Jess Wilson: Executive Director
She/Her
A life-long Vermonter, Jess has always been fortunate to share her home with a variety of animal companions. She’s experienced first-hand the transcendent power of the human/animal bond and its impact on the health and well-being of each.
Jess is delighted to join the Humane Society of Chittenden County team after more than 27 years in leadership at Vermont community media nonprofits. Most recently, Jess served as the Co-Director of the Media Factory in Burlington’s South End where she worked to elevate the voices of community members and helped fellow nonprofit organizations engage donors and clients with compelling stories. She looks forward to focusing her passion to support the amazing mission of HSCC and the organization’s incredible staff and volunteers.
In her free time, Jess is a theater sound designer, projections designer, and stage manager. You may have seen or heard her work at Vermont Stage or supporting the sketch comedy troupe Stealing From Work. She lives in Shelburne with her wife and stepchildren, two cats (including HSCC alum Smudge), and two dogs.
Pam Brown, DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVPP: Veterinarian and Chief Medical Officer
She/Her
Dr. Pam Brown is a native of NH. She graduated from University of New Hampshire with a BS in Animal Science and Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine after spending her clinical year at Oklahoma State University. Dr. Brown has spent her career in a variety of settings including General practice, Emergency and Specialty Medicine and has completed certifications in Pain management, Canine Rehabilitation and Acupuncture. Dr. Brown is one of a handful of Veterinarians in Vermont who are trained in Animal Cruelty investigations and routinely assists Law enforcement in this capacity. In 2022, she was appointed by Governor Phil Scott to the Animal Cruelty Investigations Advisory Board, which she is currently sits on.
Dr. Brown is thrilled to be working in the non profit sphere as a part of HSCC, an organization she has been part of since 2016.
Kimberly Chicoine: Director of Finance & Administration
She/Her
Born and raised in southern New Hampshire, Kim moved to Burlington to attend Champlain College. After graduating, she stayed in Vermont and has pursued a diverse career in accounting. She is excited to join the HSCC team and combine her love of numbers with her love of animals (especially dogs)!
Kim lives in Williston with her husband and their two pups, Asher and Penelope. When not working, she loves spending time with her grandchildren, camping, and spending time with friends.
Emily Hecker: Director of Development
She/Her
An animal rights advocate since childhood, Emily is thrilled for the opportunity to use her professional skills to further the mission of the Humane Society. Originally from Oklahoma, Emily came to Vermont with her family in 2017 and decided to make it home. With a degree in Communication, she started her career as a producer for a French news channel and more recently was the Director of Development and Communications for a public school district.
Emily is an active member of her community in Milton, having served on the school board and engaging with local issues. Growing up with a house full of pets (which was affectionately called a petting zoo at its peak), Emily deeply values the humbling, unconditional love that results from relationships with animals. She enjoys hiking with her dog Uri, reading with her cat Minnow, and traveling with her family.
If you'd like more information about how you can help HSCC thrive, please email Emily at emilyh@hsccvt.org or call 802-862-0125 x 15.
Christen Trayah: Shelter Manager
She/Her
Originally from a small town in central Massachusetts, Christen made her way to Vermont with nearly a decade of experience in the field of veterinary medicine. Her journey at the Humane Society of Chittenden County began a year ago, and in that time, she has been deeply grateful to see the organization not only thrive but truly blossom and grow in ways that touch the hearts of both animals and people alike.
As a passionate animal welfare advocate, Christen is deeply committed to enriching the lives of animals in need, empowering her team, and fostering a compassionate community. Her work at HSCC allows her to channel her dedication into meaningful action, and she’s excited to continue contributing to the organization's growth as it expands its reach and impact.
Outside of her work at HSCC, Christen enjoys life in Swanton with her wife and their wonderful menagerie of rescued pets. Their household is a true reflection of their heart for animals—each pet has its own story, and many have special needs. Together, they share a home filled with warmth, joy, and the unique kind of unconditional love that rescued pets can bring. Christen feels incredibly fortunate to be able to combine her professional passion with her personal values, and she looks forward to many more years of making a difference at HSCC.
Jenna McMaster: Communications Manager
She/Her
Jenna has been a part of the northeastern animal welfare community for over 8 years. After earning a Master’s degree from the University of Washington, specializing in ethics and philosophy of science, she returned to NYC and started volunteering for local cat rescue groups. In 2016 she became the Vice President of Whiskers-A-GoGo, a Brooklyn-based cat rescue group. There, she rescued and rehabilitated hundreds of cats and kittens, organized fundraisers, and assisted in local TNR efforts. In 2019, Jenna joined the Animal Care Centers of NYC as the Adoptions Supervisor, working towards ending animal homelessness through open adoptions.
After moving to Vermont in 2021 with her husband and floofy cat sons Jack and Georgie, Jenna joined the HSCC team, where she continues to pursue her passion of helping animals and the people who love them. In her free time, Jenna enjoys baking and reading a healthy balance of fiction and non-fiction.
Heather Larose: Lead Veterinary Technician and VCMO Assistant
She/Her
Heather started talking about working with animals when she was three years old, and never wavered. She got an early start in the veterinary field in high school as a veterinary assistant and kennel attendant before coming to the University of Vermont for college. She graduated in 2009 with a degree in Animal Sciences and a minor in English, and immediately began working full time with animals in the Burlington area after graduation. She worked as a veterinary technician in a few different private practices in the area before making a move to shelter medicine as the medical manager at HSCC in 2014. Once at HSCC, she quickly and thoroughly fell in love with shelter medicine and joined the leadership team as the Medical Clinic Director at HSCC in 2020. She has had the opportunity to grow the medical program at HSCC and, over the last couple of years, she spearheaded starting and growing the Community Pet Clinic. Providing veterinary care to animals in the shelter, and particularly animals of low income and underserved pet owners, is her dream job and she feels incredibly lucky to get to do it every day. When not hanging around the shelter, she lives with her partner and poorly behaved tribe of cats in South Burlington. She loves to cycle recreationally, ballroom dance, and cook and bake for anyone and everyone whenever she can.
Jacqueline Webb, DVM: Community Pet Clinic Spay/Neuter Veterinarian
She/Her
Dr. Jacqueline Webb is originally from Massachusetts where her love of veterinary medicine began as a volunteer and then technician at a local small animal clinic. After graduating from Cornell University with her Bachelors degree, she earned her DVM from Tufts University. She has a background working in small animal general practice where she honed her love for surgery and is excited to now be working as the spay/neuter veterinarian with the humane society. In her free time she loves taking her old labrador for walks, and spending time outside skiing, hiking, and biking.
Elizabeth Poulsen, DVM: Community Pet Clinic Veterinarian
She/Her
Liz grew up in Connecticut obsessed with animals of every kind. She came to VT, to attend Sterling College, in 1982 and stayed with two breaks: one to earn her BS in Animal Science from University of Connecticut and one for her DVM from University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. She started in mixed practice, large and small animal, took several years off for full time parenting then returned to Veterinary Medicine to practice small animal community health/medicine at the Old North End Veterinary Clinic. She is thrilled to continue this work with the HSCC! In her spare time she loves walking, gardening, yoga and spending time with her family and human and animal friends.
Anna: Development & Events Coordinator
She/Her
Anna was born and raised in Vermont. During her studies at the University of Vermont and Saint Michael's College, she developed a broad background in the food & beverage industry. Through this work, she discovered her true passion for customer care, fostering a crew of "regulars" everywhere she went. These skills have translated well to her work for HSCC as she works hard to make everyone who enters the shelter feel cared for and supported. During her free time, she can be found assembling an elaborate Lego set or with her devastatingly handsome dog, Harvey (an HSCC alum!), swimming at any of her top secret river spots around Chittenden, Franklin, and Lamoille counties.
Christina: Adoptions Coordinator
She/Her
A native Vermonter, Christina spent half her childhood in Seattle, WA and the other half in Chittenden County, where she attended Rice Memorial High School and played field and ice hockey. Christina has always loved animals and felt passionate about animal welfare, helping any creature, big or small. After moving back to VT at the age of ten, her family finally adopted their first dog, Nickita, who became the soul of the family. Always one for animals that have a little something "extra," Christina has adopted two cats, Louie and Chancy (an HSCC alum), and two dogs, Geronimo, and her current dog, Luna (both from HSCC!).
Throughout her career, Christina always seems to find her way back to HSCC. Her first run with HSCC was in 2016 in Animal & Customer Care. She returned in 2022-2023 as a volunteer and foster pawrent (which is how she met Luna), and part-time staff member, and then finally she came full circle in late 2024 as a full-time Animal & Customer Care Associate. She couldn't be happier to be back at HSCC, and she is truly grateful to be a member of the team and to get to work serving the animals and people of our community and beyond.
When not at work, you can find Christina following ice hockey (go, Flyers!), hanging with Luna, and enjoying all there is in VT.
Dana: Programs Coordinator
She/Her
Dana was born and raised in Vermont and recently returned to her home state with her three cats to be closer to family. She has worked in various roles within veterinary and animal welfare-focused non-profits for over a decade, including a shelter where she specialized in cats and kittens and a non-profit dedicated to advocating for pet-friendly accommodations in homeless sheltering services. Dana received her Master's degree in Anthrozoology from Canisius College, as her lifelong passion and love for animals led her to explore a career change that allowed her to focus on improving the lives of animals and the people who care for them.
Ella: Volunteer & Community Outreach Program Coordinator
She/Her
Ella is a Montana native who recently decided to upgrade states and move to Vermont. Ella attended Montana State University where she graduated in 2022 with a double major in Psychology and English Literature. Ella spent her first few years out of college working as a Volunteer Coordinator for an Interpersonal Violence Crisis Center, where she discovered her passion for teaching community members to give back to their community. Ella balanced out her time working in interpersonal violence prevention with spending time with her small menagerie of reptiles and amphibians. In the spring of 2024, Ella fulfilled her dream of moving to Vermont and is excited to use the skills she developed advocating for humans to advocate for the animals that come through HSCC’s doors.
If you are considering volunteering, or you just want to learn more about HSCC, Ella invites you to reach out to her at ellav@hsccvt.org!
Emily: Feline Coordinator
She/Her
Emily is a Connecticut native who moved to Vermont in 2017 to pursue her degree in Anthropology and Sociology at Saint Michael’s College. She is an avid gardener, plant mom, painter, and above all else, an animal lover! Growing up with rescue cats, her love and compassion for animals blossomed at a young age. She now lives in Winooski with her roommates, their 2 rescue kitties (one of which is HSCC alum Maverick!), and an extensive collection of houseplants.
Emily worked on farms in Connecticut caring for plants and animals big and small before joining the HSCC team. She is thrilled to be part of a community that provides a loving and safe space for animals. Her vocation is undoubtedly protecting, loving, and being a voice for animals in need.
Makayla: Small Animal Coordinator
She/Her
Makayla grew up in Burlington and has a longstanding interest in animal welfare, having attended HSCC’s Camp Paw Paw as a kid, and more recently volunteering at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah. She has many rescue animals including Ouija, a cat she fell in love with while volunteering for BFAS whom she flew home with her all the way to Vermont. She currently attends UVM, where her interests lie in veterinary science and neuroscience.
Ro: Behavior Coordinator
They/Them
Ro grew up in Upstate New York (Albany) and moved to Vermont to attend UVM, graduating in 2023 with a degree in Art History and minors in Latin and Animal Science. Since they could remember, Ro has been obsessed with anything and everything animal, and is specifically interested in science-based training and learning theory, and consent-informed handling. Ro is so excited to broaden their skills and horizons by being a part of the HSCC team and the broader Vermont animal welfare community! Outside of work, they enjoy music, skating, painting, and reading, especially about art history and cultural anthropology. They share their home with their dog Saoirse, two HSCC cat alums Aonghus and Elton (pictured!), their gerbil Eoin, and their girlfriend’s dog Darcy and old-man cat Whiskers.
Sydnie: Client Care Coordinator, Community Pet Clinic
She/Her
Sydnie graduated from the University of Vermont in 2023 with a degree in Food Systems. A longtime animal lover, Sydnie is thrilled to be joining the HSCC Community Pet Clinic, where she enjoys spending time with our community's furry friends and helping their people get the resources they need to live happy, healthy lives.
Sydnie lives with her partner and their two adopted cats, including Igo - a proud HSCC alum and super senior (senior cats will always hold a special place in her heart!). Outside of work, you’ll usually find Sydnie crafting or journaling.
AJ: Veterinary Technician
She/Her
Originally from New Jersey, AJ came to Vermont to study at UVM in 2012. After many years and many "major" changes, she finally realized her passion for veterinary medicine. During her schooling, she was a medical intern at HSCC, where she fell in love with shelter medicine and gained incredible hands-on experience. She ultimately graduated with dual degrees in Animal Science and Computer Science in 2019. AJ decided to stay in beautiful Vermont after graduating and has worked in the area as a veterinary technician since.
When an opportunity to work for HSCC opened up again, AJ was thrilled! She is very excited to be working in the shelter medicine world again and can't wait to see what the future holds. AJ and her partner are the proud parents of 2 dogs, 2 cats, and 3 guinea pigs, with several being HSCC alumni. In her free time, AJ loves sewing, puzzles, and spending time at the barn with her horse.
Crystal: Veterinary Technician
She/Her
Crystal has been in the veterinarian field for over 20 years working in general practice. She recently came to us from Old North End Veterinary Clinic where she was for the past 10 years. Crystal has a passion for wanting to be a part of serving the pets of Chittenden County with affordable vet care as well as offering support for their owners. Over the years she has also fostered several animals, serving as a steppingstone for their forever homes. Her own animals are both rescues; Zuma the dog and Max the cat who is an HSCC alumni. In her free time, she is busy being “uber mom” to her two boys where life is filled with lots of soccer. She enjoys adventures with her boys, running and hiking.
Haley: Veterinary Technician
She/Her
Haley grew up in south Burlington and has stayed in the area ever since. Growing up Haley has always had a passion for animals. She knew right away working with animals was for her. Her journey first started when she applied to VTC in 2020 majoring in veterinary technology. Haley graduated from VTC in 2022 and shortly after became certified after passing her VTNE in August of 2022. For the past 2 years Haley has been working in the area as a veterinary technician. After finding out that HSCC had been hiring, Haley knew that taking a next step in to shelter medicine was her next journey, and she is thrilled to be a part of the HSCC team!
Dave: Shelter Associate
He/Him
Dave originally hails from Massachusetts, where he grew up on the North Shore and ran a bike shop for 27 years. In 2024, he settled in Vermont and quickly started volunteering at HSCC as a Morning Dog Care volunteer. Dave has always loved being around animals and fellow animal-lovers, and he was thrilled to join the HSCC team as a full-time Shelter Associate in November of 2024.
Dave lives in Burlington with his wife Rebecca (a Morning Cat Care volunteer at HSCC) and his rescues, Lucille the dog and Charlotte the cat.
Kaitlynn: Shelter Associate
She/Her
Originally from just south of Boston, Kaitlynn now lives in Winooski with her yellow-crested cockatoo, Kiwi. She began working with animals in 2016 and has since built a background in veterinary medicine, grooming, wildlife rehabilitation, and pet wellness. She is excited to have the opportunity to bring this experience to her role as a Shelter Associate at HSCC. Outside of work, Kaitlynn enjoys fantasy media and is currently studying video game design. For her, combining creativity and compassion is second nature.
Luna: Shelter Associate
She/Her
Luna grew up in Vermont and attended UVM, graduating with a degree in zoology. She has always loved animals and has previously worked with animals at a farm sanctuary and through bird rehabilitation. Luna started volunteering at HSCC in 2021 followed by an internship in Spring 2025, after which she enthusiastically accepted an offer to join the HSCC team as a Shelter Associate. She has a passion for animal welfare and behavior, and is excited to have the opportunity to further expand her knowledge of the field and help our community's pets in need.
In her free time, Luna enjoys running and hiking with her dog Toto, an HSCC alum.
Ceci: Humane Education Program Coordinator
She/Her
After graduating from UVM and moving home for a few years, Ceci has returned to Vermont full time and is thrilled to join HSCC and get involved with the Burlington community. Before moving back to Vermont, Ceci worked as a children's librarian in a public library. She currently works for the Winooski School District as a para educator. While Ceci currently has an aquarium full of fish and one wonderful cat, she looks forward to adopting more furry friends into her family. Ceci is passionate about both educating children and animal welfare and cannot wait to foster more young animal lovers.
JoAnn Nichols: Humane Educator & TNR specialist
She/Her
JoAnn Nichols started in the animal welfare and animal rights movement in the late 1970s. Over the decades she has worked undercover for an animal rights organization photographing cruelty in the factory farm systems, to cleaning oiled wildlife from oil spills. Working in Animal Sheltering for over twenty years, currently she is the Humane Investigator and TNR Specialist at the Humane Society of Chittenden County, she enjoys the challenges the work brings and partaking in making a difference for just one animal in need. Along with her employment at HSCC, she also works at BEVS (Burlington Emergency and Veterinary Specialists), is the part-time Animal Control Officer for South Burlington and operates her own wildlife business providing humane solutions for homeowners when wildlife moves into their home. Shown with JoAnn is her side-kick, Lucinda. Lucinda was relinquished as part of a cruelty investigation and was nursed back to life by JoAnn. They are now a forever family.
Emily Lewis, CDBC: Shelter Behavior Consultant
She/Her
Emily has 24 years of professional experience as a dog trainer, shelter behavior consultant and vet tech. She is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant with the IAABC and operates Vermont Dog Behavior, LLC. She specializes in a wide variety of behavior issues, including human directed aggression. Due to the nature of the cases that she sees, Emily is often faced with families who have experienced trauma due to their dog's behavior. She loves working with these clients to repair and improve their relationship with their dog, with an emphasis on meeting the needs at both ends of the leash.
Emily has been involved in animal welfare for the last 12 years assisting a variety of shelters and rescue organizations with their behavior programs. She strives to help shelter dogs have the best quality of life possible, to provide shelter staff with the training they need to keep themselves and the animals in their care safe, and to support the community with dog training and behavior resources. When she's not working, Emily loves spending time in nature with her wife and three rescue dogs. She is an avid reader, self-described comic book nerd, and enjoys collecting tattoos from some of Vermont's talented artists.
Mike: Building Maintenance & Repairman
He/Him
After retiring from a long career as general manager of Windshield World, Mike was looking to volunteer some time to a local organization.
Without a dog for the first time in many years, and unable to make a year-round commitment to a new pooch, HSCC was his number one choice. After a few months of shelter help and dog walking, a part-time position for Building Maintenance and Repair became available. Having observed an incredibly competent, dedicated and hard-working staff in action, Mike was thrilled when asked to be more integral to the betterment of the animals in our care.
Mike lives in Williston with his wife Kate and dog Millie.
KELLY SCHULZE: MOUNTAIN DOG PHOTOGRAPHY
They/Them
Kelly Schulze is an award-winning Master Photographer and Certified Professional Photographer who specializes in studio and environmental animal portraiture. With their love and understanding of animal behavior, years of technical training, and a fast shutter finger, they are able to consistently wow their clients with stunning, heartwarming portraits and an unforgettable experience.
Kelly is based out of Monkton, Vermont and travels throughout the northeast for on-location portrait sessions. They are also available for animal-related product photography and commercial licensing. Kelly and their husband, Ian, are allowed to graciously share their home with five dogs (Logan, Jackson, Molly, JB, and Baloo), five cats (Luci, Bink, Dorie, Judy, and Masson), Scarlett the horse, and a flock of laying hens.
