Erica has served as COK’s Executive Director since 2005, after being an active volunteer starting in 2000. Since taking the helm, she’s taken the organization to new heights with continued growth and accomplishments for animals that include ending the egg industry’s use of the misleading claim “Animal Care Certified” and successfully persuading BOCA foods to stop using eggs.

Vegan for 20 years, Erica has been working in the animal protection field since college. In 2013, she was honored with the prestigious Animal Rights Hall of Fame award.

Since 2006, Cheryl has served as COK’s General Counsel targeting large-scale abuse of farmed animals through proactive litigation and undercover investigations. Her work includes challenging cruel, yet standard, practices forced upon farmed animals as well as the misleading marketing of meat, milk, and eggs often found in grocery stores.

Cheryl received a J.D. from UCLA School of Law and a B.A. from the University of Chicago in Environmental Studies.

Mike became vegan in 2006 after the loss of his dog Curly, and then spent almost 4 years working as an Undercover Investigator with a focus on animal agriculture. His investigations include hog farm suppliers to Smithfield and Hormel, which have resulted in dozens of criminal cruelty charges. His cases have been featured in several national media outlets as well as multiple books written on the topic.

Mike joined COK in 2014, where he leads investigative efforts into meat, dairy, and egg facilities. Since then, he has overseen multiple viral investigations, including investigations into Quality Pork Processors in 2015 as well as Tyson Foods in 2016.

Chris manages all of COK’s websites and IT needs as well as providing support to the entire COK team. Chris holds multiple certifications in IT and has worked web development since the late 90’s.

Prior to joining COK, Chris spent the last 6 years working for an NGO documenting the human rights abuse happening in Iran. He was responsible for building and managing the website for the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran.

Combining her passion for farm animal protection and empowering others, Paulette is excited to join the COK team in DC as the Outreach and Event Manager. Having volunteered for companion animal issues since 2000, farm animals became her passion in 2006.

Helping organize on a grassroots level for several years, she most recently represented COK in the Citizens for Farm Animal Protection coalition this past fall in Massachusetts. With a background in environmental science and aiding the homeless, she brings analytical skills together with compassion for all beings.

Jennifer joined Compassion Over Killing as Communications Manager in 2016 and is excited to join the team of strong voices for animals!

Prior to working at COK, she was a writer for Ecorazzi.com and Staff Writer/Editor at Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, and has volunteered in animal and environmental protection since 2010.

As COK’s Video Production Manager, Jonathan creates videos promoting the organization’s mission, including investigation and other campaign-related videos. His love for video started at a young age when filming extreme sports such as skateboarding and snowboarding.

While working on the video team at The Humane Society of the United States as an omnivore, he was inspired to fully embrace a vegan lifestyle in early 2014. After years of professional video production experience, he is very grateful to combine his passion for video with his love for animals and the environment.

With a desire to work at the intersections of social and environmental justice, Patrick joined Compassion Over Killing in 2016 as an Operations Associate.

He brings with him a background in project and operations management. He holds an MSc in Violence, Conflict and Development from SOAS, University of London and previously worked for a human rights organization in New Haven, Connecticut.

Jessica brings several years of experience in project coordination to the role of Office Manager. She began her professional career working at national non-profit organization supporting college access and success programs for low-income first-generation students.

Jessica officially became a vegan in January 2016, after gradually eliminating animal products from her diet beginning in 2011. She is committed to spreading the message that a plant-based cruelty-free lifestyle is best for our health, the planet, and the animals we share it with.

Irina works to protect farm animals through litigation and undercover investigations. A lifetime lover of animals, she became particularly passionate about farm animal issues in law school after watching documentaries about industrial agriculture. She interned at Compassion Over Killing the summer after her first year and joined the COK legal team in 2016.

She has a J.D. from Yale Law School and a B.A. from Yale University in Political Science and International Studies.

Chrissy discovered COK after having been a Systems Engineer for the Navy for three years. Since becoming vegan in April 2015, she had made the determination that advocating for animals through the role of Development Associate for COK is how she will make the biggest impact in the lives of the animals she cares so deeply about.

She will use her engineering management background to implement and track strategic development programs as well as bring COK's story and causes to the public and potential supporters.

Laura joined COK in 2017 as the Corporate Campaigns Manager, working to increase the availability of vegan options nationwide and bring about positive changes for animals in the meat, dairy, and egg industries.

A vegan since 2008, Laura has advocated for animals and the environment for nearly a decade and previously led successful campaigns for PETA and the Sierra Club. She also writes on animal issues for publications like One Green Planet and is on the Hampton Roads VegFest organizing committee. Laura has a Master of Science in Environmental Policy from the Johns Hopkins University.

Scott began cutting animal products out of his diet in 2010. After getting his master’s degree in Applied Ecology, he joined an afterschool education program where he taught students about animals and the environment. He then worked for two years as an undercover investigator for Compassion Over Killing.

Now retired from the field, he spends his time offering support to the current investigators.

Since 2017, Ryan has been our lead web designer and developer. Working closely with our IT Lead, Ryan builds and manages COK web properties with a strong emphasis on UX and strategy. He has built and managed websites for hundreds of global clients including celebrities, educational resources, financial institutions, and of course, nonprofits.

Aside from a long list of responsibilities at COK, Ryan is a partner with two boutique record labels who specialize in licensing. He's released the vinyl single "Built To Last" for activist/animal rights artist Rise Against, as well as a 2011 vinyl release for Syracuse vegan activist group, Earth Crisis.

With an extensive background in event planning and fundraising, Robin helps coordinate various special events at COK including the DC VegFest and our annual holiday celebration. Robin has been active with COK as a volunteer and team member for several years.

She has also worked at the Washington Humane Society and PETA, and she also currently volunteers with Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary to help organize the 5K Run for Animals.

Mary Beth joined the team at COK in 2016 to help shape branding and public relations initiatives and has since played a key role in garnering national press coverage for COK’s undercover investigations in The New York Times and USA Today.

Mary Beth brings to the table a passion for animal protection combined with extensive experience in producing dynamic and effective PR. She has created media-focused strategies for Fortune 500 companies, beauty and lifestyle brands, and celebrity partners.

As Special Events Volunteer, Elena helps plan a variety of events—from fundraisers to volunteer trainings.

Before joining COK, Elena worked on events and educational programs for a national cat protection nonprofit and for a retail corporation. She is now a vegan chef and caterer who uses her knowledge of vegan ingredients to offer cooking demonstrations to the public.

Lara has been designing for COK since 2005, bringing visual awareness and accessibility to the organization’s mission. She lays out Compassionate Action, our member magazine, as well as other printed pro-veg materials. She’s also created logos and developed the visuals for many of COK’s campaigns, collateral, and events including US VegWeek and the DC VegFest.

In addition to being passionate about animal rights, Lara also loves dance, yoga, photography, and travel.

A wizard of words, lover of all living things and vegan mac ‘n cheese master, Hannah Sentenac writes content for COK that helps spread the word about the benefits of a plant-based lifestyle.

Also the Editor-In-Chief and Founder of http://latestvegannews.com/, Hannah’s writing has appeared in Live Happy magazine, the Miami New Times, the Huffington Post, OneGreenPlanet.com, MindBodyGreen.com, and numerous other publications and websites.

Simone comes from Brazil where she teaches Developmental Psychology and founded ProAnima, an animal advocacy organization which worked on issues such as animal experiments, spay neuter campaigns, veganism and the use of animals in entertainment. In 2014, her organization succeeded in a ban on the use of horse-drawn carts in the capital. She has also collaborated with Brighter Green on a project on the environmental impact of animal agriculture in Brazil.

A passionate educator and intersectional activist, Simone transitioned from vegetarian to vegan after leafleting for COK in 2007. Now back in the DC area, she is excited to volunteer with Compassion Over Killing on a regular basis, helping with outreach, research, and wherever needed!