Board Members

John's first word in this life was “rabbit,” and he has been an animal person and a student of the human-animal interrelationship ever since. When not tending to stray, injured, or confused critters John followed a path in business. He was a vice president and publisher with Affinity Group, Inc., producers of magazines and books relating to recreation. John is past president and board member of the Western Publications Association, and a founding member of Professional Small Business Investment Co., a federally chartered SBIC. He was chairperson of RV Care, Inc., a recreation vehicle dealer coalition, has served on several RV industry committees and is the current chair of an industry task force focusing on improving customer satisfaction with the RV product. John lives in Northern California with his wife Gina, magical dogs Lani and Vajra, and wise cats Yoda and Spunky. All of these housemates (except Gina), were once homeless but quickly adapted to being treated as royalty.

L. Niki Erlenmeyer-Kimling, a life-long animal lover, is a Professor in the departments of Psychiatry and of Genetics and Development at Columbia University School of Medicine in New York City. She received a BS degree in Experimental Psychology, and a PhD in that field with a minor in Population Genetics from Columbia. She also received an honorary Doctorate of Science from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Purchase. She has recently completed longitudinal research, on people at high genetic risk to schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Niki joined the Board of Directors of ASI in 2005. With impending retirement as Chief of the Department of Medical Genetics at the New York State Psychiatric Institute, she looks forward to more time for active participation (beyond donating) in some of the many animal and environmental groups in which she has long held membership. Her four cats--Ra, Coco, Bianca, and Danny--keep her company but spend part of their time looking out the window at the 13 "outside" cats who have an insulated 3-story palace on the kitchen-porch and an equally well-insulated bungalow near the front door. Niki cherishes the memory of the wonderful cats (and occasional rescued dogs) who shared their lives over the years with her and her late husband, Carl.

Ann A. Philips is a former therapist and teacher of literature with graduate degrees in Russian Literature and in Counseling. She practiced as an individual, family and couples therapist and college counselor in Maine for fifteen years before moving to Maryland. Ann has cared for many animals including orphaned skunks, rats, and a cockfighting escapee. She conducted home checks for the Maryland Partnership for Animal Welfare, transports injured wildlife to rehabilitation, and fosters dogs. As an educator in the Reptile Discovery Center at the National Zoo, she taught visitors greater awareness of reptile and amphibian behavior and the threats to their existence, and conducted research focused on enrichment of zoo habitat. Ann volunteered in many capacities for PsyETA, from editing journal articles to helping to develop and market the slide show which became the Culture of Violence video. Currently she is a Court Appointed Special Advocate for abused and neglected children and writes fiction for young people. Her recent middle-grade novel is posted at believeinmermaids.net. Ann has one daughter, one son, and one grandson and holds an MA from Harvard and an MS from the University of Southern Maine.

Jerry Simonelli is an attorney in the Washington, DC area whose career background includes government service and business. After law school, Jerry served as legislative assistant to a top ranking U.S. Congressman and then was elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives where he served on the Finance, Environment and Government Administration Committees. His legal practice has been in tax and business and his legal writings have been published in the New York Bar Journal, District Lawyer and Case and Comment. Jerry’s animal protection activities include membership on the Animals and Society Institute’s Board since 2004, membership on the DC Bar Animal Law Committee and as a member of the Advisory Board of Jazzpurr Society for Animal Protection. His article, "Non-Violence and The Animal Rights Movement," has been published in American Vegan and also on the websites of the Animal Legal & Historical Center at Michigan State University law school and Animals’ Voice. He is currently involved in developing federal animal protection legislative strategies including farm animal legislation and an effort to invigorate the Congressional Friends of Animals Caucus.

Tom Regan is emeritus professor of philosophy at North Carolina State University and author of The Case for Animal Rights and Empty Cages.