Meet the Team

Gelane started her Wolf Haven journey as a volunteer in 2021. She helped out in animal care while also training to be a visitor guide for the education department. But before she could start as a guide, she was hired to be an animal care staff member! Throughout her childhood, Gelane’s grandparents took her on adventures to national parks, nature preserves, and various animal sanctuaries which shaped the way her passions for nature and animals grew. She holds a B.S. from The Evergreen State College and when she’s not at work, Gelane enjoys photography, video games, and spending time with her pets.

Emily was born and raised on the island of Kaua’i and grew up with a deep appreciation for nature and culture. While earning her B.A. in Communication Arts from Allegheny College, she volunteered for animal organizations across the United States, Thailand, and Israel. She also spent several years working for the Glacier National Park Conservancy in Montana before coming to Wolf Haven in 2021, where she is responsible for designing, developing, and managing all of the organization's print & digital media projects. In her free time, Emily is a local dance instructor and fiber artist.

A self-taught farmer with extensive experience in animal husbandry, Paige has always believed in lifelong care and respect for animals. It’s a belief that drew her to Wolf Haven after spending a decade working in small farm management and therapeutic animal programs. In her role, Paige supports both animal care and facility operations at Wolf Haven’s McCleery Ranch sanctuary in Montana - applying the same compassion and dedication she once gave her farm animals.

Heather is a Pacific Northwest native who initially studied Early Childhood Education, but she often longed to return to her childhood dream of working with animals. She spent five years working at a veterinary clinic and discovered Wolf Haven shortly after moving to Olympia. Heather was honored to join the staff in 2006 and continues to be inspired every day by the dedication of Wolf Haven members, sponsors and donors. She is responsible for maintaining the organization’s donor database and manages the membership/sponsorship program.

Judah grew up on a dairy farm in rural Virginia. He first visited Wolf Haven in 2018, instantly fell in love with the organization, and began volunteering. Despite growing up in the historic range of the American Red Wolf, his first experience seeing one was at Wolf Haven and now his passion for America’s only endemic wolf is unwavering. After being hired in 2019 to work in the Visitor Center, Judah spent some time assisting the animal care team, which later led him to transfer to animal care work full-time. Judah holds an M.S. in Organismal Biology.

Born in Mexico City, Pam came to Washington after earning her degree in Wildlife Biology. In 2013, she joined Wolf Haven as an animal caregiver and liaison for Mexican wolf conservation efforts. Today, she currently serves as the organization’s Sanctuary Director and Secretary for the binational Mexican Wolf SAFE program. When she’s not providing daily care to the sanctuary residents, Pam enjoys spending time with her canines (Chaiya and Eli) and felines (Mochi, Kokoro, and Papas); meditating; reading a book with a cup of coffee; or enjoying a good film, local beer, and popcorn at Olympia’s Capitol Theater.

Kelley joined Wolf Haven’s team in 2022, driven by a desire to contribute his skills to an organization with a mission he deeply believes in. He was drawn to Wolf Haven’s incredible commitment to wildlife conservation and advocacy, and saw an opportunity to apply his experience in accounting to support and strengthen this important work. Since then, Kelley has continued to grow within the organization, helping to refine financial systems, improve operational efficiency, and ensure transparency and accountability in all financial matters, all while supporting a cause that aligns with his personal values.

When Dan began volunteering at Wolf Haven in 2015, he never imagined where it’d take him. After working 20+ years in the golf industry, and one year as a Wolf Haven volunteer, Dan was hired to help in the Visitor Center and assist animal care. For several years, he served in a variety of roles but always enjoyed caring for the wolves the most. In 2022, Dan became a full-time member of the animal care team and continues to aid in the maintenance of the sanctuary and daily care of its residents.

As Wolf Haven’s Administrative Assistant, Irina is incredibly grateful to all the amazing donors whose contributions she has had the honor to process. Irina joined the team in 2022 following her family’s move to Washington from southern California, where she worked at the Festival of Arts for over a decade. When Irina was looking for employment, her daughter, Marina (who works in wildlife conservation), inspired her to protect animals and start contributing to an organization whose mission resonates with her… which led her to Wolf Haven! Irina holds degrees in Psychology and Accounting.

Faye was introduced to Wolf Haven as a young animal lover. After her first visit, a spark was lit and wolves have been a large part of her life ever since. Faye earned a B.S. in Wildlife Ecology at Washington State University and stayed connected to the wildlife field as a horticulturist and groundskeeper. A few years later, after earning her master’s in Environmental Education, an internship with Wolf Haven’s education department led her to volunteer and eventually work full-time as the Education Manager. Faye attempts to live a sanctuary life and share that mindset with others in and out of work.

Jessica started as a Wolf Haven volunteer in 2013, shortly after moving to Washington from Arizona. In 2021, she became the organization’s Volunteer Coordinator. Jessica has a B.A. in Digital Photography, is a Certified Interpretive Guide, and a Leave No Trace trainer with over 15 years of experience managing people in the hospitality & retail industries. Since discovering Wolf Haven, the sanctuary’s unique ethos has been a guiding force in her life and allows her to balance her love of animals and nature with her passion for working with people.

Amy is a wildlife conservation biologist with 25 years of experience in scientific research and community engagement across the United States, Caribbean, Latin America, and Africa. A native of western Washington, she has been a passionate naturalist in the area since childhood. Amy holds a Ph.D. in Primate Behavioral Ecology and has worked extensively with wild primates, birds, and otters. She joined Wolf Haven in 2021 and is involved with both wolf and prairie conservation. Amy also serves on Washington’s Wolf Advisory Group and directs Wolf Haven’s Wolf Wise Communities program.

Danielle grew up in Olympia, Washington and became an intern at Wolf Haven in 2019. She always had a passion for large carnivores and developed a new passion for farm animals in college. She worked at various farms throughout her college years and worked at a local zoo post-graduation. In 2023, she joined Wolf Haven’s staff as a part-time Education Outreach Specialist, and in 2025, accepted the additional role of Membership & Visitor Assistant. Danielle has a drive for learning and enjoys sharing her passion for large carnivores with those around her.

Brandon grew up in the Pacific Northwest and became Wolf Haven’s Facilities Coordinator in 2023. He worked at a variety of places during college but never thought he would end up working for a wildlife sanctuary as unique as Wolf Haven. At work, Brandon’s goal is to keep everything animal-centric and in line with our sanctuary principles. He also continually strives to improve the human experience with as little disruption to the residents of the sanctuary and local wildlife as possible. Brandon has a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Saint Martin’s University.

Cristina grew up with a fascination for animals, but wolves are the species that started it all. A high school internship at the Endangered Wolf Center in Missouri led Cristina to pursue a B.S. in Zoology from Washington State University and aid in wolf research in eastern Washington. She later earned an M.S. in Biology with a focus in animal behavior. Although Cristina went on to work with primates and mole-rats, the call of the wolves drew her to Wolf Haven. She began as a volunteer in 2023 and became the Visitor Center Coordinator in 2025.

Evan grew up in the Pacific Northwest and has spent his life exploring and appreciating its natural beauty. He is a double graduate from The Evergreen State College, holding both a bachelor’s and master’s in Public and Nonprofit Administration, with a focus in public policy. Evan has been a professional fundraiser since 2018 and has served on nonprofit boards throughout the South Sound since 2015, helping advance their missions through strategic leadership and resource development. He joined Wolf Haven in 2023, uniting his passion for nature conservation with his fundraising experience.

Gina came to Wolf Haven as a volunteer in 2020 and later completed an internship in 2023 that paved the way for her current role. As the Development Coordinator, she demonstrates her tenacity for grant writing and event planning to support Wolf Haven’s mission. Drawn to the organization for its advocacy in wildlife and habitat preservation, Wolf Haven represents everything Gina sought in a local nonprofit — plus, it offers the most bucolic work setting one could ask for. She holds a B.S. in Communications from Ohio University.

Geoff feels incredibly lucky to partner with Wolf Haven staff to care for the sanctuary’s wolves and find practical ways for humans to coexist with wild wolves. Prior to Wolf Haven, Geoff led creek restoration and erosion control projects on cattle ranches to help landowners conserve their properties; directed an ecological research center at University of California Santa Barbara; designed science education programs at the California Academy of Sciences; and devoted his master's degree work to the mitigation of wolf-livestock conflicts on livestock ranches in areas of recent wolf repopulation.