Meet the Team

Maria Leonardi

Senior Campaigns Organizer
Detroit, MI
[email protected]

I’ve been with PETA since 2021, and I’ve led eye-catching, bold demonstrations on behalf of animals from coast-to-coast. I went vegan in 2008 after researching the dairy and egg industries. Before joining PETA, I participated in several head-turning actions against Chrysler for sponsoring the cruel Iditarod dog sled race, including dressing as a dog and smashing an old Chrysler van with a sledgehammer outside the Detroit Auto Show. Soon after, Chrysler dropped its sponsorship of the deadly dog race.

Since I’ve been at PETA, I’ve led disruptions of vivisectors, CEO’s, fashion designers, and even organized actions against Starbucks where activists cemented their feet in concrete blocks, calling on Starbucks to end the vegan milk upcharge – and they did! I enjoy spending time with my rescued animals, going on hikes, cooking delicious vegan meals, playing board games, and going to concerts.

Joseph A. Rondou

Campaigns Organizer
Long Beach, CA
[email protected]

In 2003, I was first introduced to veganism and animal advocacy when I received literature from an activist tabling for PETA in Venice Beach, CA. After reading the materials multiple times, I knew it was time to change my life.

Since then, I’ve dedicated my adulthood to seeking new avenues for activism. From grassroots tabling and outreach to participating in protests and engaging with my local community, I’m committed to making a difference in any way I can. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with various organizations in behalf of animals in need.

My journey led me to an exciting opportunity with PETA’s college tour, during which I spoke about vivisection issues. It’s been a wonderful experience getting to travel, connect with audiences, spread awareness, and inspire large-scale change. Now I’m excited to work in grassroots protest coordination to help amplify the voices of individuals who, like me, are dedicated to making a difference worldwide.

Kiara Lynes

Grassroots Activism Coordinator
Dallas, TX
[email protected]

Growing up, I always knew that nonhuman animals are similar to us in all the ways that matter, but I didn’t realize that I was causing them to suffer in my daily life. In August 2016, I went vegan after watching 101 Reasons to Go Vegan, astounded by the cruelty I had paid for my entire life.

I became involved in animal rights activism in 2020, attending and planning protests and outreach events in North Texas. My devotion to taking action for animals grows every day, and I look forward to assisting animal advocates around the world as a member of PETA’s Action Team. I believe that anyone with a little time and effort can find some ways to speak out for animal rights and work to create positive changes for animals.

In my spare time, I enjoy reading, cooking vegan meals, and visiting animal sanctuaries.

Racheli Holstein

Demo Campaigns Logistics Organizer
Pittsburgh, PA
[email protected]

I’ve been with PETA for over three years, growing from an intern to a Campaigns Logistics Organizer, and serving as a Campaigns Assistant and Campaigner in between. I’ve had the opportunity to advocate for animals across the U.S., as well as in Canada and Mexico, leading thought-provoking demonstrations and fostering meaningful conversations. I’ve been part of impactful campaigns that secured major victories for animals, including Whole Foods dropping coconut milk sourced from monkey labor, OHSU ending the use of live pigs in OBGYN training, and Starbucks eliminating the vegan milk upcharge, which led to additional coffee shops doing the same. Recently, my main focus has been organizing our tours, including the “Hell on Wheels” Pig Truck tour and the iScream tour. Outside of my work, I enjoy spending time with my dog, Lucky, and my friends and family; as well as exploring nature, traveling, and cooking.

Matthew Braun

Senior Grassroots Activism Strategist
Denver, CO
[email protected]

I went vegan to win a bet in 2006, and I never would have imagined the impact that it would have on my life. After winning the bet, I decided to stay vegan, because I felt so much better. As I learned more about cruelty to animals used in experiments and for food, fashion, and entertainment, I increasingly felt the need to share this information with others, so I started leafleting and attending protests.

I worked as an eyewitness investigator in a chicken slaughterhouse before landing an internship with PETA that involved traveling around the country to spread the animal rights message to people at concerts, parks, and YMCAs as well as outside animal circuses. After traveling for two years, I became a grassroots activism coordinator. I relocated to Denver, CO and now, I get to work with dedicated and compassionate activists across the U.S. and Canada by helping them plan protests, giveaways, tabling events, and leafleting for animal rights!

Marnie Chambless

Campaigns Tour Specialist
Stone Mountain, GA
[email protected]

I joined PETA in 2021 and have had the opportunity to meet people in more than 32 states, spreading the word in PETA’s Hell on Wheels turkey truck and through other educational tours. I joined an animal liberation club in high school, but it wasn’t until 2017, when I read Animal Liberation in an environmental ethics class, that I committed to being vegan. My proudest PETA campaign involved our anti-vivisection exhibit, Without Consent, where I visited nearly every major university and urged researchers, department heads, students, and alumni to help stop animal experimentation. I’ve also held press conferences, organized demonstrations, and gathered signatures on a petition asking the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to ban animal experiments. Because of the Without Consent exhibit and PETA’s unwavering work to end experiments on animals, laboratories have been shut down, and pharmaceutical companies have switched to state-of-the-art, ethical, non-animal experiments.

In addition to animal rights, I’m passionate about human rights, disability advocacy, and food justice. I love my companion cats, vegan food, art, and music.

Mason Melito

Campaigner
San Diego, CA
[email protected]

Since starting at PETA in 2023, I have organized demonstrations in more than two dozen states. When I was 14, I was active for environmental issues, but I became more involved in animal rights when I became vegan at 15. Now that I work at PETA, I spend my time organizing protests that are sure to get the media’s attention. When cow manure was frozen in the dump truck in front of the ASPCA headquarters in New York City, where we planned to dump it to call attention to the BS “animal welfare certified” labels that the group supported at the time, I climbed right in the truck with the manure, attracting loads of news coverage! I also traveled to Denver, Colorado, where I protested Liberty Media to stop funding dogs’ deaths in the Iditarod. When I’m not traveling across the country for PETA, you can find me playing pickleball and advocating for animals in San Diego.

Alicia Santurio

Campaigner
Fairfield, CA
[email protected]

I was inspired to start being active for animals in 2014 because I wanted to do more than simply be vegan. I volunteered with several other animal liberation groups in the Bay Area of California before joining the PETA team in 2024. One of my favorite animal rights moments was rescuing Jax and Ethan from a chicken transport truck. An “accomplice” and I were charged with misdemeanor theft and subsequently acquitted of all charges for their rescue. My proudest moment at PETA was disrupting a Vanity Fair Oscar party…twice! As a trained animal caregiver, I’ve been called a chicken whisperer, and I’ve rescued hundreds of animals. I share my home with bunnies, a mini potbellied pig, cats, dogs, and a box turtle.

Wendy Fernandez

Campaigner
Coral Springs, FL
[email protected]

Since joining PETA in 2022, I’ve traveled to more than two dozen states, several Canadian provinces, and even went to Brazil, where I protested COP30. When I became vegan in 2021, I knew I had finally found my mission in life. I’m proud of every demonstration I’ve organized, but I especially cherish the day when I, alongside other animal liberation advocates, cemented our feet into concrete blocks at the entrance of a Starbucks in Detroit in a blizzard. Starbucks eventually dropped its vegan milk upcharge! I’ve taken part in over 100 demonstrations, from crashing high-fashion runways, to dumping truckloads of manure to expose ASPCA’s humane washing, a campaign we have since won! I’ve called out CEOs, including one during a live, televised Netflix event, and disrupted everything from galas and sports games to Hollywood premieres and Hollywood parties, all to keep the spotlight exactly where it belongs: on animal abuse and exploitation.

In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, including my son and rescued cats, recharging in nature, reading, writing, immersing myself in creative projects, like crafting, and indulging in my love for music, concerts, theatre, and live shows.

Amanda Brody

Campaigns Media Manager
Sunrise, FL
[email protected]

I started working for PETA in 2018. About a year before that, I was at a vegan Earth Day festival in Orlando, where I read a leaflet about the dairy industry and immediately went vegan. My time with PETA has been filled with endless travel, eye-catching props, fake blood, megaphones, and victories for animals! I love doing media interviews for PETA and believe they are among the most powerful forms of outreach we can do for animals.

Every year, I look forward to organizing PETA’s annual Congressional Veggie Dog Luncheon on the Hill in Washington, DC, where we hand out hundreds of vegan hot dogs. I also spent years working on PETA’s campaign to free Lolita the orca from Miami Seaquarium. Lolita tragically died before she could be released to a seaside sanctuary, but after a relentless campaign, the Miami Seaquarium eventually shut down, marking the end of a cruel era! When I am not out on the streets for animals, you can find me spending time with my cats, crocheting, or headed out to a concert or local brewery.

Tricia Lebkuecher

Campaigns Maestro
Nashville, TN
[email protected]

I went vegan in 2011 after I realized that it was incongruous to “care” about animals as a vegetarian. I started volunteering for a local vegan group and then started one of my own—Nashville Animal Advocacy. I was so fond of PETA’s bold activism and support for local groups that I began working for PETA in 2015. Since joining the PETA staff, I’ve visited 33 states, plus Washington, D.C., and Canada, and I’ve led demonstrations remotely in every state except Hawaii!

My favorite PETA memory is bailing actor James Cromwell out of jail after he spoke out against Texas A&M’s dog laboratory, which PETA shut down two years later. I have two young children and consider it a privilege to work toward the most important cause of our lifetime: animal liberation.