ABOUT US
Our Mission
BeWild is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Durham, NC that acts a rescue for displaced reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates.
Founded in 2018, we have taken in over 700 animals since our inception. These animals are surrendered by members of the public, found roaming outside, or transferred to us by local shelters. Surrendered animals are quarantined for a minimum of 30 days, provided with any necessary medical care, and adopted out to carefully vetted homes. We specialize in medical cases and work closely with a team of amazing, specialized veterinarians. As a secondary mission, we are dedicated to providing accessible education to our community through live animal programs. We have expanded our educational reach to an international level with an active social media and online presence.
Our Values
- Full transparency
- High standard of animal welfare
- Extensive medical care
- Stringent quarantine protocols
- Empathy for surrenderers
- Inclusive volunteer program
- Thorough adoption process
- Accessible animal education
Meet The Team
Nicole D'Avignon
Co-Executive Director
Nicole graduated from UNC with a BA in Biology and minors in Anthropology and Environmental Science. She spent 2 years employed with the UNC Comparative Medicine Department as their Exotic Species Specialist, and was a veterinary assistant at a local animal hospital. Nicole is currently a fourth year student at the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine and is looking forward to becoming a practicing veterinarian specializing in herp medicine!
Nicole has spent her entire life working with animals. She volunteered for the Columbus Zoo and the Ohio Wildlife Center, gaining years of experience with exotic animals, wildlife rehabilitation and education. During her first year at UNC, she co-founded an organization called Carolina WISE (Wildlife Information and Science Education), which taught students how to care for the WISE animal collection and provided educational programs to the community. She gained further experience working with reptiles and birds of prey while volunteering for the NC State Turtle Rescue Team, Piedmont Wildlife Center, and Raptor Insights. Nicole's role at BeWild includes managing our rescue division, coordinating the volunteer program, and overseeing our educational programs. While Nicole enjoys working with all animals, her true passion lies with reptiles as she strives to educate the world about these misunderstood creatures.
AJ Hallatt
Co-Executive Director
AJ’s lifelong passion for animals began early. In third grade, she sold her toys at a garage sale to earn the funds needed to purchase her first bearded dragon. While earning her BA in Film Studies from UNC Wilmington, she volunteered with several local film festivals and discovered a talent for nonprofit administration. After graduating, she chose to merge her love of animals with her growing interest in nonprofit work.
Before co-founding BeWild, AJ spent several years volunteering in various roles across multiple wildlife-focused organizations. In 2018, she earned her certification in Zoo & Aquarium Science from the Animal Behavior Institute. She joined Dubia.com full-time in 2022, later transitioning to MorphMarket’s seller compliance team in 2023. A true jack-of-all-trades, AJ oversees BeWild’s fundraising, accounting, website design, branding, and TikTok presence—all while contributing to the daily care of the animals. Though she loves working with creatures of every kind, her favorites are Mustard and Acorn, the Aldabra tortoises.
Stephen Xiao
Associate Director
Stephen graduated from UNC with a BS in Economics. He discovered a passion for animals while volunteering for Carolina WISE. He was one of BeWild's first volunteers and has been dedicated to the organization ever since. He worked as a vet tech for several years and is now a fourth year student at the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine.
In his work with BeWild, Stephen assists with managing our volunteers, husbandry, and medical care. He is an important member of our educational team and assists with many of our programs. While Stephen loves working with the reptiles at BeWild, he has a special place in his heart for invertebrates and keeps a diverse range of tarantula species.
Our Board of Directors
BeWild is lucky to have an incredible team of industry professionals and enthusiasts to guide the organization.
Nicole D'Avingon
President of the Board
Co-Director of BeWild
AJ Hallatt
Vice President of the Board
Co-Director of BeWild
Melanie Mahabir
Treasurer
Volunteer Liason
Ilana Galex, DVM
Secretary
Division of Comparative Medicine at UNC
Ashley Emanuele, DVM, CertAqV
Board Member
Practice Owner, Oak City Aquatics
Salina Locke, DVM, CertAqV, DABVP-Avian
Board Member
Practice Owner at Avian and Exotic Animal Care
Jan Sassaman, Ph.D.
Board Member
Vertebrate Zoologist & Environmental Consultant
Leeann Diaz
Board Member
Volunteer + Media Manager