Kim Sturla’s journey in advocating for farmed animals began in 1989, catalyzed by a serendipitous encounter with a stray piglet named Zelda at the shelter where she worked. This encounter was pivotal, leading Kim to co-found Animal Place, an organization she led as Executive Director for 35 years. Her advocacy roots trace back to her tenure as the Executive Director for a Bay Area humane society and her role alongside Cleveland Amory at the Fund for Animals as Education Director. Kim’s career is marked by significant legislative achievements, including authoring precedent-setting laws allowing pre-university students to opt out of animal dissections and mandating the sterilization of shelter animals before adoption. Kim also authored many local ordinances banning the breeding of dogs and cats — sparking nationwide spay/neuter initiatives. A staunch advocate for animals in research and education, Kim was the sole public member of UC Berkeley’s Animal Care and Use Committee. She holds a BS in Psychology & Sociology from UC Berkeley and an MS in Social Psychology from Hayward State University. Kim’s passion focuses on saving farmed animals and promoting a vegan lifestyle.
Joined board 1989