Elected as a distinguished fellow of the National Academies of Practice in Social Work, Dr. Brandt has worked for over 3 decades as a sociologist, suicidologist, social worker, educator, and researcher. Her focus areas include social justice, grief and loss, interpersonal violence, complex trauma, crisis intervention, mental health, communications, and developing work cultures and systems that support thriving professionals and teams. Brandt obtained her PhD in Social Work from The Ohio State University and is a certified Psychological Autopsy Investigator, certified crisis worker through the American Association of Suicidology, and certified Anti-Oppression Informed Practitioner through the National Association of Social Workers. She currently serves as the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Director of Wellbeing and Diversity Initiatives where she co-developed AVMA’s Workplace Wellbeing Certificate and Wellbeing Educator Train-the-Trainer Programs. Brandt co-founded The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Honoring the Bond Program, one of the first programs in the nation aimed at recognizing and honoring the human-animal bond by providing culturally sensitive support and resources to animal owners and animal care professionals.