profession. The survey data provides insights into where the animal welfare industry has made progress since the original 2021 DEI survey and offers recommendations to further address systemic discrimination and racism in animal welfare.
Download The Association's DEI 2024 Survey analysis report
To learn more about the survey results and how to apply them in your organization,
- Watch the recording of this session: Assessing the State of DEI in Animal Welfare: Where do we go from here? (01-29-25)
- Read about 6 detailed findings from the report
