The Association Blog

The Kentucky Humane Society’s East Campus Manager sings the praises of communication and reveals her dream mentor.

Name & Title: Morgan Davis, East Campus Manager, The Kentucky Humane Society 
Member of The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement since: January 2023

The Association: What do you think is the most important part of your job? 
Morgan Davis: Communication. When we effectively communicate our mission, we help more people and animals, find new partners to join us, and remind our staff why we are here. Great communication can inspire, encourage, and create spaces where our organizations can grow, our individuals can feel safe, and we can better serve our communities.

The Association: How have you benefited from your involvement with The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement?
Morgan Davis: Being a member of The Association keeps my spark for continuing education. I feel connected to our profession and look forward to networking opportunities. I am a current cohort with the DEI Ambassador Program, and our training program inspired me to facilitate DEI training quarterly for The Kentucky Humane Society.

The Association: What’s one thing – either industry-related or not – you learned in the last month?
Morgan Davis: In the last month, I have been deeply exploring Trauma-Informed Practices. My favorite continuing ed training on this topic was Vancouver Humane Society’s Trauma-Informed and Culturally Safe Leadership. I have learned that this lens could be incredibly useful for all teams assisting the public and look forward to continuing to learn more.

The Association: What’s the last book you read? 
Morgan Davis: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Trainers by Maria Morukian.

The Association: Please share a hidden (or not-so-hidden) talent. 
Morgan Davis: I am unusually skilled at claw machines.

The Association: What keeps you healthy and resilient?   
Morgan Davis: Creating art and music, continuing education, and laughter.

The Association: If you could choose anyone as a mentor, who would you choose and why?
Morgan Davis: I’m actively looking for a professional mentor—so if you know anyone, send them my way! In a fantasy world, my mentor would be Dolly Parton.  

The Association: What do you think is the biggest issue facing professionals in our industry right now?
Morgan Davis: Transitioning our mentality from animal-focused to community-focused. We’ve spent decades focusing on firefighting our pet population issues, focusing on caretaking once they’re in our shelters. We are seeing lasting results when we approach this work by empowering pet guardians and assisting our communities instead of gatekeeping animal care.

The Association: Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give to who you were ten years ago?
Morgan Davis: Realize your value and stick with your passions. Don’t measure your success by other’s success.

The Association: What advice do you have for someone considering membership in The Association?
Morgan Davis: Just do it. There are so many educational tools, networking opportunities, and a focus on professional development. I feel I am more connected to the big picture by being a member, that connection allows me to see the real impact of what we do.

Learn More

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