Our Values
Animal Liberation
We believe achieving animal liberation will require holistic approaches, so we welcome diverse forms of advocacy and encourage productive steps of all sizes.
Welcoming Culture
Recognizing that animal advocates come from diverse backgrounds, we choose unity over division and believe that respect is essential to building a stronger movement.
Lasting Communities
We strive to create spaces where advocates feel empowered, building organizations that will outlast today’s leaders and inspire the next generation of advocates.
Our Mission
We are building respectful, empowering, and effective animal advocacy student organizations that will outlast today’s student leaders and inspire the next generation of advocates whose impact for animals will extend far beyond their college years.
Our Roots
CAAU began as a coalition between two animal advocacy student organizations in North Carolina. Together, we saw a need for change in the animal advocacy space and decided to create an inclusive space where anyone interested in helping animals is welcome.
Meet the Founders
Kaitlyn Tobin
Education and Strategy
Kaitlyn Tobin is a co-founder of Collegiate Animal Advocates United, where she develops research-backed educational materials and strategic models for animal advocacy. As a student at UNC Chapel Hill, Kaitlyn uses her studies to deepen her knowledge of food systems and environmental justice. She continues to pour her heart into animal advocacy through her work in CAAU, fellowship at New Roots Institute, and leadership of Chapel Hill Animal Advocates United. Outside of that, you can find her teaching piano and spending time with her friends (be they human, pig, or other).
Caitlyn Baran
Graphic Design and Social Media
Caitlyn Baran is a co-founder of Collegiate Animal Advocates United, where she designs flyers, club logos, posters, social media posts, and other materials for animal advocacy. She attends NC State University and spends her time volunteering with various farm animal sanctuaries in North Carolina. By working with rescued farmed animals, she strengthens her emotional connections with animals and deeply understands the consequences of unjust animal industries. Outside of animal advocacy, she works as a freelance graphic designer and a petsitter.
Hugh Foley
Outreach and Communications
At CAAU, Hugh develops effective outreach strategies, materials, and training. He is passionate about exploring the most impactful ways to grow the animal advocacy movement. Hugh is also a co-lead of North Carolina Animal Advocates United, one of the largest volunteer-based animal advocacy organizations in the country. He is currently studying Chemical Engineering at NC State University, where he also conducts research on alternative proteins.
Aanand Yu
Web Development and Communications
Aanand (Ani) Yu maintains the website and backend data for CAAU, as well as helping maintain chapter relations. He attends NC State University, pursuing a degree in ecological engineering, where he learns how to manage some of the environmental impacts of factory farming. He is very passionate about animal rights and conversational outreach. He is continuing his advocacy journey as a New Roots fellow, and co-founder of CAAU. Outside of advocacy you can find him play ultimate frisbee and rock climbing.
Spencer Peters
Finance and Logistics
At CAAU, Spencer creates resources and educational materials for effective activism, manages finances, and develops methods to quantitatively measure CAAU’s impact. Spencer graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 2026 with a B.S. in mathematics, where he also served as an officer of Chapel Hill Animal Advocates United. In his free time, Spencer is a member of North Carolina Animal Advocates United and enjoys spending time with rescued pigs.