Anne Coller
President
Anne was born in Canada and started her career as a buyer for the Hudson’s Bay Company. In the late 1980s, she moved to Texas and became a U.S. citizen in 2004. While living in Midland, Texas, Anne volunteered for the Midland SPCA. She learned firsthand how important advocacy is in order to break the cycle of animal abuse and neglect. This inspired her to join the board of the Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN). Anne lobbied for animal issues as a volunteer in Austin for several years. While serving in Texas, she became aware of APNM as a model of effective animal advocacy. Anne moved to New Mexico in 2005, where she and her husband now share their home with Millie, a mixed-breed dog adopted from a shelter. APNM welcomed Anne to the board in 2008, where she is proud to serve this powerful, full-circle advocacy organization, the only one of its kind in the nation.
Joan David
Vice President
Joan, a Texas native, earned an MA in School Psychology from Trinity University, in San Antonio, TX. After a long career serving the needs of special education students and families, she decided to retire in New Mexico. Since retirement, she has devoted herself to helping New Mexico nonprofits, volunteering with organizations such as Equine Spirit Sanctuary (she’s passionate about horses and all equines) and APNM. She shares her home with two rescued cat siblings, Pepe and Fifi, and a lovely Doberman gentleman, Milo. Joan is committed to advocating for animals and has served on the board of APNM since 2015.
Tom Alexander
Secretary
Tom, a Texas native, earned a BBA in Marketing from Texas A&M University. After a career in training, marketing, and advertising for Fortune 500 companies, he decided to retire in Santa Fe. Since then, he has devoted himself to helping nonprofits, volunteering with organizations such as Kitchen Angels, Mentoring New Mexico, Heart & Soul Animal Sanctuary, Literacy Volunteers of Santa Fe, Santa Fe Animal Shelter & Humane Society, The Wildlife Center, PAWS (People for Animal Welfare Society), and the Lakota Animal Care Project. Tom is passionate about the welfare and protection of animals in our state and has been proud to serve on the board of Animal Protection New Mexico since 2010.
Dr. Susan Diaz
Director
According to her mother, it was at the age of 3 years old that Susan started to develop deep concern for the care of animals. Ever since, she has been committed to speaking and acting for those who cannot do so for themselves. Susan began her career as a social worker in Massachusetts then moved to New Mexico to work with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. She shifted her focus to medicine, attended the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, and went on to become a Board Certified Pediatrician. She has worked in New Mexico for Presbyterian Healthcare Services, has rescued and rehomed many companion animals, supported the work of multiple animal welfare and rescue organizations (including the Philippine Eagle Foundation), and looks forward to continuing to speak and act on behalf of children and animals in the state of New Mexico. She and her husband share their home with two rescued dogs and a pond filled with fish and local toads. Since 2014, she has been proud to serve on the board of APNM.
Dr. David J. Steele
Director
Dave retired in 2014 as professor and senior associate dean for medical education at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine after a 30-plus year career in academic medicine and medical school administration. On retirement he and his wife, Ilene, relocated to Las Cruces, New Mexico where they now make their home and where they are going to stay. Dave and Ilene have been supporters of Animal Protection of New Mexico since moving to the Land of Enchantment (and it is!). Born and raised in Salt Lake City, Dave received his BA in anthropology from the University of Utah and his Master of Arts and PhD in social and cultural anthropology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Dave and Ilene have shared their lives with dogs, usually more than one at a time, their 50 plus years of married life. They are currently the guardians of five dogs (ranging in age from 2 to 15, four of whom are rescues and/or special needs dogs). Dave and Ilene are active members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Las Cruces where they co-founded the Animal Advocates ministry in the congregation’s Social Justice Committee. They are also active in the national Unitarian Universalist Animal Ministry and serve on its Chapter Leaders committee.
