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Staff
President — Priscilla Feral
Priscilla has presided since 1987 over the international non-profit animal advocacy organization, which places critical habitat, wildlife protection, veganism, environmental and animal rights issues at the core of animal advocacy. She also serves as president of the San Antonio sanctuary Primarily Primates since 2007, which operates as a subsidiary of Friends of Animals. As a food activist, she has authored three vegan cookbooks for Friends of Animals —Dining With Friends: The Art of North American Vegan Cuisine, The Best of Vegan Cooking and her most recent, For the Love of Dog Biscuits. Priscilla believes that social movements, where people work together to bring about positive change in a society, are both inspiring and powerful and that giving up is not an option. Priscilla can be reached at feral(at)friendsofanimals.org.
Director of Operations — Bob Orabona
Bob started as a volunteer and now oversees day-to-day operations and the creation of strategies and policies for Friends of Animals. He became a vegan in 1980 and says his work here is the job of his dreams. With him every day at work are his rescue dogs, Papa, a bulldog and Harry, a black lab. Bob can be reached at admin(at)friendsofanimals.org.
Vice President of Development — Dustin Rhodes
Dustin started working at Friends of Animals in 2007 in the Washington, D.C. office. His primary job is fundraising and donor relations, but he’s also a contributing writer to Action Line. His passions include: wild animals, hiking, vegan baking, dogs, capuchin monkeys, writing, modern dance (as spectator), bicycling (for fun) and eating (vegan, naturally). His favorite part of his job is getting to know our inspirational supporters — many of whom have been with Friends of Animals for decades. He now resides (again) in Asheville, North Carolina — a progressive, animal-loving community in the Blue Ridge mountains. Dustin can be reached at dustin(at)friendsofanimals.org.
Editor-in-Chief; Media/Government Relations — Nicole Rivard
Nicole started working at Friends of Animals in 2013. She brings 18 years of journalism experience to FoA’s Action Line and to the front lines— protesting and documenting atrocities against animals exploited by the carriage horse, fur and hunting industries, as well as the Bureau of Land Management’s mismanagement of America’s wild horses. Nicole also helps direct FoA’s legislative outreach. She enjoys photography, wildlife watching and wild places. But her happiest place is with horses at the barn, her home away from home. Nicole lives in Connecticut with her rescued goldfish, Deniro and hopes to adopt a horse someday. She can be reached at nrivard(at)friendsofanimals.org.
Director of Development — Gabe Ahmed
Gabe joined Friends of Animals in 2024, and as a passionate vegan, says he already feels right at home here. He lives in Newtown with three adopted cats (Peach, Bunny, and Pirate) and an adopted yorkie, Max. Gabe is passionate about helping every kind of animal and in his free time enjoys appreciating nature. He brings with him experience ranging from Fortune 500 companies to a vegan investing startup. He can be reached at gabe(at)friendsofanimals.org
Creative Director — Jane Seymour
Jane has been an animal rights activist for her entire life. After receiving her BFA in photography from Parsons School of Design, Jane went on to work in the publishing industry as a photography editor and director for 10 years. She oversees the design of Action Line, and all visual campaigns. Jane resides in CT with her husband and their rescue dog Bullet. She can be reached at jane(at)friendsofanimals.org.
Digital Content Director — Meg Hennessy
Meg joined Friends of Animals in 2013. Meg is the creative force behind FoA’s and Primarily Primates’ social media and websites. She is also a contributing writer for Action Line. Meg is a news junkie and loves writing about politics, tech trends, rescue stories and pet parenthood. She lives with her husband, daughter, rescued cats, Cecilia and Stevie, and rescue dogs, Harvey and Cooper, in Connecticut. Meg can be reached at meghan(at)friendsofanimals.org.
Communications Assistant — Jack Keller
Jack joined Friends of Animals in 2024. He grew up enjoying the Connecticut coastline and woodlands and has always been passionate about conservation. He studied Media Studies at the University of Denver, where he continued relishing in nature, and graduated in 2022. He’s passionate about writing, a voracious music consumer, somewhat of a sports junkie; and, of course, a lover of wildlife. He can be reached at john.keller(at)friendsofanimals.org.
Accountant — Bob Bock
Bob joined FoA in 2016 bringing with him 40 years of experience ranging from Fortune 500 companies to startups. He lives in Hamden, CT with two adopted dogs, Blue and Bear, who are his closest companions.
Bookkeeper — Belveley Russell
Belveley joined the staff in 1988 and has worked in a variety of capacities including answering phones, processing spay and neutering certificates and recruiting veterinarians. She lives in Bridgeport, CT with her two Yorkies, Piper and Pebbles. When she’s not watching tennis, she enjoys listening to Motown.
Assistant to the President — Donna Thigpen
Donna oversees travel arrangements for the staff, conference calls and assists in proofreading FoA’s quarterly magazine, Action Line. She has been with the organization since 1996. She particularly enjoys caring for her brother’s Shih Tzu, Sable, when he is traveling.
Secretary to the — President Shelly Scott
Shelly is responsible for secretarial duties. She joined the staff in 1989. She is pleased to be part of an organization that has battled on behalf of animals. She finds office dogs Harry and Papa a joy to be around.
Membership Advisor — Keysi Flores
Keysi joined staff in 2023 and is responsible for entering member’s data, answering phones, and helping Shelly with secretarial duties. They enjoy going on hiking trails with their best furry friend Mikey and playing soccer.
Receptionist — Dana Visi
Dana joined the staff in 2015, bringing with her a background in veterinary care. She especially enjoys helping callers with their pet issues. She lives in Darien, CT with her golden retriever who competes in dog sports.
WILDLIFE LAW PROGRAM
Wildlife Law Program Director — Jennifer Best
Jennifer specializes in animal and environmental litigation and leads Friends of Animals’ extensive docket to advance protections for wildlife. Jennifer started with Friends of Animals in 2013 and has successfully litigated cases that paved the way for the protection of threatened and endangered animals, prevented the roundup and removal of wild horses, and held the government accountable for violating federal laws designed to protect animals and their environment. Jennifer received a B.A. in philosophy from Lewis & Clark College with a minor in Political Science. She earned her J.D. from University of Denver Sturm College of Law with a Certificate in Environmental and Natural Resource Law. Jennifer loves spending time outdoors and takes delight in viewing wildlife, whether its bees in a city park or moose in the mountains — always from a respectful distance of course! She pursued a legal career to create positive changes in how humans interact with the earth and all its creatures. She is thrilled to be working with Friends of Animals and advocating for the rights of wildlife. She can be reached at jennifer(at)friendsofanimals.org.
Managing Attorney in the Wildlife Law Program — Stephen Hernick. Stephen received a B.A. in History from Cornell University and earned his J.D. from Duke University School of Law in 2009. He joined Friends of Animals in May 2019, after beginning his legal career as a commercial litigator at large law firms in Boston and Cincinnati. Stephen has been an animal lover his whole life and is ecstatic to now be using his legal skills towards helping animals of all species. He spends most of his weekends outdoors pursuing his passions of mountaineering and skiing in Colorado’s majestic mountains. He can be reached at shernick(at)friendsofanimals.org
Staff Attorney in the Wildlife Law Program — Adam Kreger
Adam became involved in animal rights in 2010, and received his J.D. from Washington University School of Law in 2019, where he founded the Animal Law Society during 1L. He also participated in the Environmental Law Clinic and served as a litigation intern for the Animal Legal Defense Fund. He is elated to be using the law to protect the environment and its inhabitants. Adam is licensed in California and Colorado. Adam can be reached at adam.kreger(at)friendsofanimals.org.
Senior Associate Attorney in FoA’s Wildlife Law Program — Andreia Marcuccio
Andreia received a B.A. in Environmental Studies with a minor in philosophy from Siena College. She earned her J.D. and master’s degree in Environmental Law and Policy from Vermont Law School. Andreia believes animals have intrinsic value and has always been passionate about animal equality. She is excited to be able to use her skills to protect wildlife and ensure that animals have a right to ethical consideration. In her free time she enjoys hiking, geocaching, cheerleading, snowboarding, and identifying trees. Andreia can be reached at andreia(at)friendsofanimals.org.
Philanthropy and Communications Manager at FoA’s Wildlife Law Program — Liz Holland
In 2013, Liz received an A.A.S. in Veterinary Technology from Bel-Rea Institute of Veterinary Technology, and presently, is pursuing a B.S. in Environmental Science from Southern New Hampshire University. Liz has been a vegan and an advocate for improving the lives of nonhuman animals since 2005. Her passion for environmental conservation and sentient recognition continues to inspire her. With over a decade of experience in veterinary medicine and nonprofit development, Liz is excited to apply her combined background in collaboration with the dedicated team at Friends of Animals to help animals of all kinds. Liz can be reached at Liz.Holland(at)friendsofanimals.org.
Animal Law Fellow – Max Costa
Max received a B.A. in Political Science and Philosophy from the University of Mississippi and earned his J.D. from Cornell Law School. During law school, he participated in the Capital Punishment and First Amendment Clinics and served as a litigation clerk with the Animal Legal Defense Fund. Max believes that all animals are wonderful, unique individuals that deserve moral consideration. He is eager to protect animals and help create a more compassionate society through legal advocacy. In his spare time, Max enjoys reading, training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and mixed martial arts, rock climbing, and playing board games.
Primarily Primates
Executive Director of Primarily Primates — Krystal Mathis
After earning her zoology degree from Texas State University, Krystal began work as a zookeeper at the San Antonio Zoo. She cared for a wide variety of animals, from addax to zebras. She also was on the operant conditioning teams for okapi, giraffe, hippos, otters, squirrel monkeys, sloths, and birds. Since then, Krystal has worked for seven years at Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation, Inc., including nearly two years as the chief administrative officer overseeing the organization’s 180-acre sanctuary, wildlife rehabilitation hospital, and a satellite facility in San Antonio. In between, Krystal worked in development for the Cibolo Nature Center & Farm and San Antonio Pets Alive!
