New Faces at WCC: Sheila Jackson and Vivian Leven

As summer approaches, we’re excited to share two new faces who have joined the WCC team in recent months. Each brings valuable experience and a shared commitment to our mission. Take a moment to get to know them—and join us in welcoming them to the pack!

Sheila Jackson
Please join us in welcoming Sheila to WCC—this time in a new role as part-time Government Contracts Specialist! While this may be her official title, Sheila is no stranger to the WCC family. She’s been a devoted volunteer since 2017, helping as a puppy sitter, puppy raiser and whelping box volunteer. She and her husband Gerry, a retired U.S. Coast Guard Reserve Commander, are also proud pup parents to WCC’s Andrea.

Sheila brings decades of experience in government contracting and business development, including leading large-scale programs supporting the Department of Labor and managing wellness programs for federal agencies. Most recently, she worked with 4S-Silversword, where she managed WCC’s Animal-Assisted Therapy contract at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE) at Walter Reed—the very same program she’ll now support directly as WCC steps into the prime contractor role.

Sheila comes from a proud military family, with a father who served as a WWII Army paratrooper and brothers who graduated from West Point and the Naval Academy, making her commitment to serving Veterans deeply personal.

“I love WCC because I see the direct and powerful impact the dogs and this mission have on Veterans and their families—including mine,” she says. “It’s an honor to support this work.”

Outside the office, you’ll find Sheila traveling with Gerry to visit their daughters, hiking, training her dogs or volunteering with her church.

Vivian Leven
We’re pleased to welcome Vivian Leven as our newest Service Dog Training Instructor supporting the Northern Virginia (NoVa) region. Based at Fort Belvoir, Vivian joined WCC in February and is already making an impact by combining her deep experience in dog behavior and training with a passion for helping people.

Originally from Sweden, Vivian has called Alexandria, Virginia home for more than 20 years. Her career began in animal welfare policy and research, and a chance adoption of a behaviorally challenged Doberman set her on a path to becoming a Certified Professional Dog Trainer and Behavior Consultant. She went on to lead training programs, run her own consulting business, and even served as a court-certified mediator focusing on sensitive family and youth cases. Whether she’s training dogs, supporting Veterans, or finding resolution in high-stakes situations, Vivian brings compassion, insight, and steady leadership to everything she does.

“I joined WCC because I love the idea of combining the people side with the animal side,” Vivian says. “There’s always more to learn. Dogs are incredibly present — they draw us into the moment with their honesty. People wear many masks, but dogs are just who they are.”

Vivian shares her life with her daughter Isolde, two dogs, two cats and two horses.
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