COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

As communications director at Global Sanctuary for Elephants, Kara leads projects and manages strategies that amplify the sanctuary’s mission and ensure its message is communicated cohesively across all platforms. She plays a vital role in uniting the organization’s efforts to raise awareness for the groundbreaking work being done at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil. With a leadership style centered on respect, collaboration, Kara oversees the U.S.-based team, fostering a culture where diverse perspectives thrive, enabling the team to excel in all areas of their work, from crafting impactful messaging to achieving organizational goals. Kara has a background in consulting across various industries, helping launch businesses that span from engineering firms to wellness companies. She also founded TEDxFolsom, serving as its executive director and creating a dynamic platform for community dialogue and inspiration for the Sacramento, California, metro area. Kara is a nature lover, an avid hiker, and has had a lifelong love of elephants, which she draws upon in her role at GSE.

Fun Fact: Kara spent years performing alongside her husband as a singer in a Prince tribute band and still joins him on tour a few times each year.

DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Christine Santos is the development director at Global Sanctuary for Elephants, where she works alongside a compassionate community of supporters to provide captive elephants with the peaceful and dignified lives that they deserve. With undergraduate and graduate degrees in biology, Christine has dedicated nearly 20 years to conservation and animal welfare causes. One of her earliest roles was as a caregiver at a big cat sanctuary, where she first witnessed the transformative power of sanctuary. She worked directly with a variety of animals for many years and later transitioned to marketing and fundraising roles, earning a Master’s in Business Administration and developing a unique perspective that combines her business expertise with her deep devotion to the well-being of animals. Her passion for creating a better world for elephants and other animals drives her commitment to meaningful and lasting change.

Christine is a proud wife and mother to three daughters—one human and two canine. She is an avid reader and lover of family movie nights and cuddle sessions. Christine finds joy in cooking and attended culinary school at the International Culinary Center. A former competitive athlete, she still enjoys swimming, running, and mountain biking.

Fun Fact: Christine’s dogs are named after Harry Potter characters.

SENIOR EDITOR

Sara Martin is the senior editor at Global Sanctuary for Elephants and is responsible for, among other things, the daily updates and monthly newsletters that you receive. Sara has a Masters in Higher Education from Drexel University, and worked at colleges and universities for over 15 years before transitioning into other non-profit work, including managing grants for an HIV/AIDS service organization and clinic. She has worked for two decades as an editorial assistant for a sustainable clothing designer and manufacturer, where she helped write several craft books. During her time at GSE, she has grown to understand the complexities and intelligence of elephants, and has great respect for their ability to survive and thrive in the face of cruelty and neglect. She finds meaning in her growing knowledge of how forgiving elephants can be, regardless of their pasts; it’s a trait she’s always attempting to model in her own life. Sara is a reader of biographies and all things Kurt Vonnegut, a resident expert on anything related to The Office or The West Wing, a dedicated listener of the Las Culturistas podcast, and a supporter of local restaurants (particularly those that make a nice espresso martini). She is an essayist and collector of stories, especially those of her own family.

Fun Fact: Sara still wears the same pair of Dr. Martin boots that she bought over 30 years ago.

SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST

Hailey is Global Sanctuary for Elephants’ social media specialist. She began volunteering to help grassroots animal rights nonprofits in the Chicagoland area with their digital marketing in 2015. In her free time, she was an activist for Save Nosey Now, volunteered weekends as an animal caregiver at the Fox Valley Wildlife Center, and was an elephant ambassador for Save Elephant Foundation. She successfully rallied support for the passing of the bill that made Illinois the first state in the United States to ban elephants in traveling exhibitions, including circuses. She went on to use her experience in the nonprofit world to create a career helping small business owners and professionals polish their online presence and grow their communities. After 8 years of helping clients across the country in areas including education, healthcare, TV entertainment, and real estate, she found a home at GSE. These days, Hailey creates content and manages the social media channels, looks for ways to spread awareness around our mission, and spends time connecting with our followers. As a data nerd and a creative thinker, she enjoys looking for new ways to tell the sanctuary elephants’ stories to a wider audience. In her free time, Hailey enjoys reading and playing piano.

Fun Fact: Hailey has a large cat named Baby who constantly asks her to pick him up and cradle him.

DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR

Amy Little is the development coordinator at Global Sanctuary for Elephants. She manages the donor systems that support the sanctuary’s global community of supporters and works to ensure donors feel welcomed, appreciated, and connected to the elephants whose lives they help transform. Amy has spent more than a decade working in nonprofit development and community partnerships, focusing on donor engagement and mission-driven fundraising. A proud Libra and Enneagram 7, she brings an enthusiastic, empathetic energy to both her work and life, naturally connecting with others and finding joy in meaningful experiences. Amy is passionate about bringing people together around causes that matter. In her local community in West Tennessee, she helps organize Kentucky Lake cleanup days and supports efforts that protect natural spaces and wildlife. She is also active in the field of renewable energy and believes sustainable innovation can play an important role in protecting animal ecosystems and the natural environments wildlife depend on. Amy has always been drawn to volunteering and supporting animal welfare efforts and has a deep respect for the importance of sanctuary spaces where elephants can heal, live naturally, and rediscover safety and freedom. Amy lives in West Tennessee with her husband and their four teenagers. She loves spending time outside paddleboarding, swimming, relaxing in a hammock, and quite literally hugging trees while soaking in the energy of the natural world.

Fun Fact: Amy cold plunges in every creek she can find and firmly believes the colder the water, the better.

COMMUNICATIONS & DEVELOPMENT INTERNSHIP ALUM

Yiming joined GSE as a Communications and Development Intern in August 2025. He supported the redesign of the website, contributed to the EleFact blog project, and assisted with fundraising efforts. Through this internship, he gained valuable insight into the daily operations of an international nonprofit and strengthened his skills in web development. One of the greatest lessons Yiming took away was an understanding of what a true sanctuary means — a philosophy rooted in compassion, respect, and community. He describes his first internship experience as one filled with positive energy, where love from around the world is channelled into one shared mission.
Yiming is currently studying Mathematics at Imperial College London, where he is also active in his university’s vegetarian society, reflecting his awareness of the impact of captivity and industrial farming on animals. Outside of his studies, he enjoys sailing and making music.

Fun Fact: Yiming recently salvaged a nylon-string guitar from a charity shop — after some care, it now sounds amazing!