Ericca Gandolfo

As a member of our Government Affairs team, Ericca collaborates with AWI’s Marine Wildlife and Terrestrial Wildlife teams to advance policies to protect marine mammals in captivity and in the wild and to reform the USDA Wildlife Services program.

Ericca is passionate about animals of all kinds and has been heavily active in animal welfare advocacy her whole life. This led her to pursue an MS in animals and public policy at Tufts University. Previously, she managed the volunteer program at Muddy Paws Rescue, an acclaimed foster-based dog rescue that has saved over 7,000 lives since 2017. Before starting at AWI, she spent most of her free time engaging with organizations and legislators in her community on state and federal policies.

Ericca was born and raised in New York City and spent many weekends exploring the Catskill Mountains. Her dog, Daisy, is a 4-year-old mastiff-Great Dane-pit bull mix from Animal Care Centers of NYC. She loves going for hikes, swimming, and convincing any strangers she and Daisy meet that rescue dogs are the best!