Anlis Mercado Rios, who will obtain her Juris Doctorate from the University of Puerto Rico School of Law in 2024, served as the spokesperson for the National Organization for Animal Rights in Puerto Rico from 2023 to 2024. Additionally, she completed a 2024 spring externship with the Animal Legal Defense Fund and advocated for the inclusion of an Animal Law class at the University of Puerto Rico, transitioning it from a winter course to a semester-long offering. Presently, Anlis is a paralegal at Ayuda Legal Puerto Rico. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Services (Child, Adult, and Family Services), with minors in Psychology and Latino Studies, from Iowa State University. Throughout her undergraduate studies, Anlis dedicated herself to working and supporting victims of domestic violence and immigrant families in the United States. Further, Anlis is an avid advocate for animal rights and marginalized communities. Actively involved in rescuing and caring for community animals, she has cultivated a deep-seated commitment to animal welfare. Her activism extends beyond animal advocacy, encompassing a fervent defense of the rights of marginalized individuals and communities.