Jim tedford, CAWA
President & CEO
Jim Tedford accepted his dream job when he joined The Association as President & CEO in June of 2015. But Jim is no stranger to the organization. He has been a member for nearly 30 years and served as our Board Chairman some twenty years ago. Jim has been actively engaged in the animal welfare movement for more than 37 years having served as CEO for animal sheltering organizations in New York, Louisiana and Tennessee. He served as a regional director for The Humane Society of the United States and then spent six years providing direct response marketing services to animal welfare organizations. Jim presents frequently at national and regional conferences on various animal welfare issues, organizational development and not-for-profit management.
Jim and his wife Ann share their world with three terriers and an immortal macaw. Avid lovers of the outdoors, Jim and Ann spend as much time as possible on the hiking trails or camping in their Casita (fiberglass “egg”), often accompanied by all three terriers.
Katherine Shenar, CAWA
Executive Vice President
Katherine McGowan Shenar serves as the executive vice president for The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement and brings experience in leadership development, organization culture, coalition building, marketing communications, fundraising, and emerging trends in animal welfare.
Katherine began her career working in the media and transitioned to an advertising agency before realizing her animal welfare calling. Her advocacy work started in 1996 when she led the public relations and marketing department for the Humane Society of Missouri. She has served as the executive director for the Animal Protective Association of Missouri, the animal welfare issues consultant for The Humane Society of the United States, president and CEO of Asheville Humane Society, and executive vice president for San Diego Humane Society. She is the author of the book Coalition Building for Animal Care Organizations, a how-to guide for animal advocates to work collaboratively in communities and has written numerous articles for Animal Sheltering magazine. Katherine holds a Masters of Arts in media communications and served as an adjunct professor for the School of Communications at Webster University. She resides in Florida with her husband, four dogs and two cats. Connect with Katherine on LinkedIn.
valerie sheppard
Senior Director of Professional Development and Credentialing
Valerie Sheppard has spent more than 20 years helping professionalize animal welfare staff, first as the head of HSUS' Humane Society University and then leading the ASPCA's elearning and webinar program. She has hosted more than 500 webinars, and counting.
Valerie has a Bachelors degree in Theatre from Smith College and a Masters in Career Counseling from Johns Hopkins University. After-hours, Valerie misses her son who's away at college, and relaxes with her partner, two Shepherd-mixes, a red-eared slider turtle, and a gaggle of fish. She kayaks Maryland rivers and is learning, ever so slowly, how to ski.
kelly cunningham
Director of Engagement
Jasmin Robinson
Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives
As Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives with The Association, Jasmin Robinson is part of the team working on DEI in animal welfare spaces.
Jasmin is a consultant, educator, and equity thought partner with over 12 years of professional experience. She primarily supports higher education institutions, k-12 schools, and nonprofit organizations with diversity, equity, and inclusion strategic planning, program development, trainings, and facilitation. Jasmin is a certified qualified administrator for the Intercultural Development Inventory, LLC. In addition, she is a member of the Illinois Diversity Council (ILDC), Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA), and the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE).
Jasmin is completing a Ph.D. in Educational Administration, and her research interest include Black women experiences in historically white spaces, anti-Blackness, and cultural competence.
In her spare time, Jasmin enjoys cooking, walking, thrifting, and brunch spots in the Chicagoland area.
