PUHI — The board of directors of the Kaua‘i Humane Society announced Monday that Nicole Schafer Crane is the new executive director.
Crane joined the KHS team in September of this year as the animal services manager. In this role she managed the field-services and animal-care departments.
Crane has more than 10 years working in animal welfare in different capacities and regions of the world. Coming to Kaua‘i from Louisiana, Crane was the animal-services manager, where she managed staff in positions of dispatch, animal-service officers and technicians, medical, animal care, customer service and coordinators.
“We are thrilled and fortunate to have someone of Nicole’s experience and passion for animal welfare to lead the society,” said Dan Giovanni, president of the KHS board of directors. “It’s important to have a smooth and timely transition at the top of the organization, and we have great confidence that Nicole will provide the leadership needed.”
Crane has two master’s degrees, in international animal welfare, ethics and law from University of Edinburgh, and in science communication from the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. Her bachelor’s degrees are in zoology and wildlife science from Auburn University.
Crane has a wealth of animal-welfare and shelter experience. When working for the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals she built a sister shelter’s volunteer program from scratch. Crane has lived in New Zealand and Saipan, working on coral-reef initiatives, natural-resources management, shark protection and more. Her vast set of experiences are expected to bring new energy and vision to KHS, Giovanni said.
“I am very excited to have joined the KHS team and the Kaua‘i community,” said Crane. “I am looking forward to being able to assist in the positive growth of community outreach and program development within the shelter,” she said.
