Advancing Animal Law: Pamela Byce and Megan Senatori Step into New Leadership Roles

Two leadership promotions at the Center for Animal Law Studies (CALS) recognize the longstanding leadership, expertise, and pivotal vision for advancing animal law education and the field of animal law. Pamela Byce has been promoted to Associate Dean of Lewis & Clark Law School’s Animal Law Program. Associate Director, Megan Senatori, who has served in the role since 2020, has been elevated to CALS’ Executive Director.

CALS has experienced dynamic growth, with the goal of advancing animal law and creating more opportunities for animal advocates. As noted by the New York Times, Lewis & Clark offers the most robust animal law course offerings of any U.S. law school. This curricular strength allows JD students to earn a Certificate in Animal Law, lawyers to earn an advanced legal degree, Animal Law LLM, and bachelor’s degree holders to earn an Animal Law MSL. To make this premier education accessible, CALS awards over 15 full and partial scholarships annually to dedicated advocates around the globe, with its alumni spanning 33 countries across six continents.

Pamela Byce

During her five years as Assistant Dean and Executive Director, Byce has been instrumental in advancing CALS’ strategic and financial growth, increasing its budget threefold and overseeing expanded in-person and online curriculum and degree programs, innovative partnerships and collaborations, transformative opportunities for students and alumni, and the continued strengthening of Lewis & Clark’s position as the global leader in animal law education.

Byce’s career reflects both a deep commitment to animal law and a wealth of experience and leadership in the field. She has taught animal law at the University of Wisconsin Law School, the University of Chicago School of Law, and Lewis & Clark Law School. Additionally, she is co-author of Animal Law - New Perspectives on Teaching Traditional Law, a legal casebook published by Carolina Academic Press.

Before joining CALS in 2018, Byce directed the Animal Law Program at the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) for fifteen years, where she supported over 200 Student Animal Legal Defense Fund chapters, managed an extensive Attorney Volunteer Network, and partnered with law firms and attorneys. She was pivotal in launching CALS as a collaboration with ALDF in 2008, making CALS the first comprehensive animal law academic program in the world.

In her new role as Associate Dean, Byce will continue to advance CALS’ mission by deepening collaborations, expanding academic and career opportunities for students and alumni, cultivating new development opportunities, and leading global engagement initiatives.

“It’s an honor to continue serving the Center for Animal Law Studies and Lewis & Clark Law School and to work alongside our extraordinary students, faculty, staff, alumni, and partners as we advance the field of animal law,” said Byce. “I am excited to work with Megan in her new role as Executive Director. Her vision, dedication, and steady leadership have been instrumental to CALS’ growth, and I am confident she will continue to expand our impact for animals.”

Megan Senatori

Senatori joined CALS in 2019 as the Director of Strategic Initiatives before she was promoted to Associate Director in 2020. In these roles, she has been instrumental in driving innovation, advancing organizational goals, and helping solidify CALS’ global reputation.

An accomplished litigator, Senatori practiced complex civil litigation for 18 years before joining CALS, including serving as litigation practice group chair for five years at a 120-attorney law firm. Throughout her litigation career, she dedicated a portion of her practice to animal protection cases. She worked with CALS on pro bono projects, including co-authoring an amicus brief with Lewis & Clark Law School Professor Pamela Frasch on behalf of 45 law professors before the U.S. Supreme Court in United States v. Stevens, underscoring the government’s compelling interest in preventing animal cruelty. She was honored with ALDF’s Pro Bono Achievement Award in 2013.

Senatori is a passionate advocate who, in 2001, co-founded Sheltering Animals of Abuse Victims (SAAV) with Byce, who still serves as a founding board member. A nationally recognized expert on the link between domestic violence and animal cruelty, Senatori serves as SAAV’s President, leading a community collaboration that helps domestic abuse survivors keep their companion animals safe. She has taught animal law since 2003, and has been teaching in Lewis & Clark’s online advanced degree animal law program for the past five years.

As CALS Executive Director, Senatori will oversee operations, guide strategic planning, strengthen alumni and donor engagement, and expand animal protection initiatives.

Professor Frasch, CALS Founder, says, “Since we founded CALS at Lewis & Clark Law School in 2008, our mission has been to advance animal law education and advance animal protection through the law. Pam and Megan exemplify that mission through their leadership. They bring decades of insight, experience, and judgment to these critical roles, and I know that CALS will continue to thrive and expand its global impact for animals under their direction. I am delighted to work with them, and can’t wait to see all they will accomplish to the benefit of the school, program, students, alumni, and of course, the animals.”

The Center for Animal Law Studies (CALS) was founded in 2008 with a mission to educate the next generation of animal law advocates and advance animal protection through the law. With vision and bold risk-taking, CALS has since developed into a world-renowned animal law epicenter. In addition to JD study, CALS offers an advanced degree program in-person and online. CALS’ Alumni-in-Action from more than 30 countries are making a difference for animals around the world. CALS is a self-funded Center within the law school operating under the Lewis & Clark College 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, and is able to provide these educational opportunities through donations and grants.