NAIA officers and board members

NAIA's board members are volunteers from a wide variety of animal fields, including dog and cat associations and sports, animal agriculture, rodeo, medical research, veterinary medicine, wildlife management and hunting associations, entertainment and education. They are distinguished and respected members of their respective communities and serve without compensation in support of NAIA’s mission and goals. We are honored by their service.

Thomas L. Albert, Attorney at Law
Tom Albert is Vice President of Government Relations for Feld Entertainment, Inc., parent company of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey ® and the Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation (CEC) a state-of-the-art breeding and conservation center in Florida, recognized and respected worldwide for their Asian elephant breeding program, the most successful program outside of Asia, with 20 Asian elephant births. Before joining Feld, Mr. Albert was in private practice in Washington, D.C., where he represented wildlife, natural resource, public lands and conservation issues before Congress and various federal and local regulatory bodies. Mr. Albert received his Juris Doctor cum laude from The American University - Washington College of Law. 

Sharon Beck
In addition to being a fourth generation cattle rancher in northeast Oregon, Sharon is the former president of Oregon Cattlemen's Association and the Oregon Agricultural Legal Foundation. She also headed the Endangered Species Committee for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and has been active on a number of state boards and committees dealing with natural resources. She now sits on the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Committee dealing with the potential migration of the Canadian gray wolf into Oregon, and co-chairs the Wolf Task Force for the Oregon Cattlemen's Association.

Nancy Campbell
Nancy started breeding hunting dogs with her family when she was ten years old. She has bred numerous AKC champions, including a Best in Show winning German Shorthaired Pointer who was ranked number one in her breed. She has also bred obedience, hunt test, agility and tracking title holders, and even a search and rescue dog. Nancy has twice been chair of the GSPCA rescue and has had more than 700 rescue dogs pass through her home during her 17 years in rescue. She is on the board of the GSPCA, and was a founding board member of the American Minor Breeds Conservancy and board member and president of The Association of Living History Farms and Agricultural Museums. Nancy has been a corporate director, professor of English and horsewoman.

John Connolly
John is a retired police chief and a life long purebred dog enthusiast, first as a breeder, then as a handler and now as an AKC dog show judge approved for all Working, Herding and Non Sporting breeds, plus Junior Showmanship. As someone who has been around long enough to observe and interpret trends, John is concerned about the growth of animal rights extremism, in particular restrictive legislation spawned by extremist factions, which limit pet ownership and responsible breeding.  John currently serves as the president of the American Boxer Club.

Anne Edwards, NAIA Secretary
Anne Edwards is a former high school mathematics and science teacher. In the early 1960's, while her husband Ray attended graduate school at MIT, she was a research assistant at the Harvard University Department of Chemistry. At Harvard, she raised and cared for laboratory animals and performed research in the use of radioactive tracers in cholesterol metabolism. The group leader received a Nobel Prize for this groundbreaking work. In her private life, Anne and her husband began breeding and showing St. Bernards in 1969, Persian cats in 1979, and Havana Brown cats in 2002. Anne is an officer, board member and webmaster for an animal welfare organization and is co-founder of the Missouri Federation of Animal Owners, Inc., where she is active in legislative issues affecting animal owners in Missouri.

Dr. Marty Greer, DVM
Dr Greer has run the Brownsville/Lomira Small Animal Clinic in Wisconsin since 1982, working extensively with clients who breed and compete with their dogs. She councils clients seeking assistance in making dog breeding decisions and frequently lectures on canine reproduction. In 2002, she opened the International Canine Semen Bank-Wisconsin, which allows breeders to preserve their dog’s semen for use at another time or a remote location. Considered a specialist in her field, Dr. Greer has contributed to pharmaceutical and nutritional research as an investigator for Abbott Laboratory, Deprenyl Animal Health, Pfizer Animal Health, and Hill's Pet food Corporation and was appointed to the Wisconsin Veterinary Examining Board. Dr. Greer is currently pursuing her law degree at Marquette University.

Donna Herzig, Attorney at Law
Donna Herzig has worn many hats throughout her multifaceted career, including teacher, business consultant and tax attorney while feeding a passion for breeding champion dogs. As part of a natural progression reflecting her legal background as well as her active involvement in the sport of pure bred dogs for over 27 years, Donna has served on numerous legislative policy and drafting committees. Her efforts have been focused on the issues surrounding the government-private ownership relationship of humans and animals with a commitment to honoring the human-animal bond and ensuring fair and non-discriminatory laws.   Donna has served as legislative chairman for the past 16 years for the Louisville Kennel Club and is directly involved in litigation challenging the constitutionality of a severely harmful ordinance passed in Louisville, Kentucky.

Dr. Larry S. Katz, President
As associate professor and chairman of the Department of Animal Sciences at Rutgers University, Dr. Katz is an accomplished scientist and published author. He studies the sexual and reproductive behavior of domesticated ruminants and certain species in the wild. He has worked extensively with state wildlife agencies on strategies for managing wildlife populations through understanding their reproductive systems. Dr. Katz received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and earned his Ph.D. in Animal Behavior from the University of California at Davis. He sits on the board of directors of the Foundation for Animal Use and Education. He is an outspoken advocate for biomedical research in print and broadcast outlets across the US, and his effectiveness in these appearances has made him a frequent target of animal rights harassment.

Sheila Lehrke
A lifelong love of animals led Sheila to her current position as coordinator of animal issues for the International Professional Rodeo Association. She also sits on the board of directors of Friends of Rodeo. Sheila learned about rodeo and the criticism it faces in urban centers from those who do not understand its traditions and its commitment to animal welfare. As a result, she now coordinates educational programs about the responsible care and training of rodeo animals for the public, the rodeo industry, the media and legislators.

Kenneth A. Marden
Ken is past president of the American Kennel Club, where his major accomplishments included the establishment of the canine legislative department and new performance events. He has been a member of the AKC board of directors for 17 years. Ken has bred and campaigned German Shorthaired Pointers for 40 years and has judged pointing breed field trials since 1966. A lifetime hunter and fly fisherman, he actively opposes unfair dog legislation and laws proposed by animal rights fanatics in their attempts to restrict hunting, fishing and trapping. He has a deep understanding of the negative consequences of animal extremism and terrorism on the lives of farmers and ranchers.

Dr. L. Gabriel Navar
Luis Gabriel Navar is a professor and chairman of the Department of Physiology at Tulane University School of Medicine. His distinguished career has focused on kidney function and the pathophysiology of hypertension. Dr. Navar has served on the editorial boards of several major specialty medical journals, including the American Journal of Physiology (Renal Fluid and Electrolyte), Kidney International, the American Journal of Kidney Diseases and the American Journal of Hypertension. Among his awards are the American Physiological Society's C.W. Gottschalk Distinguished Lectureship Award in 1997, the American Heart Association Scientific Council's Distinguished Achievement Award in 1999, and the Richard Bright Award from the American Society of Hypertension in 2002. He is past president of the American Physiological Society.

Cindy Schonholtz, NAIA Vice President
Cindy is the executive director of the American Youth Horse Council and long-time animal welfare consultant for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, the winner of the 2003 Lavin Cup animal welfare award that is presented by the American Association of Equine Practitioners to organizations that demonstrate exceptional compassion or develop and enforce rules and guidelines for the welfare of the horse. The PRCA was selected for the Lavin Cup because of its dedication to protecting the health of the animals that participate in its events. Cindy is a graduate of the University of Southwestern Louisiana and holds a bachelor's degree in business.

Dr. John Richard Schrock
Richard is professor and chair of the Department of Biological Sciences at Emporia State University. After teaching high school biology for 10 years, he earned his doctorate in entomology from the University of Kansas. He has directed the biology teacher training program at E.S.U. since 1986 and is editor of the Kansas School Naturalist and Kansas Biology Teacher. He likewise spends substantial time assisting teacher training programs in a China that is undergoing modernization. He defends appropriate animal use in education, working with researchers, school administrators, and businesses, as well as providing commentaries in newspapers and on radio.

Mark Schumacher
Mark is the developer of Discover Wild, a patented educational system teaching people how to use scientific principles to manage wildlife. An avid outdoorsman, Mark recognized the need for a balanced educational tool that could be used by schools and parks across America to counter the distortions fostered by animal fundraising groups. Today, more than 350 elementary schools are using Discover Wild.

Dr. Bob Speth
Bob is professor and chairman of the Pharmacology Department in the School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi. Since obtaining his Ph.D. in pharmacology at Vanderbilt University, Bob has studied brain receptors for neurotransmitters and hormones. He focuses on the hormone angiotensin, which causes hypertension. His research has shown that receptors for angiotensin in the brain are strategically located to stimulate nerves that act upon the cardiovascular system to raise blood pressure. Bob is also recognized as a resource on the ethics of animal research, and has written widely in support of the use of animals in biomedical research.

Sharon Steckler, Attorney at Law and CPA
Sharon is a licensed attorney in Texas, as well as a Certified Public Accountant. She is a member of the Fort Bend County Bar Association and is admitted to practice before the US Tax Court. As a long time animal welfare advocate, Sharon was a founder of the Houston Animal Welfare Coalition, and a spokesperson and advocate for the rights of responsible animal owners. Sharon is a member of numerous AKC clubs, where she serves in board and officer positions, including the American Boxer Club.

Patti Strand, NAIA National Director
Patti is a recognized expert and consultant on contemporary animal issues, most notably responsible dog ownership and the animal rights movement. She often appears on radio and television and her articles on canine issues, animal welfare, public policy and animal rights have appeared in major US news publications and in trade, processional and scientific journals. Patti and her husband Rod co-authored The Hijacking of the Humane Movement: Animal Extremism in 1993, the first US book exposing the extremism of the animal rights movement. Patti has been a Dalmatian breeder and enthusiast since 1969, is an approved AKC judge and has been a member of the AKC Board of Directors since 1995. She holds a degree in political science from Portland State University.

Holly Stump
Holly grew up on her grandfather’s horse farm, which was also the location of his veterinary practice. Holly’s exposure to animals throughout her life precipitated strong support of responsible animal use and the welfare of animals.  It also fostered an interest in biology that led her to a career in Biotechnology. Holly’s first dog was a street find that was probably an American Staffordshire Terrier, a breed that both she and her mother continue to cherish, breed and show. Holly’s loyalty to this breed thrust her into the legislative arena where she has fought breed specific legislation (BSL) since the mid 1990’s. Holly works with therapy animals, is a member of many AKC clubs and is a provisional evaluator for the American Temperament Test Society.

Dr. Edward Walsh
Ed Walsh is the director of the Developmental Auditory Lab at Boys Town National Research Hospital and a professor in the Biomedical Sciences Department of the Creighton University Medical School in Omaha, Nebraska. His research interests include two basic disciplines: developmental neurobiology and animal bioacoustics. The central themes of these interests are congenital deafness and the development of accoustical conservation protocols to reduce extinction pressures facing certain endangered species.

NAIA Advisory Board

Norma Woolf: Editor Emeritus
Norma Woolf has been an integral part of the NAIA communications team since our inception. She wrote and edited numerous articles and was a guiding force in our development. NAIA is forever thankful to Norma, who continues to write for us on a limited basis. Please visit the Woolf's excellent compendium on all issues relating to dogs and dog ownership here: Dog Owners' Guide.

Dennis Foster, Lt. Col. (retired)
Retired from the US Army, Lt. Col. Foster is the executive director of Master of Foxhounds Association. He is an avid horseman, an internationally recognized expert in the tactics of the animal rights movement and an award-winning author whose articles have appeared in US, European and Canadian publications. He has testified before the US Congress and as an expert witness in court cases and legislative hearings, often dealing with issues such as habitat, and hunting with hounds.

Fr. Michael Manning, MD
Fr. Manning practiced Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology for 13 years before entering seminary to prepare for ordination to the Roman Catholic priesthood. He is the author of a book condemning physician-assisted suicide, a regular columnist for the Diocese of Trenton's weekly newspaper and the pastor of St. William the Abbot Church in Howell, NJ. Father Manning is the coordinator of the Respect Life Ministries for the Diocese of Trenton and devotes much of his pastoral time defending the unique sanctity of human life from those who would place all living beings on the same spiritual plane. He lectures in bioethics and ethics and teaches courses in bioethics, spirituality and healing at the graduate level.

Adrian Morrison, DVM, PhD
Dr. Adrian Morrison was a founding member of NAIA and one of its first presidents. Adrian earned his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 1960 from Cornell University. Soon after earning his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, he began to focus his post-doctoral reserach efforts on the mechanisms of sleep. He has published more than 110 papers on sleep-related topics and has edited five books. Adrian has been the recipient of awards from a host of organizations: these include the Distinguished service Award from the Society for Neuroscience in 1990 and the Scientific Freedom and Responsibility Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1991. He has distinguished himself worldwide as a scientist and as a champion for biomedical research and for all others who responsibly utilize animals.