CSU Animal-Human Policy Center

Learn how topical pet flea and tick preventives impacts our water and our environment from Stephanie Hughes, a registered Chemical Engineer with 30 years of experience in water quality and regulatory compliance. Stephanie teaches at Santa Clara University and advises California municipalities. Since 2014, Stephanie has been evaluating less-toxic options to on-pet topical flea control due to water quality and public health concerns.

Join Dr. Nichole L. Nageotte (Community Research and Evaluation Manager) and Dr. Lynn Von Hagen (Africa Conservation Program Director) - both at the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance - talk about the important role zoos play in conservation.

Join us for a conversation with Oxford zoologist Tim Coulson about octopus biology, how predator-prey arms races have shaped life on Earth, and the challenges of human-wildlife coexistence following wolf reintroduction in the American West.

Learn from Dr Ana Davidson and Lindsey Sterling Krank about prairie dogs in the west. These keystone species are threatened by plague and unlimited shooting on public lands, but conservationists are working to stop these threats. 

Listen to AHPC co-director Becky Niemiec share her reflections on what we can learn from Dr Jane Goodall. 

Join us for a discussion with Dr Jo Hockenhull, the Head of Research at The Donkey Sanctuary, leading a team of dedicated researchers working to improve the lives of donkeys and their hybrids across the world. 

Join us in a discussion with Dr Sarah King about wild horses and burros in the Western United States. Learn how they are managed, why they are managed, and the complexity of achieving improved wild horse welfare.

Learn about the effort to stop Colorado's unlimited trapping and hunting of coyotes, foxes, bobcats and other "furbearers" in the state.Samantha works with the Center for Biological Diversity's Carnivore Conservation program. She handles carnivore issues nationwide with a focus on state-level progress. Samantha's career has included wildlife commission reform, political advocacy, and coalition building to advance carnivore policyacross the U.S. West. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from University California Riverside and a Master of Public Policy from Pepperdine University.

Join us as we talk to Noelle Webb about the personal risks, ethical dilemmas, and societal impact of whistleblowers who challenge powerful institutions in pursuit of accountability and justice.After a 30-year award-winning career in pharmaceuticalsales, Noelle Webb became a whistleblower in 2014, reporting illegal off-label marketing of pain medications and fraud against Medicare. During the ensuing decade of personal and professional upheaval, she found a new path training service dogs for veterans with PTSD, earning a MS in canine cognition. She shares her experiences and the resilience-building power of the human–dog bond in her forthcoming book, Leash of Courage (March 20, 2026).

Hear Drs. Gwendy Reyes-Illg and Jeff Hill talk about mass depopulation in animal agriculture, unpacking the policies behind it, the welfare consequences for animals, and the emerging alternatives shaping the next generation of agricultural regulation.

An inside look with Pamela Linden, MSW, PhD, the Interim Director of the Center for Veterinary Social Work at the University of Tennessee, at how veterinary social work bridges professions to support wellbeing, advance research, and strengthen the human–animal bond.

Learn from Emily Zepeda why urban coyotes show up where they do—and why parks, pathways, and landscape features matter far more than human demographics.

Learn what it takes to prosecute animal crimes with Jake Kamins, the animal cruelty resource prosecutor in the Oregon Department of Justice. 

Kristen Baltrum is the founder and Executive Director of Annie and Millie's Place, a non-profit dedicated to helping people experiencing homelessness keep their pets by providing resources, pet-friendly solutions, and advocacy, named inmemory of her sister Annie and her dog Millie, who faced homelessness together.

Learn from Shelly Fisher about the Animal-Assisted Wellness Garden, a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to promote healing, connection, and balance at a healthcare facility. Easily adaptable to other settings, including universities, the garden combines nature, animal interaction, and evidence-based design to create a restorative space where people can study,reflect, heal, and connect meaningfully with both animals and the natural world.

Learn from Brent Hershey, a pork producer who converted his operation away from gestation crates after Proposition 12 towards more humane pig housing systems, and who has been keeping track of the impacts of the change. 

Learn what it takes to protect carnivores around the world with Dr  Anthony Giordano, who is the founder, director, and Chief Conservation Officer at Species, the Society for the Preservation of Endangered Carnivores and their International Ecological Study

Join us as Dr. Philip Tedeschi explores the growing global movement to recognize animals as feeling, thinking individuals. From science and ethics to policy and personal choices, we unpack why animal sentience matters—and how it challenges us to build more compassionate relationships with all species. 

Join us to hear conservation psychologist and campaigner Stephanie Klarmann talk about South Africa’s controversial captive lion industry. She discusses the hidden realities of canned hunting, the commercial exploitation of big cats, and the movement to end this unethical trade. Additional information: Blood Lions website: ⁠https://bloodlions.org/⁠More info on industry myths: ⁠https://bloodlions.org/about-the-brutal-industry/debunking-industry-myths/⁠Wild Choices: ⁠https://www.wildchoices.org/⁠Stephanie's latest research paper on the impact of captive farming on wild populations: ⁠https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/15/2316

What happens when therapy leaves the clinic and steps into the barnyard? Clarissa Palmer examines how farm animals are being integrated into therapeutic settings, and the responsibilities that come with it. We explore welfare standards, informed consent, and the policies that can safeguard both animals and people in this emerging field.

Listen to Katie Kuehl and Natalie Rejto talk about the work of the One Health Clinic in Seattle, Washington—a collaborative initiative with the University of Washington’s Center for One Health Research. This innovative clinic recognizes that the bond between people and their pets is inseparable, especially for individuals experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. At the clinic, humans and animals receive care as an integrated family unit. The clinic’s interdisciplinary team provides medical, behavioral, and nutritional support while addressing overlapping challenges such as zoonotic disease and shared environmental risks.

Join us for a discussion about equine welfare issues in the horse racing industry and marketing animal protection with Michael Wilson, co-founder of Forza Bloodstock.

Learn about the fur farming industry and the efforts to stop it with PJ Smith and Haley Stewart from Humane World. 

Learn about current US federal efforts to protect animals with Steve Silverman, a law professor with 35 years of experience in agriculture, natural resources, and environmental law and policy at the highest levels of federal and state government.

Learn about social conflict over wildlife- what drives it, how it impacts wildlife, and what we can do about it- with Dr Mireille Gonzalez from the Center for Human Carnivore Coexistence.  Dr. Mireille Gonzalez is a social scientist and facilitatorfocused on wildlife conservation, conflict resolution, and helping people and animals share space more peacefully. She works with scientists, government agencies, NGOs, and communities to turn research into real-world solutions forhuman-wildlife coexistence.

Listen to Amy Johnson Binder, a researcher, practitioner, andeducator of animal assisted services and human animal interaction for over 20 years, discuss animal welfare within animal assisted services.

Learn about the principles of compassionate conservation and how they apply to wolf reintroduction and management with Dr Marc Bekoff.

Join us for a discussion with Dr. Stacy Lischka, a conservation social scientist, and Brenda Lee, founder and president of Colorado Bear Coalition, to learn about conflict and coexistence with bears.

Learn about efforts to increase access to shelter for peopleexperiencing homelessness with companion animals with Christine Kim from My Dog is My Home

Today we hear from Dr Crystal Heath, a shelter veterinarian and activist who has been working on the front lines to prevent suffering of the animals most overlooked in our society. Dr Heath is the executive director of Our Honor, which is a nonprofit organisation that supports veterinarians and animal professionals who face bullying and retaliation for voicing ethical concerns. In our conversation, we examine what it is like to speak up against powerful institutions perpetuating systems that normalize animal suffering. 

Learn about common misperceptions, resources, and solutions for keeping pets safe in extreme weather with Dr Ashley Etu. Check out AHPC here

Learn about research and policy efforts to create more pet inclusive housing and the impacts it could have on communities with Ross Barker.Check out the AHPC here

Learn about how  social and human service providers can incorporate concerns about pets with Dr. Janet Hoy-Gerlach.Check out the AHPC here

Learn about the plight of animals used in research, the federal Animal Welfare Act, and recent policies to better protect research animals with Aubyn Royall. Check out AHPC here

Learn more about how wildlife agencies make decisions about wildlife, and why we need new wildlife governance structures with Dr Michelle Lute from Wildlife for All. Learn more here. Check out the AHPC here

Learn more about conflict mitigation pertaining to animals - in divorces, with neighbors or with veterinary professionals with Debra Hamilton.Check out the AHPC here

Learn about the economic costs and benefits of wolf reintroduction in Colorado and beyond with Dr Dana Hoag, an agriculture economist.Check out AHPC here

Listen to Dr Lesa Staubus discuss the extreme confinement of pigs. Check out AHPC here

Learn about animal shelters with Dr. Claire Vaiden.Check out AHPC here

Learn about Veterinary Professional Associates (VPAs) and the new MS program at Colorado State University with Dr. Shari Lanning.Check out the AHPC here

Join Becky Niemiec and Claire Vaiden to learn more about the challenges faced by domestic horses in ColoradoCheck out the AHPC HERE