The Institute for Human-Animal Connection (IHAC) is advancing awareness and understanding of the interrelationships among people, other animals and the environment. Keep up with the latest news about IHAC and our work related to human-animal-environment interactions.
What's New at IHAC
November 13, 2024
Dr. Kevin Morris Featured Speaker for University of Denver's R1: Research with Impact Lecture Series
Dr. Kevin Morris, IHAC's Executive Director, has been selected as a speaker for the University of Denver's R1: Research with Impact Lecture Series, which highlights cutting-edge research being conducted at the DU campus. Join us on November 13, in-person on the University of Denver campus at 6:30 PM MT, to hear about the latest IHAC research from Dr. Morris!
Have you been wondering what it would mean to incorporate an animal into your work? Check out our Animals and Human Health certificate program! Throughout three online courses and a final capstone session, you will build up your expertise and skills around human-animal interactions and develop your own plan for how to implement your vision.
Our curriculum is always evolving to keep up with the latest research and best practice recommendations and our instructors are passionate, knowledgable, and supportive of your individual education journey. In our program, you will have the opportunity to tailor your learning to your specific species, setting, and population interests. Upon completion, you will earn 35 CEUs on a University of Denver transcript.
Our amazing research team has a new publication out! It is titled, “The Presence of a Pet Dog Is Associated with a More Balanced Response to a Social Stressor.”
In this randomized control study, we examined whether a pet dog’s presence influenced healthy adults’ acute stress response by looking at self-reports, heart rate, and other biological factors such as plasma cortisol and salivary alpha-amylase. Our findings revealed that participants with their pet dogs had significantly lower heart rates, lower plasma cortisol responses, and higher salivary alpha-amylase responses than people without their dogs, indicating that the presence of a pet dog may support a healthy stress response. This study is the FIRST to suggest that dogs may support a balanced, intermediate stress response capacity.
Emi Parente graduated from the Institute for Human-Animal Connection’s Canine-Assisted Intervention Specialist (CAIS) certificate program in early 2024. Emi is the founder and current CEO of Programa Alice Terapia Assistida Educacional in Brazil, where she often utilizes her knowledge gained from CAIS. Her organization focuses on expanding education and the understanding of health and wellness as it relates to the human-animal bond.
In recognition of their national and international reputations and impact, GSSW’s Butler Institute for Families and Institute for Human–Animal Connection have been designated as DU Research Institutes.
It has been another great year for IHAC’s educational programs or IHACPro! Our educational opportunities exist to provide education and training in human-animal-environment interactions for professionals working in various human service fields with a strong emphasis on ethics and animal well-being. Since starting with our initial certificate, Animals and Human Health, in 2005, our vast alumni network now includes over 1000 graduates from 30 countries and 6 continents across our programs.
Research at the University of Denver’s Institute for Human-Animal Connection(IHAC) uses innovative approaches to answer seminal questions in the human-animal-environment interactions field. Across its research portfolios in youth development, trauma, and animals & communities, IHAC’s unique researchinforms practitioners, communities, and the field at large.
Andrea Sierra graduated from our Animals and Human Health (AHH) certificate program in 2022. She is now a clinical supervisor at The Crossroads Inc., in Phoenix, Arizona, one of the largest non-profit residential and outpatient substance abuse treatment programs in the United States. At Crossroads, she utilized the knowledge she gained in AHH to assist her in implementing a human-animal interaction program that incorporates psychoeducational topics, such as communication skills, trust building, trauma, and mindfulness.
Molly DePrekel graduated from IHAC’s Canine-Assisted Intervention Specialist (CAIS) certificate program in 2022. She has been an IHAC adjunct faculty member since 2017 and has taught many courses within IHACPro’s Animals and Human Health certificate program.
Laurie Albright, a 2023 graduate of IHAC’s Humane Education Practitioner Certificate (CHEP) program, wears many hats in her professional life. She is a part-time hospice social worker, a teacher-in-training, and a volunteer adoption guide at the Denver Animal Shelter. In all these roles and more, Laurie incorporates elements of humane education.
Macie Dominique, a 2017 graduate of IHACPro’s Equine-Assisted Mental Health Practitioner Certificate (EAMH), completely shifted her professional path after realizing her passion involved integrating animals into her professional work. In both of her professional settings, her therapeutic work is supported with equine, canine, and farm animal interactions.
Signature Events
Research Seminar Series
Our quarterly seminars feature a wide variety of speakers and topics with an emphasis on social justice issues.
The IHAC conferences and the Green Chimneys' conferences present the latest research, best practices, and future directions of human-animal-environment interactions, and inspires attendees to rethink human relationships with other animals.
