Arielle Giddens graduated from the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Social Work in 2013 with an MSW and a certificate in Animal Assisted Social Work. Prior to DU, she attended the University of New Mexico where she majored in Psychology and Fine Art. Arielle thoroughly enjoys the company of people and animals, which is why she loves working with animal-related organizations. She has experience in program development and management, volunteer management, board development, event management, community outreach, communications and marketing. Arielle also has experience working with children with special needs as a medical advocate and assistant in equine-assisted interventions. While on a study abroad trip to Kenya during graduate school, Arielle began studying animal welfare and the impact it has on local communities. Her main focus shifted then to the relationship between animal welfare and community welfare. Humane education and human-animal-environment impacts are specific areas of interest to her within this field.

Arielle is currently the Program Manager for the Institute for Human-Animal Connection (IHAC) where she manages the professional development offerings and marketing and communications for the organization. Previously, Arielle worked in animal welfare as the Director of Volunteer Services at Foothills Animal Shelter in Golden, Colorado where she led a volunteer program giving over 33,000 hours of service annually by 500+ volunteers and court-ordered community service workers. 

In addition to her love for human-animal interactions, Arielle is also passionate about birth work and empowering new parents. She is a trained birth and postpartum doula. Currently, Arielle does consulting work with expecting and new parents in her spare time.

Arielle has lived in many beautiful places around the United States including New Mexico, Colorado, Massachusetts, and Montana. She loves spending time with her family both two-legged and four-legged, especially when outside hiking or mountain biking!