Our Team

Vicki Deisner
Executive Director

Pete Johnsen
Financial Manager

Steffanie Sanchez
Communications Manager

Hannah Zoldesy
Advocacy Assistant

Board of Directors

Executive

Mark Finneran
President/Treasurer

Michelle E. Lanham
Vice President & Secretary

At Large

Krista Hyme

Jack Shaner

Alana Van Gundy

Jessica Doogan

Dr. Joanna Reen

Interns

2021 Fall Semester

  • Carli Frey, Public Administration/Political Science, John Glenn College of Public Affairs
  • Justine Gibbons, University of Cincinnati College of Law
  • Andrea Nadolny, Ohio State Academy in partnership with John Glenn College of Public Affairs

2021 Summer Semester

  • Emily Fisher, Journalism/Political Science at Northwestern University
  • Lilah Foley, Nonprofit Management, John Glenn College of Public Affairs
  • Taylor Gyurko, Ohio State Academy in partnership with John Glenn College of Public Affairs

2021 Spring Semester

  • Yasmin Gingerich, Para-legal Certification, Columbus State Community College
  • Hannah Zoldesy, Nonprofit Management, John Glenn College of Public Affairs

Advisors

Education

  • Cheri Brown, a retired teacher from Larry Larson Middle School, Columbus OH
  • Ellen Graham, a retired teacher from Jackson Middle School, Grove City OH
  • Michelle Kulewicz, a librarian at Steward Elementary School, Columbus, OH.

Human-Animal Bond

  • Kristina Allwood, LISW-S, Manager, Adult Protective Services Division, Ohio’s University Consortium for Child and Adult Services, and State Coordinator for the Ohio Child Welfare Training Program
  • Troy Gregorino, a doctoral candidate in Counselors Education and Supervision at the University of the Cumberlands.
  • Dr. Janet Hoy-Gerlach, LISW-S, PhD, Associate Professor, Social Work Program, University of Toledo
  • Dr. Aviva Vincent, LMSW, PhD, Adjunct Professor, Mandell School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University

Legal

  • Mark Bamberger, Esq. Ph.D., criminal defense, civil litigation and animal welfare law, Dayton, OH
  • Pete Precario, Esq., nonprofit, environmental, and animal welfare law, Columbus OH
  • Kyle Silvers, Esq., medical malpractice and animal welfare law, Toledo OH

Resource Development

  • Kristan Finn, Communications Specialist at GSW Advertising, Columbus, OH
  • Rachael Moore, Hilliard City Schools, Columbus, OH
  • Bridget Szuminsky, Blue Hour Social Founder, Atlanta, GA
  • Dana Textoris, Managing Director at GrantsPlus, Cleveland, OH
  • Niki Williams, RESCUEDOhio and Financial Analyst, Asset Strategies Group, Columbus, OH

Veterinary

  • Dr. Alba Gonzalez, Director of the Rascal Unit Mobile Clinic/Animal Hospital, Masters in Forensic Psychology (in process), Dublin, Ohio