Senior Staff

The Washington Animal Rescue League is staffed by a team of compassionate professionals who are dedicated to the care, rehabilitation, and placement of forgotten, abused, and abandoned animals.

Senior Staff:

.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), DVM, MPH, CAWA, President and Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Gary Weitzman has more than 20 years of experience in veterinary medicine and animal welfare, and currently chairs the DC Board of Veterinary Medicine. He was appointed director of the League’s Medical Center in 2004 and became CEO in 2008.  During Dr. Gary’s tenure at the League, it has become a national resource for disaster and puppy mill rescues and a recognized leader in animal physical and behavioral rehabilitation.  A veterinarian with extensive training in international public health, Dr. Weitzman has worked in the non-profit sector for years in both human and animal public health.  A proponent of collaboration between animal welfare groups, the League has become a major resource for other shelters.  Aside from his duties as CEO, Dr. Gary remains a practicing clinician at the League, as well as weekly commentator for The Animal House, National Public Radio’s newest program exploring the latest in animal science, pet health, behavior, and wildlife conservation.

.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), Chief Development Officer
Rob Blizard serves as the League’s Chief Development Officer, working on all fundraising programs of the League with three additional members of the Development Office staff.  He has worked in fundraising with other charities, including the Humane Society of the United States and George Washington’s Mount Vernon, as well as in corporate marketing positions at Marriott and MCI. He has published numerous articles on nonprofit fundraising and holds an MBA from the Wharton School and a BA from the University of Virginia.

.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
Susan Coe Brown joined the League in 2006, bringing extensive experience in nonprofit finance and administration from positions at One Economy Corporation, the Kennedy Foundation and the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, among others.  She is a graduate of Trinity College in Connecticut and the Web Master program at Portland State University in Oregon.

.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), Chief Operations Officer
Mary has over 10 years experience in the animal welfare field. She is a former trainer for a service and therapy dog training organization in the DC metro area. She was also a board member of the PGSPCA where she developed their intake process and rejuvenated their adoptions program.  She came to the League in 2007 as our Behavior and Training Manager leaving behind the corporate world of engineering where she had 25 years of business experience.  She now oversees our adoptions and intake, shelter, humane education and volunteer programs. 

.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), Chief Communications Officer
Jim Monsma has been involved in animal sheltering since 1992 and has served in a number of capacities. He joined the League’s communications department in 2006 as Chief Communications Officer. The communications team manages the Web site, media relations, PR, marketing, internet and print communications. He holds degrees from Haverford College and Yale University.

.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), DVM, Medical Director
Dr.Jan Rosen graduated from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1989.  She worked in private practice for 16 years. At the same time, she volunteered her medical services at a local shelter and surgical services in feral cat spay/neuter clinics. In 2003, she joined the League as Senior Staff Veterinarian in order to fulfill her original goal of reducing the suffering of stray animals. In 2008 she became the Medical Center Director.

.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), Director of Behavior and Training
Michelle Yue, a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, and AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, has worked with hundreds of dogs in the Washington, DC area.  At the League, she has developed and run several programs, including the Open Paw Program, the WARL Certified Dog Trainer Program, and the Reactive Dog Class series. Michelle also runs her own business, Good Dog DC, LLC, for private clients. She lives with her 6–year-old corgi/spaniel mix and a rotating stream of “visiting” foster dogs.

.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), Director of Humane Education
Debbie Duel came to the League in April 2008 to run a classroom-based education program.  She has 20 years of experience in humane education—leading classroom programs, workshops, teacher trainings and conferences.  She helped launch the Humane Society of the US’s First Strike™ Campaign, an animal cruelty/human violence connection awareness program. She has published several children’s books with humane themes. Debbie has a Masters degree in education.

.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), Shelter Director
Maureen Sosa came to the League in December 2003 as a volunteer. She moved into a full-time position in the kennels, became the adoptions manager, and then managed the medical care of shelter animals. As Shelter Director she oversees all shelter operations. She attended Maryland College of Art and Design.

.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), Director of Human Resources and Administration
Stephanie White-Jones started with the League in April 2008, bringing with her nine years of experience in human resources from nursing facilities. She received her Masters of Science degree in Organization & Management with a specialization in Human Resources in March 2007.