Alumni to Watch

Lisa Peacock (BFA, Theatre Education, '00) is the founder of The Peacock Foundation, a life-altering, non-profit organization dedicated to helping grieving and suffering children. A strong young woman, Peacock faced hardships at an early age, including the deaths of both parents. After several unsuccessful attempts to deal with her grief and anger, Peacock finally found that she loved working with animals. Befriended by a staff member, Peacock was hired at the Phoenix Zoo. She worked there throughout college and found being with the animals very therapeutic.

Lisa Peacock with Ricky, a Golden Retriever mix Peacock rescued.
Ricky is now an integral part of the program.

Her healing experience with the zoo animals led Peacock to discover her desire to help children who had suffered similarly, and to share the uplifting and healing bond that can be formed with animals. She focused her studies on loss and grief, graduating from the ASU Herberger College with a BFA in theater education. She earned her master's in counseling in California, where she worked at the Los Angeles Zoo. There, she formed her thesis on animal-assisted therapy for children in group settings.

In 2002, Peacock's thesis research became the pilot program for The Peacock Foundation. She began to rescue and nurture animals, training them to become comfortable around people, especially children. She combined animal therapy with dance, theater, art and music to help children express themselves and involve them in fun and innovative ways. Peacock is greatly rewarded by seeing children develop, change and interact with the world again. She looks forward to every visit - every smile.

Among the animals Peacock has rehabilitated are dogs, rats, skinks, snakes and guinea pigs. These formerly abused and neglected animals teach children valuable lessons about facing fears and coping with their situations, while brightening their lives. Loving licks and wagging tails educate and empower children, showing them that the past can be overcome. The Peacock Foundation is continually expanding its animal collection to meet the needs of the children it serves and the rescue animals that need a home.

"If these wonderful animals can do for the children what they have done for me, then I am doing what I set out to do," Peacock says. "My goal is to put love and trust back into the many young and impressionable faces that touch my heart every day."

Peacock works with children and young adults who have suffered such hardships, even she is amazed at the positive effect her program has on them. Many live in residential foster care or group homes, have suffered abuse or, like Peacock, the loss of their caregivers and security in the world.

Several of the kids have been so touched by the ASU Herberger College alumna, that they have donated their time and energy to forwarding the foundation's mission. Another ASU Herberger College alumna, Beth Ryan (BA Art History, '91), joined the foundation's board of directors in 2007. With a wonderful team of other ASU alumni and kids who have been touched by the program, Peacock is free to focus on the children whom she serves.