The Association Blog

Find out what makes this member of The DEI Council tick

Name & Title: Jessica Umunnabuike, Senior Talent and Diversity Specialist, San Diego Humane Society & SPCA

Member of The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement since: September 2024

The Association: Describe yourself in three words.
Jessica Umunnabuike: Curious, compassionate, reserved.

The Association: What does DEI look like at your organization? What steps have you taken or what programs/processes have you implemented to further this work?
Jessica Umunnabuike: At San Diego Humane Society, DEI is woven into every aspect of our work, from our people-first practices to the accessibility of our programs and services. We’ve introduced initiatives like a bilingual compensation program, floating holidays, and intentional spaces for DEI dialogue and learning.

We’re also proud to have recently created a formal land acknowledgment. Developed collaboratively over several years by our Indigenous Allies employee resource group, it reflects our commitment to honoring the sovereignty of the original inhabitants of the land we work on.

The Association: Thank you for your work as an incoming member of The DEI Council. What council work excites you the most? 
Jessica Umunnabuike: The insights from the 2024 AAWA DEI Survey have been revealing and inspiring. I appreciated seeing the identified opportunities to strengthen inclusivity within animal welfare organizations, both for employees and the communities we serve.

[Note: Join us on Wednesday, January 29, for a live online unveiling of the 2024 DEI Survey results.]

As leaders play a pivotal role in advancing DEI, I’m particularly excited to contribute to a guidebook focused on integrating DEI principles into learning, leadership, and development. Being able to work towards supporting leaders with actionable tools to drive lasting, systemic change in our field is a joy and a privilege!

The Association: Name one resource that helped you along your DEI journey.
Jessica Umunnabuike: The AAWA Ambassador Program has been a transformative resource in my DEI journey. It’s provided a structured yet open-ended way to build relationships, share experiences, and continuously learn with and from others.

The Association: Share a personal experience where you saw the impact of DEI efforts in action.
Jessica Umunnabuike: I’ve had the privilege of leading several employee discussions centered on exploring dimensions of identity. Listening to personal stories and witnessing the vulnerability people bring to these conversations is always humbling. I value the complexity of people (“sonder” is one of my favorite words!) and love learning more about what’s beneath the surface. These moments remind me of the power of connection through diversity and the impact of creating spaces where everyone feels seen and empowered to contribute.

The Association: You can invite five people from all of history to dinner. Who’s at the table, and what are you eating?
Jessica Umunnabuike: This one is hard! I think I’m inviting John Coltrane, Stephen Hawking, Erykah Badu, Zack de la Rocha and Nina Simone. We’re eating jollof rice with tabbouleh on the side – a mix of flavors that reflect my love for bold (spicy), vibrant dishes.

Learn More

The Association’s DEI Council
Register: DEI Survey Results Unveiled, 1/29
Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn