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Who We Are

Kitten College is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving the lives of neonatal kittens.

We’re building a compassionate, knowledgeable community of animal lovers, caregivers, and professionals united by a shared goal: to give every vulnerable kitten a chance to thrive. We believe that with the right support, education, and resources, more lives can be saved—and more futures can begin.

KC-Campus
2017
2020
2023
2024

Our Team & Board Members

Marni

Marnie Russ

Founder & Executive Director

Marnie Russ is the founder and visionary behind National Kitten College, a groundbreaking program dedicated to advancing the care and survival of neonatal kittens across the United States. With decades of experience in animal welfare, Marnie has become one of the nation’s leading experts in neonatal kitten care, working tirelessly to educate shelter staff, rescue organizations, and fosters on best practices for saving the most vulnerable feline lives.

 

Under her leadership, National Kitten College has grown into a nationally recognized training model, offering comprehensive education, hands-on mentorship, and strategic support to animal welfare professionals and volunteers. Marnie’s work has directly contributed to a significant increase in neonatal kitten survival rates and has reshaped how shelters approach infant kitten care.

 

Passionate, compassionate, and driven by data and impact, Marnie continues to lead transformative change in the animal rescue community—ensuring that even the tiniest lives are given a fighting chance.

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Susan Anderson

Deputy Commissioner for Operations and Communications at the Office of the Commissioner of Revenue at Arlington County

Arlington, VA

 

Karen Bate profile square

Karen Bate

Founder & Chief Strategist,
KB Concepts PR

Arlington, VA

 

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Michelle Beach

National Shelters Director at VCA Animal Hospitals

Los Angeles, CA

 

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Sue Bell

Founder & Executive Director of Homeward Trails Animal Rescue

Arlington, VA

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Dr. Julie Levy

University of Florida Shelter Medicine Program

Gainesville, FL

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Dr. Jeffrey Newman, DVM

Founder, Caring Hands Animal Hospitals

Arlington, VA

 

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Charlie Meng

Chief Executive Officer, Arlington Food Assistance Center

Arlington, VA

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Devanshi Patel

Partner Patel Law, PLLC, CEO, Center for Youth and Family Advocacy, Adjunct Law Professor, Howard University School of Law

Arlington, VA

 

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Monica Tarant

Chief Innovation Officer, The Give Them Ten Movement

Cincinnati, OH