Valerie Sheppard, Association for Animal Welfare Advancement

Valerie Sheppard, Director of Professional Development & Credentialing at the Association for Animal Welfare Advancement (AAWA), joins Stacy to discuss what the AAWA is all about these days, including details on their Learning Center. Valerie created the Learning Center when she joined the AAWA in 2018, and it offers a variety of webinars (live and recorded) and online classes, most of which are free. Valerie wanted to make sure people from anywhere could access learning opportunities anytime instead of only having access to them at conferences, which aren't accessible to everyone. The AAWA is a membership-based organization, but many resources, including the Learning Center, are not limited to members. Members are anyone in the animal welfare world who sees themselves as a leader or emerging leader. The organization's goal is to help animal welfare professionals advance their careers and be the best they can be to help save more lives. The AAWA is also excited to announce its latest webinar series, which is a multi-year program in partnership with the Association of Shelter Veterinarians that will include webinars almost every month. To learn more, visit the AAWA website, or the Learning Center website. You can also email Valerie directly with questions about the AAWA's programs.