Board of Directors

​Cottontail is proudly vegan-run 🌱

Cottontail's Board of Directors are made up of a group of vegan professionals, educators and passionate animal advocates whose shared vision, is a world where farmed animals are cherished, respected, valued - and allowed to live their lives in peace and tranquility. 

JENNY NICHOLS

President/Co-Founder

 Jenny founded Cottontail Cottage in 2012 with a vision of giving rescue animals a place to call home. Nearly a decade later, and after saving hundreds of animals, she hopes to expand CCFS' educational programs in order to change how farm animals are viewed in the hopes of saving even more. Jenny has a BA in English Literature and heaps of marketing, design and non-profit management experience. She works as CCFS' Executive Director but every spare minute she gets is spent with the animals.

ANNA BROWN

Director

Anna has degrees in English Literature, German, and Secondary Education and has been a high school English teacher for the past 15 years. She grew up on the California coast in a vegetarian family and a house full of animals. From a very young age, Anna felt a deep connection to all animals and a deep concern for their well-being. Anna has been a fan and supporter of CCFS since 2015, when she first met Jenny after rescuing two rabbits in urgent need of care and turning to them for help. She is a committed vegan and passionate supporter of animal rights.

MATHEW NICHOLS

Vice President/Co-Founder

Mathew is the Farm Director at CCFS and can most often be found out in the fields working with the animals - especially, the horses. Animals are drawn to Mathew and seem to feel safe just standing next to him. No one works as hard as Mathew who spends nearly every waking hour ensuring the animals are healthy, fed, safe and happy. Mathew also has a background in construction. Not only did he build the new pole barn (with Jenny's help) but put in all the fencing. We wouldn't be where we are today without him.

ROBYN AMES

Director

Robyn grew up in Northern Michigan and has degrees in Social Work and American Sign Language. Her passion for animal welfare and the vegan lifestyle began in 1990. After years in the social work field, Robyn now works at Westover School in Connecticut. Here she supports students to find their passion in social justice issues through her work as the Director of Service Learning in the school’s Rasin Center for Global Justice. Robyn and her family live in Harrington, Maine during the summer where she finds her happy place volunteering at the Cottontail Cottage Farm. 

ANGEL VAFIADES BELL

Secretary

Angel works as the Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator at CCFS and makes sure there is plenty of help around the farm. Angel has been with CCFS for nearly a decade and fights for farm animals, working hard to ensure better lives for them. She is currently taking classes to become a Humane Educator, and plans to continue with animal welfare training. Her goal is to share what she has learned with others so that more animals live the life that they deserve. 
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HARRY

Office dog

Handsome Harry is the office manager at CCFS and Jenny's best side-kick. Harry can do many things, including working as a farm dog with Mathew and running errands in the truck. Harry also likes to bark - ALOT - and so is also employed as Cottontail's head security officer.

Harry's interests include: sleeping, eating, napping, dinner-time, and chasing squirrels on his afternoon walks in the woods. He is also incredibly loyal, loving, gentle and a true friend to all.