Sydney Hearst is a digital marketing and advocacy professional, skilled in strategic communications, social media management, and website development, with a unique ability to distill complex topics into digestible, actionable messages for a diverse audience. As the digital advocacy manager for the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), founded in 1951, she manages the organization’s digital presence, including social media (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) and AWI’s online advocacy center, the Compassion Index. She has a bachelor’s degree from George Mason University; her studies explored the intersection of communications, nonprofit management, and social justice. Her proudest career accomplishments include the inclusion of her research into Animal Welfare Act enforcement in a front-page Washington Post article, and having an editorial published in her hometown’s newspaper. Prior to joining AWI, Sydney worked, interned, and volunteered with several other nonprofit animal organizations including the Jane Goodall Institute and World Wildlife Fund.