The Faunalytics team shares your heartfelt desire to help animals. Each of us also brings an unwavering commitment to finding the best ways for advocates to save lives and reduce suffering.
Staff
Brooke Haggerty, Executive Director
Brooke Haggerty has over a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector and has dedicated her career to animal protection. She stepped into the leadership role with Faunalytics in January 2020 after serving as our operations manager for over a year. In 2018 she was involved with the "Yes on Proposition 12" coalition promoting a California ballot initiative that established minimum space requirements for farmed animals. Previously she served as the executive director, and later as a board member, for the Foundation for Animal Care and Education, and also worked as a humane educator for the Animal Protection and Rescue League. Brooke is a former board member and programming chair for the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of San Diego, currently serves on the board for HandsOn San Diego promoting community volunteerism, and actively volunteers with her alma mater's student mentorship program. Brooke has an MA in Human Behavior, a BA in English, and certifications in Marketing and Nonprofit Management. In her free time, she enjoys classic literature and the great outdoors.
You can reach Brooke at [email protected]
Jo Anderson, PhD, Research Director
Jo Anderson is an advocate for animals and empirical research. She has many years of experience with a wide range of social science research methods and topics, as well as advanced training in statistical analysis. Jo became Faunalytics' Research Director in 2017 and since then has led and supervised studies of attitudes and behavior pertaining to animals and veganism, advocate retention, donation decision-making, and many other topics. Her other roles include serving as the co-leader of the RECAP (Research to End Consumption of Animal Products) researcher collective, ad hoc research advisor to ProVeg and Animal Charity Evaluators' Animal Advocacy Research Fund, and Adjunct Research Professor at Carleton University (Ottawa, Canada). Jo has a PhD in social psychology from the University of Waterloo and completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at Cornell University. Jo's spare-time interests include sewing, reading, finding accidentally-vegan junk food, doting over cats, and being generally indoorsy.
You can reach Jo at [email protected]
Karol Orzechowski, Content Director
Karol Orzechowski is an animal advocate with a passion for blending activism and art. In addition to producing numerous short films on various animal issues, Karol is the director of Maximum Tolerated Dose, a full-length documentary about the psychological toll of vivisection on both animals and humans. He completed a Bachelor of Environmental Studies and an MA in Communications and Culture at York University, writing theses on nationalism and the Atlantic seal hunt, and Canadian rodeo culture, respectively. When he's not working for Faunalytics, Karol is usually planning, hosting, or performing events in his local arts scene, or playing with Raoul the rescue dog.
You can reach Karol at [email protected]
Andrea Polanco, PhD, Research Scientist
Andrea Polanco has always been fascinated by animal behavior (including that of humans). She wanted to learn more about the emotional lives of other animals after completing a BA in psychology from Ryerson University. As a result, she holds a MSc and PhD in animal welfare science from the University of Guelph, and her research on abnormal behaviors as indicators of affective states has been published in peer-reviewed journals. Andrea also became a vocal animal activist during her PhD, where she previously organized demos and slaughterhouse vigils. Her advocacy led her to discovering Faunalytics, where she served as a volunteer science writer prior to her Research Scientist position. In her spare time, Andrea enjoys relaxing with her cat companion Zupa (Polish for ‘soup’).
You can reach Andrea at [email protected]
Zach Wulderk, Research Scientist
After years of advocating for animals outside of work, Zach Wulderk decided to make his passion for animals his career. He has a background in economics and political science, graduating from Wesleyan University with a BA in Government, and worked for several years in both economic consulting and economic development before joining the Faunalytics team. Zach is a self-professed R nerd and is always looking for new applications for his favorite software. Outside of work, Zach is often playing music with his band, trying out new vegan recipes, or taking too many pictures of his rescue dog, Barney.
You can reach Zach at [email protected]
Liz Wheeler, Philanthropy Officer
Liz Wheeler is a passionate animal advocate who is dedicated to improving the lives of animals across the globe. She has worked on the ground level of animal protection in shelter work and clinical practice for several years. In the past five years, her enthusiasm for connecting people and animals together has led her to a career as a professional fundraiser. Liz has completed a certificate in Animal Welfare from Thompson Rivers University and is currently receiving her certification in Anthrozoology at the University of Windsor. Liz loves to volunteer in her free time and has created her own non-profit secondhand book shop where all profits are donated to her local farmed animal rescue. She has been named a finalist for the 2021 Best Individual Fundraising Professional Award by CharityVillage. When she’s not helping animals, she enjoys napping in her backyard hammock or reading at home with her husband and seven cats.
You can reach Liz at [email protected]
Jenna Riedi, Communications Manager
Jenna Riedi is a devoted life-long animal advocate and is passionate about protecting and advancing the lives of animals around the world. She has worked and volunteered for nonprofit organizations for over 20 years, with a focus on marketing and fundraising. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a BA in History, Religious Studies, and Classical Studies and from UW-Milwaukee with an MS in Nonprofit Management and Leadership, and is currently studying to earn an MS in Library Information Sciences from the University of Wisconsin as well as a certificate in Shelter Medicine from the University of Florida. Jenna spends her downtime with her trio of companion animals (Navi, Mielikki, and Starbuck), and also enjoys reading, singing, and hiking.
You can reach Jenna at [email protected]
Board
Caryn Ginsberg, Board President
Caryn Ginsberg provides insight and infographics that help animal protection and other progressive organizations move more people to action. Founder of Priority Visions, she has more than two decades of experience helping nonprofits and businesses set strategy to accomplish their goals. Her nonprofit clients have included Animal Legal Defense Fund, Animal Rescue League of Boston, the ASPCA, the Fund for Animals, Human Behaviour Change for Animal Welfare (conference), the Humane Society of the United States and Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Caryn taught marketing in the MBA program at Johns Hopkins University and for Humane Society University. She earned her AB in economics and math from Dartmouth College summa cum laude and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Her interests include birding, Disney, weightlifting and the latest vegan foods and restaurants.
Che Green, Board Treasurer
Che Green is the founder of Faunalytics, as well a former analyst, investment banker, and research manager with experience developing and implementing research projects of all kinds. Che has worked and volunteered for a wide range of animal advocacy groups at both the local grassroots and national levels. He is a consultant for animal-friendly businesses and charitable foundations. Che has a BA in business administration with a concentration in finance. He started Faunalytics in 2000 to empower animal advocates through research, and served as its Executive Director for nearly 20 years. In 2020, he co-founded Moonshot Collaborative, a company dedicated to providing market research and consumer insights on plant-based consumers for food innovators and disruptors. When not working, Che spends his time mountain biking, petting cats, gardening, and following his favorite football (soccer) teams.
Sharie Lesniak, Board Secretary
Sharie Lesniak honed her skills in corporate advertising—having enticed consumers to buy everything from Gap clothes to Nissan cars to Absolut Vodka—but came to realize her talents could help animal advocates more effectively sell their message. Sharie spent a decade at Born Free USA as the Creative Director focusing on developing campaigns that convinced consumers to think more humanely and engage in more animal-friendly behaviors. Seeing how integral a healthy earth is for animals (and humans), Sharie jumped back into the corporate world to help aid multifamily communities across the U.S. increase recycling and reduce waste. As the Creative Director at Valet Living, Sharie also helps enable more apartments to provide homes where people can comfortably live with their dogs and cats. Sharie has a BBA from Western Michigan University. If not working on one of her side hustles (warning people about the dangers of hot cars through My Dog is Cool, or putting the “wag” in swag with Shelter Swag), you can find her riding her skateboard or OneWheel, traveling and kayaking or chillin’ at home with her wife and two crazy rescued cats.
Sarah Hanneken, Board Member
Sarah Hanneken is an attorney specializing in animal law, with a focus on laws impacting farmed animals. As Legal Advocacy Counsel at Animal Equality, Sarah pursues strategic impact litigation and legislation to protect the interests of farmed animals through the legal system. Sarah uses her creativity and extensive advocacy experience to develop novel legal strategies specifically designed to shift people’s perceptions of animals raised for food. Prior to joining Animal Equality, Sarah worked in the Litigation Program at the Animal Legal Defense Fund, where she honed her skills as a litigator and activist. Sarah graduated magna cum laude from the John Marshall Law School in Chicago, and she received a BA in linguistics from the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, where she graduated summa cum laude with a minor in biological sciences. In her spare time, Sarah enjoys sewing, gardening, reading, and exploring outside with her rescue dog Lily.
Steve Schuster, Board Member
Vegan-ethics advocate Steve Schuster brings deep marketing expertise to Faunalytics, honed by his many decades of experience in technology marketing. He serves as CEO and chief strategist of Rainier Communications, leading the successful marketing of thousands of hardware, software and service products. Steve selectively serves on advisory boards for numerous startups including VeganNation and Billion Vegans, and he regularly serves as a mentor-in-residence for startup incubators and accelerators around the world. Steve holds BSEE and MBA degrees from Northeastern University, is a published singer/songwriter and recording artist, fitness enthusiast, photographer, and he chairs his local YMCA’s board of governors.
Mandy Weeks-Green, Board Member
Mandy Weeks is an attorney presently working with health care reform and regulation of insurance providers for the state of Washington. She has also served as a legal aid attorney, proving free legal services to low-income individuals and families and as a public defender. Mandy has volunteered for grassroots and national animal advocacy groups as well as providing direct care to animals through a wildlife rehabilitation center and to her companion cat, Ain. Mandy has a BA in political science and a JD.
Research Advisors & Collaborators
Chris Bryant holds a PhD from the University of Bath, and has focused on consumer adoption of cultured meat. He collaborated with Faunalytics on our report investigating naturalness concerns around cultured meat. He is also the Social Science Director for the Cellular Agriculture Society, and co-organizes the Research to End Consumption of Animal Products (RECAP) Group with Faunalytics’ Research Director. He has also worked on research projects with Faunalytics, The Good Food Institute, and Viva!. He earned his BA from the University of Exeter, and his MSc from the University of Bristol.
Marina Milyavskaya is an associate professor of psychology at Carleton University and collaborates with Faunalytics on our research about the strategies new veg*ns use to maintain their diets. She conducts research on goal pursuit, motivation, and self-regulation, and is excited to apply her skills and passion to research on dietary change and other animal-friendly behaviors. More details about her research can be found on her lab page.
Jamie Parry is an independent researcher currently collaborating with Faunalytics on the project Relative Effectiveness of Different Approaches to Advocacy. He previously worked as a consumer research scientist at The Good Food Institute, conducting research on perceptions of the plant-based food category, and also has experience conducting market research for food and beverage companies. He earned his BA from the University of Sussex and his MSc from the University of Glasgow.
Steven Shepherd is an Assistant Professor of Marketing and International Business at Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business. He researches how various beliefs and ideologies (e.g., political ideology) and social issues (e.g. related to gender, race, and socioeconomic status) relate to issues in marketing and management. He has a PhD is social psychology (University of Waterloo) and completed a post-doctoral research position in marketing at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.
Gregg Sparkman is a postdoctoral research associate in the Andlinger Center at Princeton University. His research is focused on understanding social change, including the causes and consequences of norms shifting over time on behavior and policy attitudes. He completed his PhD at Stanford University in social psychology, where he investigated how people are influenced by witnessing social change (dynamic norms) and how this can be incorporated into interventions in social, environmental, and political domains, including how to reduce meat consumption. Gregg collaborated with Faunalytics on our “Reduce” Or “Go Veg” study.
Laura Thomas-Walters is a PhD researcher at the University of Kent. She working to improve the design and evaluation of interventions to reduce demand for wildlife products, drawing together research from multiple fields such as public health and international development. She has used both quantitative and qualitative research methods to measure the success of demand reduction campaigns, and has developed a theoretical framework of motivations for wildlife use. She is also exploring how local cultural values can be used to create more effective messages.
Advisors
Stephanie Downs is an entrepreneur turned social activist. In 1999, she founded MarKomm, a marketing firm that would be the first of three businesses she developed. The success of her agency enabled her to step away from the day-to-day operations to put her knowledge to “good” use. In 2009, Downs co-founded FiXiT – a non-profit focused on using creative solutions to bring an end to pet overpopulation, and in 2012 she founded Voolla, an online marketplace that turns volunteered skills into money for charities.
Kellie Heckman combines her experience as a nonprofit executive and scientist to improve the lives of all animals in need. Kellie developed an appreciation for the unique ability of farm sanctuaries to promote compassion while serving as Executive Director of the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries. She currently serves on the Happily Ever Esther Farm Sanctuary Board of Directors, and optimizes operations and maximizes fundraising opportunities for charities as the COO of Insurgent Campaigns. Kellie spends her free time being crafty in vegan-friendly St. Louis with her two rescued Boston terriers and three rescue cats.
Andrew Rowan is the former director of the Tufts University Center for Animals and Public Policy. He also chaired the Department of Environmental Studies at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine. Andrew was the founding editor of the International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems, founding editor of Anthrozoos, and scientific administrator for the Fund for the Replacement for Animals in Medical Experiments. Andrew currently serves as president of WellBeing International, a new NGO that focuses on projects that deliver solutions for people, animals, and the environment.
Bernard Unti is Senior Policy Adviser and Special Assistant to the President & CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. He is the author of Protecting All Animals: A Fifty-Year History of The Humane Society of the United States (2004) and other works on animal protection and cruelty to animals as an historical and contemporary concern.
Volunteers
Writers & Editors: Trent Davidson, Eva Hoogstins, Lukas Jasiunas, Lynda Korimboccus, Thyl Moors, Wilton Mui, Adina Nadler, Matthew O’Shaughnessy, Owen Rogers, Jeanette Shutay, Beth Snyder, Sara Streeter, Mona Zahir.
Researchers: Renata Hlavová, Joy McLeod, Clara Sanchez Garcia.
Other Volunteers: Andrew Carter, Nicoleta Faina, Miranda Harrington, Angelina Li, Tor Pothecary, Graeme Ross-Munro, Kate Verdalyn Lupango.
