About the Institute for Human-Animal Connection

IHAC Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement

The Institute for Human-Animal Connection values diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We recognize that identities, contexts, and systems interact to disparately affect humans and, by extension, other species and the environment. Therefore, we are dedicated to working towards understanding and confronting historic, ongoing, systemic marginalization and oppression in human-animal-environment interactions.

Commitments to DEIB

• As an organization, we listen to and learn from diverse voices. It is our responsibility to create welcoming and inclusive spaces in which all belong.
• As educators, we value the backgrounds and experiences students bring to human-animal-environment interactions and are committed to increasing the accessibility of our education programs. We prepare students to develop policies and practices that uphold diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in their work. 
• As researchers, we strive to understand how diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging considerations affect human-animal-environment interactions.

Our Team

IHAC faculty and staff are educators, practitioners, researchers, authors, students, and advocates who specialize in relationships between animals, people, and the environment.

Our History

The University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) is one of the only programs in the world to offer specialization in human-animal interactions alongside a graduate-level social science degree.

• 1996: First Course in Animal-Assisted Social Work Introduced

  In response to suggestions by students and alumni interested in exploring human-animal interactions, Clinical Professor Philip Tedeschi taught the first course in animal-assisted social work to Master of Social Work (MSW) students.

• 2002: Animal-Assisted Social Work Certificate Established

  University of Denver graduate Will George Neahr left part of his estate to GSSW to support human-animal interaction studies. From this, Tedeschi developed the Animal-Assisted Social Work Certificate within the school’s MSW program.

• 2005: Institute for Human-Animal Connection Founded

  With grants from the Animal Assistance Foundation and American Humane Association, co-founders Philip Tedeschi and Jennifer Fitchett opened IHAC, identified specialized internship sites for Animal-Assisted Social Work Certificate students and launched the Animals and Human Health professional development program.

• 2009: First American Humane Endowed Chair Appointed

  Frank R. Ascione was appointed the American Humane Endowed Chair—a partnership between the American Humane Association and the University of Denver.

• 2011: Colorado LINK Project Established

  IHAC received a grant from Animal Assistance Foundation to examine and improve Colorado’s efforts to address animal maltreatment and its relation to domestic violence. This led to the development of the Colorado LINK Project.

• 2014: First Biennial Practitioner’s Conference

  IHAC’s inaugural Animals on the Mind practitioner’s conference—“Transforming Trauma: Research developments and methods for trauma-informed animal-assisted interventions"—took place May 7-8, 2014.

• 2017: First Annual Research Symposium

  Following the appointment of Director of Research Kevin Morris in 2014, IHAC hosted its first research symposium and solidified its research agenda.