APS Leadership
Stacy Bluth – Interim Executive Director
Dr. Samantha Zurlinden, DVM – Director of Animal Well-Being – Veterinarian
Kevin ‘Skipp’ Morgan – Director of Facilities & Animal Husbandry
Leah Santelli – Director of Lifesaving Programs
Cheryl Murphy – Director of Development & Communications
Daniel Fraser – Database & Development Manager
Kimberly Dierkhising – Communications & Marketing Manager
Megan Whitney – Behavior Manager
Larissa Chantell – Foster & Rescue Manager
Danyea Turner – Community Engagement Manager
Jennifer West – Medical Manager
Allison Cope – Customer Service Manager
Jamel McCaffity – Animal Care Manager
Meet the Animal Protection Society of Durham
Board of Directors!
Robert Felder – Board Chair
Robert joined the APS Board in July 2021. Robert’s experiences in the Software IT Industry span 40+ years with IBM Corporation as a Systems Engineer and Software Sales & Business Transformation leader. Robert’s early involvement with APS was working on the Development Committee’s Tails at Twilight Gala. As a pet owner for many years, Robert hopes to help raise awareness of the great animal care that APS provides. Robert is also a volunteer Advisor with Executive Service Corp of the Triangle and is actively involved in providing business and technology services to nonprofit organizations. Outside of volunteering and other work activities, Robert enjoys woodworking projects and relaxing at the beach.
Natalia Siegel – Secretary
Natalia joined the APS of Durham as a board member in January 2021, after volunteering on the Development Committee for a year. As a Donor Engagement Officer with Triangle Community Foundation, Natalia brings with her a background in fundraising and non-profit programming. After moving to Durham in 2015 from DC, Natalia fell in love with how dog-friendly the Bull City was and adopted two of her own: Pop and Brutus. When not playing or snuggling with her pups, Natalia participates in a book club, loves trying all the great food that Durham has to offer, and visiting her native New York.
Michael Stimpfel – Board Treasurer
Michael joined the APS of Durham Board of Directors in 2021 and currently serves as Treasurer. He is the Chief Financial Officer of OneGoal, a national education nonprofit, where he leads finance, accounting, operations, and legal functions in support of the organization’s long-term impact and scale. Michael began his career as an auditor at Ernst & Young and has spent the past decade in senior finance and operations roles across education-focused nonprofits. He holds an MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School.
Outside of work, Michael is a proud dog dad to two goofy rescue pups and enjoys exploring Durham’s trails, traveling, discovering new restaurants, and playing intramural sports.
Joe Philipose
Joe has lived in Durham on and off for 20 years and feels like it’s his home. Professionally, he’s an attorney by training and has been in the bioPharma industry for more than 20 years. He’s been connected to animal welfare organizations for many years as a volunteer and supporter before joining the APS board in 2022. He and his wife have had numerous rescue animals, including one from APS, and currently have one dog and one cat that their lives revolve around. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Alexis Joynes
Alexis W. Joynes has loved animals, dogs especially, her whole life. Her first dog at age 6, La Chienne Sable, was her first introduction to “true love.” Alexis is a dedicated animal lover and advocate. Having volunteered with APS since 2021 and serving as a board member since 2024, Alexis has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to making a difference in the lives of pets in need.
Alexis brings a rich background in communications to her role, having spent seven years in the dynamic world of TV news before transitioning to her current position as Communications Director of a local nonprofit organization. Her experience in effectively conveying messages and engaging audiences has proven invaluable in furthering APS’s mission and outreach efforts.
When she’s not busy championing animal welfare causes, you’ll often find Alexis in her garden or enjoying quality time with her APS alum, Kayla the Dog Model Chihuahua. She also dedicates her weekends to participating in APS outreach events, tirelessly spreading awareness about responsible pet ownership and the importance of adoption.
Allison Chan
Allison joined the Board of APS of Durham in 2020 after volunteering with the APS Tails at Twilight gala committee for two years. She served as Chair of the Board of APS from 2021 to 2023. Allison believes that all animals deserve a loving home and proper care and is dedicated to supporting the Durham community in this effort. Professionally, Allison is an attorney and Managing Partner at Margaret W. Wong and Associates. She practices exclusively federal immigration law nationwide. She has volunteered and served on various boards as a part of her passion for civic engagement, community care, and protective vulnerable populations. Outside of her career and volunteerism, Allison is enjoys spending time with her family; she is a foodie, a wanderlust, and an animal lover at heart.
Brooke Wilson
Brooke Wilson has called Durham home for more than two decades, building both her career and a deep commitment to the community she proudly serves. Guided by the belief that every animal deserves safety, compassion, and a loving home, she is honored to support the lifesaving mission of APS of Durham.
An accomplished entrepreneur and multi-unit franchise owner, Brooke brings extensive experience in strategic leadership, operational excellence, and financial stewardship — strengths that help advance APS’s long-term sustainability and impact. She believes business success carries a responsibility to give back, and she has intentionally dedicated her time and philanthropy to causes that strengthen the community for both people and animals.
Brooke is also a passionate mentor and advocate within the franchise industry, helping aspiring business owners pursue entrepreneurship while supporting policies that encourage responsible growth. Yet it is her personal connection to animal welfare, inspired by the rescue pets who have enriched her own life, that most deeply fuels her service.
She is proud to serve on the APS board, pairing her leadership experience with heartfelt compassion to help create a future where every animal is protected, every adoption begins a new story, and more families experience the extraordinary bond between people and pets.
Jillian Sergio
Jillian Sergio is an animal welfare professional with a strong history in animal sheltering and nonprofit program management. Her experience includes leadership roles at shelters in Louisiana and Colorado, where she strengthened operations, supported frontline teams, and advanced community-centered programs for people and pets.
In her current work with SPARC (Supporting People & Animal Relationships for Change), Jillian draws on her sheltering experience to help strengthen the animal care and well-being field through thoughtful communication, practical tools, and collaborative learning. She is passionate about approaches that center dignity, build trust with communities, and create sustainable change for both animals and the people who care for them.
Jillian is a Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA) and currently lives in Durham with her husband, two children, two dogs, and a cat.
Roshna Bala Keen
Roshna Bala Keen is a partner at Loevy & Loevy, a civil rights law firm based in Chicago. She represents wrongfully convicted individuals across the country, as well as incarcerated individuals who have experienced governmental abuse in jails and prisons. Roshna is an experienced trial and appellate lawyer and has been privileged to represent many different pro bono clients, including animal rights organizations, over the years. She has also taught animal law seminars at the University of Chicago Law School.
Roshna has had a lifelong interest in animal welfare issues and a fascination with the natural world. In 2018, she and her family moved from Chicago to North Carolina, where they adopted their dogs Chewy, Candy, and Fenton. Roshna joined the APS Board in 2026 and is honored to support the APS mission of helping stray, abandoned, and neglected animals receive the care and love they deserve.