CENTRAL POINT, OR – On January 24th during Dogs for Better Lives’ (DBL) quarterly National Board of Directors’ meeting, the board unanimously approved new member Emily Nelson.
With this appointment, DBL’s national board has grown to 18 members. Outside of seven representatives from across Oregon, the national board includes members residing in eight other states across the country, including California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts (2), Minnesota, North Carolina (2), New York, and Washington (2).
Emily Nelson and her rescue dog, Decker.
“The Board of Directors are pleased to welcome Emily Nelson onto DBL’s National Board,” stated Board Chairman David Hollingsworth. “With her extensive background in law and human resources, Emily will quickly help to augment DBL’s national board and its growing northeast presence. Growing up and now living in Massachusetts, her community networks and contacts will further support the important growth DBL is focused on in New England and along the east coast.”
Emily Nelson, a lifelong dog lover and New England native, recently returned to the Boston area where her family lives and she is excited to be a part of this growing national nonprofit.
“As DBL further advances its regional and national reach, community partnerships, volunteer and donor engagement, and client experience have been and will continue to be critical to our success,” stated President & CEO Bryan Williams. “From committee participation to regional networking, Emily will play a crucial role in helping to further advance DBL as a national leader in the Assistance Dog world.”
Emily Nelson
Emily Nelson graduated from Harvard University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, then earned her law degree from Boston College Law School. She has practiced law for over 10 years and specializes in labor and employment law, spending the last several years working as in-house counsel for national corporations.
Through this work, she has seen the incredible value that Assistance Dogs can provide in the workplace and more broadly in daily life. Along with her in-house practice, Emily provides pro bono legal services for survivors of domestic violence and serves as a volunteer alumni interviewer for Harvard.
After living in Austin, Texas, where she worked at the headquarters for Whole Foods Market, Emily returned to the Boston area with her beloved rescue dog, Decker, an American Village Dog/Catahoula Leopard Dog mix. Emily is an avid reader and is passionate about fitness and the outdoors, including playing tennis and finding new hiking trails with her dog.
“It is incredible how many unique ways dogs can bring joy, comfort, and help to humans,” stated Emily. “I am thrilled to help expand DBL’s East Coast presence and new center in Massachusetts and to help further its wonderful mission of enhancing the lives of both humans and dogs.”
To learn more about DBL’s National Board of Directors and/or with inquiries in joining the board, visit… https://bit.ly/2BrQZfU. You can also visit DBL’s profile on cariclub to learn more.
