Nicole Paquette, Chief Impact Officer, U.S. and Canada, Humane World for Animals
Faculty Directory
  • Adjunct Faculty
  • Alumni

Nicole Paquette JD’98

Titles

  • Adjunct Professor

Degrees

  • JD, Vermont Law and Graduate School
  • BA, San Francisco State University

Biography

Nicole Paquette is an adjunct professor of law at Vermont Law and Graduate School, where she teaches animal law and policy.

She is the Chief Impact Officer for Humane World for Animals (formerly the Humane Society of the United States), overseeing strategy and programmatic impact across the United States and Canada. She leads the development and execution of program and policy reforms at all levels of government, strengthening legal protections for animals.

With more than three decades of experience in the animal protection field, Nicole is a recognized leader in legislative, regulatory, and programmatic policy and strategy. She has led transformative campaigns and policy initiatives that have driven systemic reforms and secured landmark protections—from ending the use of wild animals in circuses to strengthening cruelty laws and restricting private ownership of exotic animals nationwide.

Prior to joining Humane World for Animals, Nicole served as senior vice president and general counsel for Born Free USA. She holds a Juris Doctor from Vermont Law School and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from San Francisco State University.

Nicole has testified before legislative bodies and regularly lectures at law schools and professional conferences. She serves on the boards of the Public Affairs Council and Animal Place and is Chair of the Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust.

Expertise

  • Animal Law

Departments

  • Summer Session