Sheila Donya Kouhkan

Senior Education Specialist

As Senior Education Specialist/Community Engagement, Sheila works with the Education team to recruit and increase new members for Maddie's® University and Maddie's® Pet Forum. She identifies new learning objectives, content, and topics for courses as well as pursue new community programs and campaigns to increase engagement, retention and satisfaction. In this role, Sheila provides assessment, analysis and recommendations for new initiatives.

Prior to Maddie's Fund, Sheila was the Chief Engagement Officer at Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE) and Director of Client Services at Pethealth Inc. where she consulted with both municipal and nonprofit organizations. She participated in disaster relief and pet reunification efforts at Pethealth, Inc. as well as the Maddie's® Executive Leadership Fellow with Austin Pets Alive and Austin Animal Center. Sheila was also instrumental in leading solutions for live outcomes throughout Los Angeles through various roles, including NKLA Manager for Best Friends Animal Society and Community Liaison for the Los Angeles City Council.

Sheila loves to travel and take adventures with her dog, Ziba, a husky mix. Sheila is a proud UCLA Bruin and resides in Southern California where she enjoys exploring architecture, interior design, and gardening. Sheila and Ziba are a dynamic fostering duo, they enjoy fostering animals, especially neonatal kittens, for local animal well-being organizations.