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Meet Our Staff

Cheri Brown Thompson

Founder and President

Founder and President of Healing Species in 1999 and Founder of the Healing Species Woodlands dog rescue sanctuary in 2009.  Cheri graduated from the  University of South Carolina School of Law receiving her J. D. Degree in 1999. Under her leadership Healing Species has been rewarded multiple recognition's by the State of South Carolina and The United States. However, her greatest reward was adopting 2 brothers out of the foster care system, at ages 9 and 10, and loving and raising them now ages 22 and 23! 

Erin B Carter

Executive Director

Healing Species Executive Director, Erin Carter graduated from Newberry College with a degree in Psychology. She is extremely involved in her community and is devoted to changing the lives of children, inmates, and dogs. She lives in Orangeburg SC with her husband, three rescued dogs and two rescued cats.

Hannah Bernardo

Directors Assistant and Adoption Specialist

Hannah is a 20 year old dog enthusiast who joined the Healing Species team in late 2017. She graduated from Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College with an associates degree in business. Hannah has four rescued dogs of her own and is compassionate about teaching kids about expressing kindness and empathy towards others.

Amanda Cisco Rector

Lead Violence Intervention Instructor

Amanda is our lead Instructor for our Violence Prevention curriculum implemented in schools, detention centers, and group homes. For 8 years she has strived to make a difference in the lives of young people through her vocation and dedication to Healing Species. Her passion stems from her own life story of overcoming adversity, making restoration for a past history of crime and coming to terms with healing after abuse. As an advocate for at-risk youth, she thrives in building relationships with the often hard to reach and breaking down boundaries that turns teenage "apathy" into "empathy". Amanda is our very own living proof that "your past does not define you" and dreams are just goals in the making.

Lucia Schenk

Formula Specialist

Lucia graduated from the college of Charleston in Communications and double minored in Psychology and Sociology. She lives with her husband and five rescued dogs in Columbia. She has worked for Healing Species for the past three years. and oves working with the dogs and children.

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