Olivia grew up in Rhode Island and like many others her path to where she is now was a bit unconventional. After several degree changes Olivia received her Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology with a minor in zoology from the University of Maine. After college she worked various jobs including for a kayak company and an Alzheimer’s center. She volunteered at the Wildlife Clinic of Rhode Island at a boxing gym during classes for people with Parkinson’s Disease.
Olivia has been passionate about protecting polar bears her entire life and that’s what led her to law school. At the end of her first year Olivia founded a student organization advocating for survivors of domestic and sexual violence and did an internship at the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center. She found that work meaningful but once she discovered animal law she never turned back.
In her third year she was the vice president of her school’s student chapter of the Animal Legal Defense Fund. She organized a donation drive for the New England Wildlife Center and helped assemble a panel of speakers to come to the school and talk about their careers in the animal law field. She also completed a directed study project discussing the inadequacies of laws designed to protect polar bears. Olivia graduated from Suffolk University Law School in Boston, MA in 2023.
Since graduating law school, Olivia has worked pro bono for the Animal Legal Defense Fund in the Criminal Justice Department and in March 2024 began working for ALDF part time. This work has reaffirmed her belief that the animal law field is where she is meant to be.
Olivia enjoys CrossFit and loves going on nature walks with her dog, Yogi. She is looking forward to the outdoor adventure possibilities the Pacific Northwest has to offer.