Board of Directors

The Evanston Animal Shelter Association (EASA) is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates the Evanston Animal Shelter under contract with the City of Evanston. Our all-volunteer Board of Directors sets the strategic direction for the shelter and oversees its programs, finances, and long-term growth.

Meet the Board

Vicky Pasenko

Vicky is the executive director of the Evanston Animal Shelter and is co-founder of the Evanston Animal Shelter Association. She is also a member of the Evanston Animal Welfare Board. Vicky’s childhood spent on a farm combined with her 24 years at a multi-billion dollar technology company give her both the business acumen and the compassion for animals required to meet the daily demands of managing the shelter.

Emma Dolan

Emma is the president of the Evanston Animal Shelter Association. Emma has been a volunteer at the EAS for more than five years serving as an advanced canine handler and kennel captain. She is also a canine adoption counselor. After graduating from Northwestern University, Emma has held positions at various Chicago-area financial firms and technology companies. She currently works in product management for a high-tech innovation start-up.

Kate Perschke

Kate is the vice president of the Evanston Animal Shelter Association and has been a volunteer since 2024, serving both cats and dogs as a handler, adoption counselor, and foster mom, while also supporting the Shelter’s communications and marketing efforts. Kate has a graduate degree in Global Strategic Communication from Loyola University Chicago. Currently, Kate works in business operations and strategy at a Fortune 500 technology company.

Bill Patti

Bill is the treasurer of the Evanston Animal Shelter Association. He has been a volunteer at the Evanston Animal Shelter for more than a decade as an advanced canine handler. Bill has more than ten years as a senior financial analyst for Fortune 500 companies and is currently affiliated with Northwestern University.

Leslie O'Brad

Leslie is the secretary of the Evanston Animal Shelter Association. She has been an active volunteer for more than 20 years at various cat rescue organizations throughout the Chicago area. Most recently Leslie has been a volunteer at the Evanston Animal Shelter and is also the director of the feline foster program. Leslie is currently Associate Compliance Officer with The University of Chicago.

Emma Garl Smith

Emma has been a shelter volunteer for more than five years, during which time she has served as kennel captain and adoption counselor. Emma is currently a legal aid attorney in the Safety and Family Practice Group at the Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services where she specializes in housing and elder financial exploitation.

Michael Callaway

Michael has been a volunteer at the Evanston Animal Shelter for more than seven years during which time he and his wife, also a volunteer, have welcomed two dogs and a pair of bonded kittens into their home. Michael is an advanced canine handler and serves as kennel captain. As Director of Quality Assurance for the Illinois Department of Human Services Michael brings years of information technology, data analytics, and process improvement experience to the Board.

Becky Zwolinski

Becky, along with her daughter, joined the Evanston Animal Shelter’s volunteer network in 2015. After fostering puppies from two separate litters that were born at the Shelter, Becky gave a pittie, Luna, her forever home. Becky has been an integral member of the Shelter’s annual Gala Fundraising Committee since 2018. Prior to retirement Becky was a proposal manager in the mass transit industry and a program manager for an employee survey company. Becky brings exceptional organizational skills, technical knowledge, and a passion for serving the community to the Board.

Jill Cabot

Jill is the former vice president of the Evanston Animal Shelter Association and past vice chair of the Evanston Animal Welfare Board. She has been a volunteer at the Evanston Animal Shelter for more than ten years where she is the communications director and a shift supervisor. Jill has more than 30 years of corporate communication experience working with Fortune 100 companies.

Gabby Gutierrez

Gabby has been a volunteer at the Evanston Animal Shelter for more than eight years, where she serves as an advanced feline handler and shift supervisor. She has held various roles over the years, including serving the pet pantry, working adoption events, managing the Shelter’s social media, and fostering numerous cats and kittens. Gabby is a graduate of Northwestern University and works as an Operations Manager in the energy efficiency field.

Daniela Hurtado Lange

Daniela is a dog volunteer, kennel captain, and adoption counselor at the Evanston Animal Shelter. She loves learning about animals’ behavior and simple actions humans can take to improve their pets’ quality of life. Daniela is committed to spreading the word that rescue animals are the best pets. She’s originally from Chile, and in her life outside the shelter she is a professor at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.