Anna started her career in the non-profit sector as the Site Director for the West Oakland branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland. She and her staff were embedded in the close-knit community, and provided a safe space for over 300 children between the ages of 6-18 years to learn, play, and grow in their after-school program. After about six years, Anna decided to explore other interests, which led her into the world of education. Anna started as a “flex” teacher, but quickly realized that teaching was something she was truly passionate about. She got her multiple-subject teaching credential and spent the next 17 years in education. Anna devoted the first ten of those years teaching elementary grade levels. She then moved into teaching middle and high school, and spent the last four of them in school administration as the Dean of Students at an art school in Oakland.

About five years ago, Anna began dedicating what spare time she had outside of work and family to volunteering in the animal welfare industry. She began at a private rescue based in Oakland, helping out with daily animal care at the sanctuary and adoption events that took place around the Bay Area. This helped Anna connect with other individuals who share her same philosophy and goals around seeking preventative solutions to support animals in need. Anna is of a firm mindset that the key to truly making a difference in animal rescue is to keep pets out of shelters in the first place. Although this is no small feat, Anna is committed to empowering pet owners and equipping them with the knowledge and resources needed to keep pets with their guardians and out of shelters.

Anna lives in Oakland with her husband, Kyle, with whom she has raised two adopted children, Elise and Billy, and two rescue dogs, Jolene and Jackson. In her free time, Anna enjoys playing tennis, traveling, hiking, chess, learning guitar and Spanish, and cheering for the Golden State Warriors, A's, and Oakland Roots.