People
Meet the dedicated team of researchers, faculty, and students who make up the Animal Human Policy Center at Colorado State University.
Center Leadership
Dr. Rebecca (Becky) Niemiec (she/her)
Ph.D., Co-director of the CSU Animal Human Policy Center and Associate Professor
Dr. Niemiec is an Associate Professor in the Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Department at Colorado State University. She has served as the manager of the Bureau of Animal Protection for the state of Colorado, where she and her team addressed domestic animal mistreatment throughout the state. She has authored over 30 peer-reviewed scientific publications and has led stakeholder processes and conducted social science research focused on the human dimensions of conservation and animal protection. Dr. Niemiec has a PhD in Environment and Resources from Stanford University and B.A. in Ecology and Environmental Studies from Dartmouth College.
Dr. Lori Kogan (she/her)
Ph.D., Co-director of the Animal Human Policy Center and Professor of Clinical Sciences
Dr. Kogan is a Professor of Clinical Sciences at Colorado State University. She serves as the Chair of the Human-Animal Interaction section of the American Psychological Association and Editor-in-Chief of the Human-Animal Interaction journal, an open-access, online publication published by CABI. She publishes and presents regularly on topics related to human animal interactions in both psychology and veterinary medicine venues.
Research Consultants
Aubyn Royall (she/her)
J.D., Policy Researcher
Aubyn is a policy research consultant with the Animal Human Policy Center and an affiliate faculty with the Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Department at Colorado State University. She is also an attorney and Colorado State Director for Humane World for Animals (formerly the Humane Society of the United States). She has led more than a dozen animal welfare bills through coalition building, stakeholder collaboration, and legislative strategy. Aubyn has spent her career at the intersection of law and animal welfare policy, with particular expertise in drafting legislative language, building bipartisan support, and navigating the political landscape of agricultural states. She also serves as Board Chair for Southern Plains Land Trust, which stewards over 60,000 acres of preserves, and Colorado Nature League, a policy organization dedicated to protecting Colorado's native wildlife and plants.
Dr. Andrew Mertens (he/him)
Ph.D., M.A., M.S., Statistical Consultant and Data Scientist
Dr. Mertens is the statistical consultant and data scientist for the Animal Human Policy Center and a research data analyst and lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley. His methodological interests are in individual-participant data meta-analyses, causal inference, trial design, and replication and transparency in science. He obtained his PhD in Epidemiology, MA in Biostatistics, and MS in Environmental Health Science from the University of California, Berkeley.
Students
Oliver Lesher
Ph.D. Student, Human Dimensions of Natural Resources
Oliver is a Ph.D. student in the Human Dimensions of Natural Resources department at Colorado State University, bringing forward diverse experience in science communication, animal welfare, and psychology research. Before beginning graduate studies, Oliver attained a B.A from the University of Virginia and spent several years in psychology research and veterinary medicine, working in both general practice and specialized veterinary behavior care for underserved communities. This hands-on experience led to professional certifications in separation anxiety, aggression, and cooperative veterinary care, providing practical insights that now inform academic research at the intersections of the human-animal bond and service to underserved communities. Currently, Oliver does research on pet-friendly housing and pet-related program evaluations with the Animal Human Policy Center at Colorado State University, and serves PACT by performing house visits with clients and working with the administrative team.
Previous Research Consultants and Staff
Sara Remsen (she/her)
M.S., Technology Consultant
Sara has served as a technology consultant for the AHPC, advising on AI, data, and software product design initiatives. A repeat entrepreneur, she founded and scaled the AI analytics company Melodi and the augmented reality training company Waypoint. Sara earned an M.S. in Integrated Design & Management from MIT, where she was a research assistant at the MIT Media Lab, and a B.A. in Biology and Digital Arts from Dartmouth College. Beyond her professional work, she serves on the board of the nonprofit Biomimicry New England, volunteers with marine-mammal rescue, and is a regular guest speaker at MIT.
Dr. Claire Vaiden (she/her)
DVM, Consultant
Dr. Vaiden was a consultant for the AHPC, working on projects related to access to veterinary care, the human-animal bond, and animal cruelty/neglect cases. Dr. Vaiden graduated from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in 2014. Her passion for animal welfare began with running a student-led program that provided veterinary care to vulnerable populations in the local community and has continued through her roles as a general practitioner, shelter veterinarian, and forensic veterinarian. She moved to Colorado in 2016 with her now husband (also a veterinarian) and transitioned to shelter medicine in 2019. She loves serving her community by being a part of the safety net for Colorado's pet population.
Dr. Veronica Champine (she/her)
Former Research Scientist and Adjunct Professor (2023)
Dr. Champine was a research scientist for the CSU Animal Human Policy Center and Adjunct Professor in the Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Department in 2023. Over the last five years, Veronica has collaborated with local governments, nonprofits, businesses, and extension agencies around Colorado to study individual and collective action to support urban biodiversity conservation. Dr. Champine has a PhD in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources and Master's of Science in Conservation Leadership from Colorado State University and a B.A. in Psychology from University of California, Santa Barbara.