Keegan Spera

Keegan Spera,

Disaster Assessment Coordinator & Data Specialist, UF Shelter Medicine Program

Department: Small Animal Clinical Sciences
Business Phone: (843) 452-2612
Business Email: keegan.spera@ufl.edu

About Keegan Spera

Prior to joining the Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida, Keegan managed a small, private animal shelter and spay-neuter clinic in Charleston, SC., and then worked as a Senior Manager in Strategy, Research and Development at the ASPCA. While at the ASPCA, she helped design one of the first national shelter data databases. She also led the measurement of program impact and ROI for ASPCA programs and processes at ASPCA Partner Communities, as well as LA County and LA City shelters.

During her time here in the Shelter Medicine Program, she has managed the collection, analysis, and visualization of Florida’s brick-and-mortar animal shelters’ annual data, with a consistent 98% collection rate or higher. She provides a public analysis and visualization of the data yearly, and presents the data at conferences such as the Florida Animal Control Association Conference. She also offers shelters assistance with enhancing their shelter data processes to improve the effectiveness and impact of their work, and provides deeper individual or regional analyses to shelters to help implement or adjust programming.

Keegan’s Disaster Assessment Coordinator role focuses on helping Florida animal shelters prepare for hurricane season and/or natural disasters by providing resources, access to training, professional and emergency contacts, and timely reminders. She collaborates with the Florida State Agricultural Response Team (SART), Emergency Support Function 17 members (ESF-17s), Florida State Animal Response Coalition (SARC), Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Florida Association of Animal Welfare Organizations (FAAWO), Florida Animal Control Association (FACA), national organizations (ASPCA, BISSELL Pet Foundation Animal Incident Management (AIM), HSUS, HSI, NASAAEP, NACA, ASAR, etc.), and a large group of SART Partners within the state of Florida to help coordinate urgent needs for Florida animal shelters before, during, and after disasters.

When Keegan’s not swimming in data or disasters, she enjoys being able to contribute to the Shelter Med and MMPC’s teams’ work through her photography, infographics, and humor.

In addition to her work in animal welfare, Keegan owns an art business (painter and photographer), loves to cook, golf, watch hockey, and throw extravagant, themed pet parties. She lives in the greater Charleston area of South Carolina with her husband, Eric, and their furry companions.

Related Links:
Additional Positions:
Impact Measurement & Reporting Specialist
2022 – Current · Maddie’s® Million Pet Challenge

Research Profile

Animal shelter management of feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus infections in cats

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/367221952_Animal_shelter_management_of_feline_leukemia_virus_and_feline_immunodeficiency_virus_infections_in_cats/citations?latestCitations=PB%3A378733765

Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID)

0000-0003-4520-2856

Publications

2022
Animal shelter management of feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus infections in cats.
Frontiers in veterinary science. 9 [DOI] 10.3389/fvets.2022.1003388. [PMID] 36744227.

Education

Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership & Communication
2009-2012 · Gonzaga University
Bachelor of Arts: Communication
1999-2003 · Malone University

Contact Details

Phones:
Business:
(843) 452-2612
Emails:
Addresses:
Business Mailing:
2015 SW 16TH AVE
GAINESVILLE FL 32608
Business Street:
119 VIRGINIA ST
GOOSE CREEK SC 29445