Robert Casserly, Executive Director
To E-mail Robert: director@SanctuaryOne.org
Like his hero John Muir, Robert grew up on a farm in rural Wisconsin. As an adult he has lived and worked all over the U.S., including stints as a wilderness guide in Tallahassee, Florida, as an engineer aboard a fishing boat based out of Dutch Harbor, Alaska, and as a gardener in Seattle, Washington. Robert first fell in love with his new hometown, Ashland, Oregon, while taking a break from a long-distance hiking trip on the Pacific Crest Trail.
Since moving to Oregon in 2001, Robert has dedicated himself to nonprofit work, with a special interest in promoting community volunteerism. He has served as volunteer coordinator for a local animal shelter, has written dozens of promotional articles about local nonprofits for various newspapers and magazines, and is creator of JacksonCountyNonprofits.org, a volunteer recruitment website.
Robert attended Southern Oregon University where he earned a B.S. in English and Writing, a Master in Management, and a Nonprofit Management Certificate. He has previously held management positions with Friends of the Animal Shelter and the Gordon Elwood Foundation.
Sansa Collins, Sanctuary Manager and
Joe Collins, Operations Assistant
To E-mail Sansa or Joe: info@SanctuaryOne.org
Sansa grew up on a macadamia nut farm on the Big Island of Hawaii with her five brothers and sisters. She attended college at Southern Oregon University, graduating Magna Cum Laude with a BA in English & Writing. She's always found a way to surround herself with animals and took her first dog training classes at age ten. Growing up she cared for a variety of animals including cats, dogs, birds, chickens, rabbits, cattle, and a hedgehog. In college, Sansa began volunteering with the Jackson County Animal Shelter as a dog walker, and was promoted to the position of the Manager of Volunteer Services for the Friends of the Animal Shelter (FOTAS). During her tenure she became an "adoption captain", with authorization to approve or deny adoptions. After taking some time off to start her own family, she settled into a part-time role with FOTAS as the Foster Program Manager, placing special needs pets with foster families. The Collins Family has fostered animals in their home for many years, resulting in the personal rehabilitation and re-homing of over 50 animals. Sansa is the Sanctuary's office manager, volunteer coordinator, media and marketing coordinator, and assitant to the Executive Director.
Joe was born in New Jersey, but moved to Hawaii with his family when he was fourteen. His family always had animals, so having pets of his own and becoming a pet foster parent was a natural choice. As a foster parent he's helped socialize, rehabilitate and administer medications to dozens of animals in need. He's also been actively involved in the adoptions of the animals he's fostered. He and Sansa are married and have two children, three dogs, and two cats. Joe's caring spirit for animals has manifested itself into choosing a vegan diet a number of years ago. Joe is the Sanctuary's technology manager, and he also helps with animal feeding, rehabilitation, and nursing, general management and maintenance, and whatever else needs to get done.
Gene Griffith, Permaculture Coordinator
To E-mail Gene: farm@SanctuaryOne.org
Gene was born in Augusta, Georgia and has spent much of his life in the southeastern region of the U.S., including the uphills of South Carolina and the mountains of Tennessee. He has also lived in Vancouver, British Columbia, which is where he fell in love with the Pacific Northwest and discovered permaculture. For over 20 years Gene worked as an automation professional specializing in controls, hydraulics, and pneumatics. His job involved looking for ways to use innovation to increase efficiency in systems and machines. He attended Tulane University in New Orleans and has a degree in Electromechanical Engineering Technology from Augusta Technical College. In addition, Gene has worked with dog rescue groups specializing in greyhounds and catahoulas, been a Rotary Club president, and is now studying permaculture principles and applying them Double Oak Farm. Gene manages farming operations using the permaculture ethics of Earth Care, which is caring for the earth and all animal life, People Care, which is caring for each other, and Fair Share, which is returning surplus production back to nature and people.
Jerry Henning, Sanctuary Caretaker
Jerry comes to us with over 50 years of animal care and farm experience. If it needs to be done, Jerry can do it! He has vast experience in skilled trades such as farm equipment repair and maintenance, carpentry, fence mending, welding, horse hoof care, irrigation, and a myriad of other skills. Jerry has volunteered with many organizations over the years, including the Josephine County Sheriff's Posse.
