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.





Our Team & Board Members

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.
Susan Anderson
Deputy Commissioner for Operations and Communications at the Office of the Commissioner of Revenue at Arlington County
Arlington, VA
Karen Bate
Founder & Chief Strategist,
KB Concepts PR
Arlington, VA
Michelle Beach
National Shelters Director at VCA Animal Hospitals
Los Angeles, CA
Sue Bell
Founder & Executive Director of Homeward Trails Animal Rescue
Arlington, VA
Dr. Julie Levy
University of Florida Shelter Medicine Program
Gainesville, FL
Dr. Jeffrey Newman, DVM
Founder, Caring Hands Animal Hospitals
Arlington, VA
Charlie Meng
Chief Executive Officer, Arlington Food Assistance Center
Arlington, VA
Devanshi Patel
Partner Patel Law, PLLC, CEO, Center for Youth and Family Advocacy, Adjunct Law Professor, Howard University School of Law
Arlington, VA
Monica Tarant
Chief Innovation Officer, The Give Them Ten Movement
Cincinnati, OH