Meet Our Team

Leah Edgerton

Executive Director

Leah has been involved in the effective altruism community since 2011 and has been an animal advocate her whole life. From 2015–2017, she was an integral part of ACE’s communications team, building up our social media channels, growing the reach of our email list, and helping to plan and launch our website redesign. From 2017–2019, she worked at ProVeg International, one of ACE’s Standout Charities. In her role as ProVeg’s Strategy and Internationalization Manager, she conceptualized and grew the China Programme from scratch and coordinated with external academics to conduct experimental research on meat reduction interventions. She also worked with the executive team to support ProVeg’s strategic planning, international growth strategy, and internal communication systems. She returned to ACE’s team as Executive Director in February 2019.

Sofia Davis-Fogel

Managing Director

Sofia joined the ACE team in 2015 as Special Programs Manager, in which capacity she organized ACE’s first research symposium on effective animal advocacy. In early 2017 Sofia moved to the research team, where she worked as a content and copy editor. In her role as Research Editor, Sofia gained a deep familiarity with ACE’s research and workflow processes. She worked closely with each of ACE’s departments, facilitating intra- and interdepartmental projects until she officially moved into the role of Managing Director. Sofia received her B.A. from New York University, where she was among the first students to graduate from their Animal Studies Initiative.

Melissa Guzikowski

Managing Editor

Melissa first joined ACE as a content and copy editor during the 2017 charity evaluation process. Shortly thereafter, she began an eight-month internship with The Humane League, where she worked as head of the New Media Research Team. In July 2018, she rejoined ACE as a research intern. After working closely with the research department for several months, she moved into the role of Managing Editor. Melissa’s academic background is in cultural anthropology and romance languages. Prior to getting involved in effective altruism, she worked as an English teacher in Spain for several years.

Research

Toni Adleberg

Director of Research

In her role as director of research, Toni is committed to building the body of evidence pertaining to the impact of animal charities and interventions. She has a master’s degree in philosophy, with a focus on moral psychology and philosophy of cognitive science. She joined ACE in May 2016 and has written about ACE’s philosophical commitments and use of cost-effectiveness estimates, among other projects. She became ACE’s director of research in 2018.

Krystal Caldwell

Researcher

Krystal joined the ACE staff in January 2018 after having been a research intern in 2015. She co-founded Animal Welfare Action Lab, and worked at Mercy For Animals for over two years as a data analyst. Krystal is eager to conduct ambitious and boundary-pushing research at ACE that will innovate how technology is used in animal advocacy. She holds a master’s degree in Environment and Sustainability and a B.A. (Honors) in Psychology.

Sydney Heiss

Researcher

Sydney joined ACE in May 2018. She has a background in experimental research, having completed her bachelor’s degree in psychology at Rutgers University and her master’s degree in psychology at The State University of New York at Albany. She is currently in the process of completing a Ph.D. program in clinical psychology. Prior to beginning her research career, Sydney worked as a cook at a variety of vegan eateries, including The Cinnamon Snail in New York City.

Jamie Spurgeon

Research Associate

Jamie joined the ACE team as a Research Associate in July 2017. He earned a first class Master’s degree in physics from the University of Nottingham in 2016, and following his subsequent exposure to the ideas of effective altruism, decided to change career direction. In his time at ACE, he has focused on making improvements to the quantitative aspects of the charity evaluation process and handles any research-related inquiries that ACE receives. He is also one of the Fund Managers for the EA Animal Welfare Fund.

Kathryn Asher

Research Scientist

After several years working as an EAA researcher, Kathryn joined ACE in July 2017 as the lead of the Experimental Research Division. She has a PhD in Sociology from the University of New Brunswick where she was a Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Doctoral Scholar and also spent time as a visiting scholar at NYU in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies. Her dissertation focused on the role of dietary choices, perceptions, and experiences in changing meat consumption patterns in the U.S. Kathryn also holds a Master in Environmental Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Human Rights and Political Science. She currently has an appointment as an Honorary Research Associate in the Department of Sociology at the University of New Brunswick. Prior to getting involved in effective altruism, she worked as a researcher and evaluator for a social planning council where she focused on topics such as homelessness, child poverty, vulnerable neighborhoods, and affordable housing.

Samantha Berscht

Research Fund Program Officer

Samantha joined ACE in late 2017 after many years of volunteering with animal-focused organizations. She holds a bachelor’s degree in cellular biology and a master’s degree in educational research, both from the University of Calgary. Samantha is passionate about advancing animal welfare through policy change and implementation as well as through the development of cultured and plant-based meat. She recently fulfilled her lifelong dream of meeting Jane Goodall.

Aaron Call

Research Associate

Aaron studied psychology at Reed College, after which he went to work at UCLA as a research associate investigating how to increase the efficacy of treatments for substance abuse. He has also worked as a teacher in the U.S. and Taiwan and holds a master’s degree in education from Harvard University. Prior to joining ACE as a research associate in June 2018, he taught at a charter school in Portland, Oregon where he created a vegan cooking class for middle school students.

Communications

Erika Alonso

Director of Communications

With over a decade of management experience and a background in visual arts, Erika brings a strategic and creative perspective to Animal Charity Evaluators. Erika combines expertise in digital marketing, strategic communications, and design with a long-term commitment to animal advocacy. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Houston where she majored in marketing. Erika joined ACE in April of 2014.

Sydne Daniels

Social Media Coordinator

Sydne joined the ACE team in May 2018. She is a communications professional with expertise in social media and digital marketing, and possesses a keen interest in visual communications. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University, where she studied public relations. Sydne enjoys combining her strategic and creative skills in order to further elevate ACE’s brand and communicate its mission to broader audiences across digital platforms.

Becca Imrich

Graphic Designer

Becca joined ACE in November 2016. She has experience working within the education departments of arts-focused nonprofits and museums including The Phillips Collection and Aperture Foundation. She is based in San Francisco and is pursuing a dual master’s degree (MFA/MA in Visual and Critical Studies) at California College of the Arts. She is excited to combine her creative strengths and her interest in animal welfare to communicate ACE’s findings to a broader audience through designing their printed and online materials.

Kim Ebel

Data Analyst

Kim joined ACE as a data analyst in July 2018. Their academic background includes mathematics, vocal performance, and gender studies, and they hold a bachelor’s degree from East Carolina University. Their work experience includes over two decades of volunteer and paid nonprofit experience, as well as operations, management, and data positions in both the public and private sectors. Kim is thrilled to be working for ACE in the field of effective animal advocacy.

Rana Ejtehadian

Web Developer

Rana joined ACE as a Web Developer in early 2018. She has a passion for web development and a keen interest in design, user experience, and web technologies. Rana holds a bachelor’s degree in Telecommunication Engineering from King’s College London and a master’s degree in Communications Engineering from Helsinki University of Technology. She is excited to use her skills to improve animal welfare and contribute to creating a better world for everyone.

Philanthropy

Heather Herrell

Philanthropy Manager

Heather joined ACE in May 2018, continuing her professional career in the nonprofit sector. A lifelong animal advocate and donor, Heather is committed to creating a more compassionate world. She is thrilled to be able to use her fundraising expertise in a context where these skills can help achieve the greatest impact for animals.

Operations

Gina Stuessy

Director of Operations

Gina has been involved in animal advocacy since 2010, and was the lead coordinator of Mad City Vegan Fest, which attracted 3,500 attendees the last year she organized it (2016). She’s involved in the effective altruism movement: she co-founded a local EA group, and helped organize an EAGx event. Gina joined ACE in April 2016 and does finances, HR, assists with donation processing, and helped organize the 2017 Research Workshop on Effective Animal Advocacy.

Interns

Caroline Beret

Communications Intern

Caroline joined ACE as a communications intern in October 2018. She holds a master’s degree in the history of science, technology & medicine and a bachelor’s degree in media studies. Caroline has been involved with the effective altruism movement since 2014, and is dedicated to reducing animal suffering through compassionate advocacy.

Kale Risdale

Research Intern

Kale joined ACE as a research intern in October 2018. Her professional background includes work in research, program development and evaluation, and project management for nonprofits within the social impact space. She holds an MA in philosophy from University College Dublin with a focus on embodied cognition, and a BASc in nutrition and food science from Ryerson University. Kale is interested in evaluation and effectiveness research and is excited to explore these topics as they relate to animal advocacy.

Victoria Schindel

Research Intern

Victoria joined ACE in September 2018. She holds a B.S. in Biological Sciences and an M.S. in Green Economics. Her master’s dissertation examined the impact of environmental attitudes on meat consumption behavior. She has a particular interest in dietary change and farmed animal welfare advocacy. She is excited to use her skill set to help find the most effective ways to reduce animal suffering. Victoria is currently based in Bournemouth on the South Coast of England.

Katherine Lundevall

Research Intern

Katherine joined ACE as a research intern in January 2019. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Environment and Economic Development from the London School of Economics and has a background in projects involving sustainability, hydroponics, and project impact evaluation. She aims to contribute to animal advocacy by developing her interests in effective altruism, impact assessment, and sustainable food systems.

Mary Light

Research Intern

Mary joined ACE as a research intern in January 2019. She holds a Master of Liberal Arts in Sustainability and Environmental Management from Harvard Extension School and recently completed her Master of Science degree in Ecological Economics at the University of Leeds. Her thesis was a qualitative analysis of farm animal welfare within U.S. and international policies, including agriculture, public health, and trade. Mary hopes to apply her research skills to this field, with the aims to improve the well-being of farm animals and create a more just food system for all.

Matt Lertora

Research Intern

Matt joined ACE in January 2019 as a research intern. He has given numerous talks promoting a compassionate diet and has participated in the organization of vegan cooking workshops in Uruguay. He holds an engineering degree in informatics from the Buenos Aires Institute of Technology (ITBA). Matt is passionate about using evidence and reason to reduce as much suffering as possible.

Tejas Pandey

Research Intern

Tejas joined ACE as a research intern in January 2019. He completed his undergraduate studies in electrical engineering from BITS, Pilani and has a Masters in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin. Tejas has a background in building data-driven analysis and insights.